Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua honored president William Ruto’s directive on farmers' registration.
Speaking on Monday, January 9, the DP revealed that he had been registered as an individual farmer by Assistant Chief David Mwangi of Sagana Sub-Location.
“In line with Ruto's directive for the FSP Household Farmer Registration, today at my Farm in Wamunyoro Village, Mathira West Subcounty,” he announced.
The second in command praised the timely Ruto’s move stating that it would be of great benefit to the farmers.
“It will ensure the provision of data, key, particularly, in the distribution of subsidized fertilizer and other farm inputs as well as breaking barriers created by middlemen and unscrupulous people,” he noted.
Gachagua further noted that the lack of reliable data had created loopholes that work against the farmers reaping maximum benefits while giving way to corruption and exploitation of farmers.
In addition, he announced that the directive by the current government would help in making sure that every leader was performing the duties required of them.
“This is the direction the Kenya Kwanza Administration is taking to ensure government officers play their role in service delivery and leave politics to politicians. There will be no politics whatsoever for the NGAOs,” he uttered.
The DP’s registration came after the process was opposed by the Kenya National Farmers' Federation (KENAFF) which questioned why the process was being practiced through the Ministry of Interior.
“Registration process should be a preserve of farmers themselves through their federations,” KENAFF indicated in a statement dated Saturday, January 7.
The countrywide process kicked off on January 4.
Speaking during the start of the training, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary(CS) Mithika Linturi announced that the exercise would enable the government to increase food production in the country.
“This will be possible because we will be able to have accurate data on the number of farmers in the country and serve them through the subsidy programme,” the CS revealed in a statement.
