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By Jane Mugambi
Kirinyaga– Farmers in Kirinyaga County are reaping big from a new seedlings propagation centre that is delivering quality, disease-free and affordable planting materials previously sourced from costly private producers.
The Seedlings Propagation Centre at Kangai Ward, which became operational last year, has greatly enhanced access to certified planting materials and helped horticulture farmers reduce production costs.
The centre, established under Governor Anne Waiguru’s Wezesha Kirinyaga programme, has a capacity to produce up to 400,000 seedlings of different crops, including tomatoes, cabbages, kales, spinach and African nightshade.
Waiguru said the centre is one of several projects aimed at boosting horticulture production, especially tomatoes, whose production has increased from 46,000 tonnes in 2017 to 116,000 tonnes in 2022, earning farmers approximately Sh6.9 billion annually.
During a routine production assessment at the centre, the County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock, Veterinary and Fisheries, Dr John Gachara, said the facility was established to address challenges farmers have faced in accessing clean and quality planting materials.
“Getting clean planting materials has been one of the key challenges for horticulture farmers in the county. This particular centre ensures that our farmers get the correct materials that are clean and disease-free, so that we can safeguard our soils and improve productivity,” said Dr Gachara.
At the centre, certified seed and modern propagation technology are used to produce high-quality seedlings, while farmers also receive agronomic advice to support better crop performance after planting.
“The centre has a capacity of producing 400,000 seedlings from certified seeds that are put under the right conditions using technology and machines that ensure the final seedling the farmer gets is of high quality and disease-resistant,” he said.
He noted that besides getting the seedlings at their doorsteps, farmers are saving about Sh200 per tray of seedlings and kSh1,000 on transport, depending on where they previously sourced them, significantly cutting production costs. While some farmers could buy from private producers around Kirinyaga, others used to get them from as far as Naivasha in Nakuru County.
Gachara added that the propagation centre, which has so far sold over 100,000 seedlings in the past two seasons, also serves as a farmers’ training facility linked to the Kirinyaga Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training Centre.
“This is not only a centre for producing seedlings but also a training centre. This year we held the first farmer field day, and we expect to hold about three farmer field days every year so that we can educate our farmers on proper agronomic practices for vegetables, among other crops,” said Dr Gachara.
Cabbage, tomato and sukuma wiki farmer Daniel Githaka said the centre had given him greater confidence in getting planting materials at an affordable price.
“Previously we could not confirm the quality of the seedlings despite buying, but with the county propagation centre, we are assured of getting the best quality and the right produce one wants at a lower, affordable and pocket-friendly price,” said Githaka, noting that the reduced prices are highly beneficial to farmers who have ventured into horticultural farming.
“Prices for tomato seedlings have also been reduced from Sh2,200 to Sh2,000 per crate, while capsicum has come down from Sh1,200 to Sh1,000,” he noted.
Tomato farmer John Muchoki said the centre has saved farmers from the tedious logistics involved in sourcing seedlings, leaving them with adequate time to concentrate on their farms.
“With the propagation centre close, I have been able to save about Sh1,000 on transport. I can literally walk to the centre, buy my seedlings and come back and plant the same day while they are still fresh. It saves me time,” said Muchoki.
He added that the centre’s agronomic guidance has helped him and many farmers who have ventured into horticulture.
“With the advice from agronomists, a farmer is able to make better decisions on crop establishment and management,” Muchoki added.
Another tomato farmer, Michael Mwangi, said the availability of high-yielding tomato varieties had translated into better farm performance.
“The county government gives us Rafano and Ranco tomato seedlings, which are high-yielding, at very affordable rates. This has seen my yields increase tremendously and my profits grow,” said Mwangi.
Farmer Sammy Maringa said the centre’s biggest benefit for farmers was the ability to obtain seedlings when they were ready to plant, avoiding delays that could affect production cycles. He added that the centre could also have a wider economic impact in Kangai Ward and across the county as horticultural production expands.
“Kangai Ward is one of the most productive areas in horticulture, and having access to seedlings on time has therefore gone a long way in boosting economic growth in this ward and in Kirinyaga County as a whole,” he said.
