Nakuru News Today – Nakuru County is encouraging the youth to participate in the revival of pyrethrum farming to ensure the sustainability of the crop and provide income opportunities. Deputy Governor H.E David Kones made this call during the Farmer’s Harvest Celebration Day organized by Kentegra Company in Elburgon Ward for farmers in Kentegra’s Turi and Elburgon Zones.
The event celebrated the achievements of pyrethrum farmers and recognized those who excelled in pyrethrum growing. The pyrethrum industry in Nakuru County is experiencing a revival with more farmers embracing the cash crop compared to previous years.
Reviving Pyrethrum in Nakuru
The Deputy Governor thanked Kentegra Company for their participation in the revival of pyrethrum in Nakuru County and urged farmers to increase the production of the crop by adding more acreage to the existing ones. He emphasized that pyrethrum has good returns and encouraged the youth to take advantage of the opportunity. The Chief Officer for Agriculture Kibet Kurgat also announced that the County Government would allocate Ksh. 27 million to the sector to help farmers get planting materials at a subsidized price.
The success story of Stephen Ngaruiya, a farmer from Kapsita who started pyrethrum farming in 2022, was highlighted during the event. He makes an average of Ksh 50,000 per month in his 2-acre piece of land, and returns from pyrethrum have significantly increased his income compared to other crops.
About Kentegra
Kentegra Company, a biotechnology company specializing in the production of organic insecticide pyrethrum, has been supporting farmers in the revival of pyrethrum in Nakuru County. The company provides training, seeds and seedlings, driers, fertilizer, and a market for the farmers’ produce.
Kentegra Head of Field Operations and Farmers Services Micah Thuo reiterated the company’s commitment to assisting the pyrethrum revival in Nakuru by helping farmers with materials and markets for their produce. Kentegra seeks to increase the acreage in the Turi-Elburgon zone from 97 to 250 acres this year and has contracted a total of 7,000 farmers in the county with a total acreage of 1,500.
During his visit to the Turi Research and Development Center, the Deputy Governor was shown the research farm by Nursery, Research, and Development Manager Collins Kimutai, who explained the efforts Kentegra is making to come up with more quality and resilient seeds to increase farmers’ output and earnings.