Nyakach Sub County in Kisumu has been known as a semi arid area with very little to write home about concerning farming.
Today, Nyakach has taken a different paradigm shift and it’s re writing impactful stories as a potential food basket within Kisumu region.
A delegation led by the CECM Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock and Fisheries Hon. Kenn Onyango, together with his counterparts from Education, Mr. John Awiti, from Sports Madam Beatrice Odongo, the Chief Officer Mr. Erick Ogallo and the County staff under the ABDP program were today on farmer progress assessment mission in Nyakach Sub County.
This mission could leave one wondering, can anything good come from Nyakach? Given it’s irregular rain patterns and the intensity of the scorching sun
Yes, Nyakach is quite promising in terms of food security.
Meet Samuel Nyabinda a 28 year old youth who was formally a Bodaboda rider. He says he earned averagely Ksh. 600 daily, out of which Ksh. 300 went to the owner of the motor bike, while Ksh. 200 he used for fuel and was only left with Ksh. 100 to fend for the family.
Today Samuel is a proud owner of a big parcel of land, where he has constructed two stocked fish ponds and a third one is under construction. He has also planted vegetables, tomatoes and fruits from which he feeds his family and sell for income.
He recalls how he started under the tutelage of Mr. Tobias Nyakoko a veteran farmer in his neighborhood who mentored him from scratch together with the support from ABDP ( pond liner and predator net), Samuel ‘s second harvest earned him Ksh. 150,000 which he ploughed back to the farm and purchased a solar water pump and now constructing a third pond.
Samuel attested that through the returns he has gotten from his farm, he has moved his family from a rental house to his own built home. Besides he has bought his own motorbike that he uses to ferry his farm produce to the market
His clarion call to the youths and riders is that farming is a well paying job that they shouldn’t turn away from.
Mr. Tobias Nyakoko, his mentor also owns five fish ponds, well stocked, he has a vegetable garden and an orchard that is irrigated with nutritious water from the fish pond outlets.
Tobias’s wife also manages a pond for a women group in the area having been trained on Gender Youth and Nutrition. The training advocated for women and youth to be involved in farming alongside ensuring nutrition in the family.
Mr. Moses Okoth a retiree also ventured in fish farming and kitchen gardening. He owns six fish ponds that he affirms are economically viable and are easy to manage. Much as he is retired he does not depend on his children for financial support. His farm meets his needs adequately.
Schools are also not left behind. Ragen A.I.C Primary School had their first harvest which they fed the pupils. They are still in the business of fish farming. Hon. Kenn congratulated them for the good work and has urged them to put up more ponds so that they produce through out seasons.
The only challenge is how to access steady supply of water. However they are doing wonders with the little supply at the moment.
The progress assessment delegation also bought produce from the farmers to boost them economically.
