Linturi urges Kenyans to be patient with Ruto’s government as it seeks to fulfill manifesto
Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi has urged Kenyans to exercise patience as Kenya kwanza government seeks to lower the cost of living.
Speaking as he graced Solution Sacco Society Limited’s annual general meeting held in Gikumene Primary School grounds in North Imenti on Saturday January 20 2024, the Cabinet Secretary encouraged teachers to develop diverse methods of harnessing funds in order to coup with the rising cost of living, even as the government puts in efforts to stabile the economy.
“I wish to encourage teachers to venture into farming as a way of making more money besides employment. This way, we will have enough agricultural products to feed the nation,” said CS Linturi.
Linturi added that his ministry is in the process of equipping farmers with necessary tools that include dryers and affordable fertilizers in every National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) centers across the nation.
“As an alternative way of lowering the cost of living, our government did opt to equip farmers with subsidized fertilizers as opposed to subsidies on consumable goods such as maize flour done by the previous regime,” he noted.
With harvesting season fast approaching, CS Linturi advised farmers to sell their farm produce to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB ) announcing that they have will buy a bag of 90kg of maize from local farmers at Sh4,000.
His statement comes days after the Cabinet approved a plan by the ministry to buy one million bags of maize from local farmers. Last year the Cabinet approved Sh4 billion for the purchase of the commodity.
He additionally called on farmers who did not register with the government during the first phase to do so in order to help in terms of planning.
Mr Linturi said the farmers register was important for the ministry to do its planning for future interventions aimed at increasing agricultural productivity.
CS Linturi further announced plans by the government to launch a program that will enable livestock farmers to procure sexed-semen, at affordable prices.
“The government is keen in increasing milk productivity and changing the breeds of our animals, and to achieve this we will be rolling out a program to support our farmers by supplying sexed semen at very subsidised rates that is below Ksh.3,000,” he said.
As it stands, sexed semen retails for anything between Ksh.5,000 and Ksh.8,000.
His sentiments were echoed by Principle Secretary in the Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development Patrick Kiburi Kilemi, who identified agriculture as the best side hustle for teachers.
