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By Omondo Rodgers
Busia County, Kenya: Farmers in Busia County are being urged to transition from tobacco cultivation to alternative crops that are safer for their health and more profitable. The call was made during the handover of a groundnut sheller to a youth group in Malaba, Teso North Sub-county.
Eliya Barasa of the Cereal Growers’ Association (CGA) highlighted the significant downsides of tobacco farming. “We want farmers to undertake crops that do not harm their health,” Barasa stated. “Tobacco farming has caused more harm than benefit. It promotes deforestation and affects the health of entire communities. We are advocating for alternative crops that yield more and generate better income for farmers.”
He specifically promoted the farming of aflatoxin-safe groundnuts, noting that the new sheller is a game-changer for efficiency. The machine, costing approximately Ksh 180,000, can shell about 20 sacks of groundnuts daily with near-perfect accuracy. “It reduces the hardship farmers have traditionally faced,” Barasa explained. “This is why we are encouraging farmers to embrace groundnut farming, as it allows them to shell easily without breakage.”
Barasa also emphasized the initiative’s focus on youth engagement to tackle unemployment and drug abuse. “We want many youths involved in farming rather than drug abuse. We are introducing interventions to help them succeed in agribusiness so they can be self-reliant,” he said, noting collaboration with youth groups across the county.
This sentiment was echoed by Malaba Farmer Service Center Officer Asha Saghair. “We are encouraging farmers to plant groundnuts and other crops that are healthier and more profitable. Tobacco has significant health impacts on the community. We are advocating for alternative crops to eventually eradicate tobacco farming,” Saghair said. She confirmed extensive sensitization programs are underway, supported by the WHO’s Tobacco-Free Farms initiative and the CGA.
Local farmers welcomed the support. Esther Were, a member of the beneficiary group, said the sheller would transform their operations. “The machine allows us to increase production as it solves the hard task of shelling. Tobacco farming has caused many health issues for our families due to its smoke. This machine encourages us to invest more in groundnut farming,” she said.
Hudson Bushuru, a former groundnut farmer who quit due to market challenges, also expressed optimism. “The difficulties I faced in accessing markets made me quit farming. The sensitization I received has encouraged me to return, and this shelling machine will make post-harvest work much easier,” he said.
The initiative marks a concerted effort to steer Busia’s agricultural sector toward sustainable practices that prioritize community well-being and economic resilience.
