By Lameck Mwangi
Farmers have been urged to embrace
Kilimo Biashara in order to empower themselves.
Speaking during a farming skills training at Sipili Catholic Hall,
Laikipia West on August 14, 2014 convened by Laikipia Produce and Marketing
Co-operative Society and Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) through Ng’arua
Maarifa Centre, Mr. Gachara Gikungu from Kilimo Biashara Profilers (KBP) said
that farmers should tailor their products or services to be of high quality to
warrant and fetch good prices.
Gachara noted that the economic
situation of farmers will only improve once they embrace Kilimo Biashara and
start practicing modern farming methods.
He advised farmers to consider
factors of production like; land which is a natural resource, labour which is a
human resource, capital which is a man made resource and entrepreneurship which
he said are factors that farmers require to escape poverty.
“Our fore fathers were not educated
yet they never borrowed or begged for food from any one. When you look at this
new generation there are many beggars who depend on donor money to feed
themselves,” said Mr. Gachara.
He urged farmers to start practicing
farming as a business in order to improve their livelihood. He noted that
farmers are usually exploited when selling their farm produce. He cited the
case of a farmer selling a goat without considering its weight while at the
butcher when the goat has been slaughtered it will be sold per kg thus
benefiting the butcher more than the farmer.
“Farmers
need to set good pricing criteria based on the item produced rather than wait
for buyers to dictate prices,” said Mr. Gachara.
He
also stressed on the importance of the agriculture sector in the country’s
economy, stating that farmers should be able to live above the poverty line
through best agricultural practices.
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