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Monday, 18 August 2014

Farmers taught importance of Kilimo Biashara


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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