Over 10,000 farmers are set to benefit from 16.35 metric tons of Sunflower seeds during this Long Rains Season to enhance their productivity. While flagging off the consignment at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) Depot in Bondo earlier today, the CECM for Agriculture, Food Security, Livestock and Blue Economy - Hon.K'Okoth Sylvestre said that the County is targeting to have over 6,000 acres under sunflower production which can result to an ambitious increase from the current 2.7 tons to over 16 metric tons annually.
"In addition to edible oil, sunflower provides high quality feed for livestock from its by product, provides nectar for bees and thereby supporting Apiculture and also enhances soil conservation and protection", said Hon.K'Okoth. Also present was the County Director of Agriculture, Mr. Isaac Munyendo who said that the County has 4 oil extractors which farmers can be able to utilize and earn upto KES.300,000 from edible oil per acre of the crop. From an acre piece of land, this income can go up to KES.500,000 from selling seed cake to animal feed millers.
He added that the crop is adaptable to Siaya County's ecological zones, is drought resistant, can be intercropped with other crops such as Maize and Sorghum, is easy to cultivate and matures within 3 months. The County Government will continue to support edible Oil crops farmers through provision of inputs and intensified extension service to ensure that Edible Oils importation is minimized as the economic revolution and agricultural transformation under the Nyalore administration stays on course.