The Siaya Governor, James Orengo has urged the local residents to embrace agribusiness so as to boost food security and tackle rampant poverty.
Orengo disclosed this while speaking at the Simerro village in Ugunja Sub County during the world food day celebrations.
He said, “Though the country and the entire Nyanza region was endowed with a good climate and fertile soils, little has been done to exploit the resources for the betterment of the society.
“It was a pity that the county was endowed with numerous rivers and streams that empty into Lake Victoria, water that is later used by the river Nile basin countries upstream to produce agricultural products that are later sold back to Kenya.
“We cannot command respect among nations if we are not food secure, the water we flow to Lake Victoria and the river Nile is used by countries like Egypt to produce food which is later sold to us.
“Efforts must be made to revive cotton farming and other cash crops such as Robusta coffee that was once grown in parts of the county.
“I am urging our people to go back to the cultivation of cash crops such as cotton, sugarcane, and Robusta Coffee that used to be grown in parts of Ugunja, Ugenya, and Gem sub-counties.
“The government will employ more agricultural extension officers to serve the residents and increase food production.
“In the next five to 10 years, we will be going to Sagana for fish. Fish stock in lake Victoria is dwindling and our friends in Sagana have embraced fish farming and they will be supplying us with fish.”
