Extension officers in Kitui County get 21 motorbikes to reach farmers faster

Shirleen Kavinya and Nguthu Wambua- KNA 

The Kitui County Government has issued agricultural extension officers with motorbikes in efforts to improve agricultural services to its farmers, a significant step in agricultural transformation in the county. 

Governor, Dr. Julius Malombe, while releasing 21 motorbikes to the officers at a ceremony held outside his offices in Kitui town, noted that the initiative aims to strengthen agricultural extension and advisory services, ensuring farmers have timely access to modern farming technologies and best practices.

Malombe emphasized the county's commitment to advancing the agricultural sector, aiming to improve food security as well as livelihood of  county residents, whose main source of income is agriculture.

Dr. Malombe said the issuance of the motorbikes, was in collaboration with the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) designed to boost production, enhance market participation, and promote value addition among smallholder farmers.

The issuance of 21 motorbikes raises the number of motorbikes so far allocated across the 40 wards to 78. The motorcycles ease the movement of 98 agricultural extension officers.

 The governor said the motorcycles are more than just transport; they are tools of transformation. He noted that they had enabled officers to efficiently reach farming communities, provide training, and respond swiftly to agricultural challenges.

To ensure the effective use of motorcycles, the officers underwent comprehensive training facilitated by Toyota Kenya on road safety, maintenance, and operational compliance.     

The officers also received a riding gear and toolkits for minor repairs each. The motorcycles are insured under a group policy registered with National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).

Dr. Malombe added that the Ministry of Agriculture had planned to conduct annual refresher training sessions to ensure adherence to road safety regulations.

The County has also put in place robust monitoring and evaluation measures, including fault reporting, fuel log verification, and quarterly fuel allocations.

The governor reiterated that this initiative is a deliberate investment in agricultural productivity, service delivery, and farmer empowerment.

He called upon stakeholders including extension officers and farmers to collaborate in ensuring the success of the program.