BETTER roads and improved drainage system will boost agriculture and trade in Uasin Gishu, Governor Jonathan Bii has said.
He said the county improved more than 800km of rural roads ahead of the long rains.
Bii said this will help farmers transport farm inputs and produce with ease.
The county has also implemented a deliberate programme to deal with drainage challenges by clearing stormwater drains and construction of bridges and culverts in areas where rains usually cut off access.
“As a county, our aim is to prepare well ahead of time to help agriculture and trade flourish,” Bii said.
With the start of the long rains season, many farmers who had prepared their land in Uasin Gishu have planted maize.
Some are still planting. Since January, hundreds of the farmers flocked to the National and Cereals Board and the Kenya Seed Company depots in Eldoret to buy subsidised fertiliser and maize seeds.
In his manifesto, Governor Bii under pillar number six, focuses on infrastructure development with substantial investment that has the potential to generate significant economic benefits that extend to rural populations.
Farmers, led by Emmanuel Saina from Kosachei village in Tapsagoi, Mathew Kosgey from Chebororwa, Michael Maiyo and Jack Kimunye from Kiplombe, Franklin Kosgey from Kapseret and Hosea Kemboi from Meibeki, said tremendous progress had been made to improve infrastructure in rural parts of the county.
They spoke at the NCPB depot in Eldoret.
“I don’t have any problem delivering inputs to my farm. Roads in our area have been rehabilitated. We now have efficient transportation infrastructure and we are very grateful to the county for that,” Saina said.
The farmers have urged the county to sustain maintenance of roads.
“The roads will help us access markets for better prices after harvesting, Besides, the infrastructure development by the county will enhance food security,” farmer Eliud Ng’etich from Ziwa said.
