Nakuru farmers to benefit from a new initiative that aims to improve farming practices

Farmers in Nakuru will now have access to real-time data on crop, livestock and aquaculture management, soil health and market trends, enabling them to make informed farming decisions.

This will be possible thanks to a new initiative in which extension officers will be accompanied by data coordinators who will be collecting the data.

According to Brian Oyugi, CEO of Enigma Four Limited, who spoke at the launch of Enigma Four Limited's Agrivuma technology, agricultural data is often fragmented, making it difficult for farmers to make informed decisions.

The initiative, therefore, aims to address this fragmented data through a comprehensive enterprise data management solution.

"Extension officers will be shadowed by data coordinators who will be equipped with phones to collect real-time information. This will then be shared with the county so that higher-level decisions can be based on accurate and timely data, leading to more effective agricultural strategies, policies and resource allocation," Mr Oyugi says.

The data collected will also help farmers predict their crop yields, distinguish between what they need for subsistence and what they can sell, and facilitate the aggregation of their produce for market distribution.

The pilot program will cover 25 wards in Njoro, Bahati, Gilgil, Subukia, Molo, Naivasha, Nakuru East and West, Kuresoi North and South sub-counties, with full rollout expected over the next two years.

This Mr Oyugi says will also benefit consumers to be more aware of the food they eat through food traceability.

"By collecting data at every stage, from farm to fork, the entire supply chain will be more transparent, allowing consumers to know exactly where their food comes from and how it was produced. This will empower consumers with more knowledge and enable them to make informed choices about the food they buy," he says.

In addition to the mobile devices, the extension officers and data coordinators will be equipped with solar-powered power banks and smart soil testers.

According to the County Executive for Agriculture, Leonard Bor, this technology will complement the efforts of over 300 extension workers in all 55 counties and enhance the Nakuru Call Center, a digital extension tool, to help bridge the gaps in extension service delivery.