MACHAKOS GOVERNMENT GIVES FREE PLANTING

SEEDS TO FARMERS TO FIGHT THE SHAME OF

HUNGER AND FOOD RELIEF
For a long time in Machakos and Ukambani region, we
have suffered the shame of being given food relief
(mwolyo). Leaders have campaigned by providing
bags of donated food to their starving constituents
and complaining about the rains.
The reality is that, hunger and lack of food is a factor
of poverty. Some countries in the world receive less
rainfall than Machakos but because they have better
agriculture policies and also have money, they
actually donate food to us.
I am committed to widening the agriculture base and
raising the yield of my people of Machakos through
action. Our 40 tractors have been ploughing, free of
charge, farms, especially of the lower income earners,
so as to increase the amount of land under cultivation.
I am pleased to continue the provision of planting
seeds to farmers as we approach the planting season.
To further boost the county food yield, yesterday at
Vyulya Market, I unveiled a comprehensive food
sustainability programme to improve agricultural
production.
My Government is providing 28,000 Kgs of maize,
17,394 Kgs of beans, 1,878 Kgs of cowpeas and
8,718 Kgs of green grams (ndengu). Our program of

providing free chicks to farmers is ongoing and a great

success.
These seeds will be distributed to persons identified in
all villages in the county. I urge all the farmers to
utilize them well so that they have a bumper harvest.
My government commits to purchase or get markets
for all the bags of ndegu harvested as a result of
these free seeds or other seeds planted by farmers.
The idea is to transform farming efforts to cash so as
to improve the quality of life for my people.
We will also be providing subsidized fertilizer so as to
increase our yield.
When some people hear and see what my
Government is doing for its people and realize that we
do not play politics of poverty but politics of
development, they get scared and engage in needless
propaganda. Let the talkers talk as we continue to
fulfill our promises. I will continue providing for my
people. The shame of food relief (mwolyo) will not be
removed by stories or political sycophancy but
through a Maendeleo Chap Chap program that focuses
on Mwananchi.
INAWEZEKANA na ITAWEZEKANA.
Dr. Alfred N. Mutua
Governor