Sweet potato

Sweet potatoes farmers from Nyabasi West Ward in Kuria East Sub-county wants Migori County Government to come up with strategies that would help farmers eliminate brokers hence maximize profit from their produce.

They said for a long time they have been heavily exploited by middle men who pay them peanuts who buy from them a sack of potato at Ksh900 and thereafter triple the value upon reaching Nairobi among other big town markets.

The farmers were speaking at Chinato Assistant County Commissioners’ Office, Nyabasi West Ward where Migori County First Lady Mrs Hellen Obado delivered chicks’ hatchery machine to Nyabasi West Ward Women Sacco.

One of the farmers Mr. Leo the Kuria Community heavily depend on potato farming as their main source of income but they can’t realize reasonable profit as middlemen scoop nearly three quarter of the return.

“I wonder why we get meagre profit in the potato business yet we are the main stakeholders,” he said.

He said they seriously crave for direct market without which they shall still remain “economic slaves” of intermediaries and continue languishing in poverty.

While responding to their plights, Mrs Hellen Obado urged them to embrace Saccos saying it is easier to tackle the matter in united front.

Mrs. Obado challenged the Nyabasi West Women Sacco to visionary manage their chicks’ hatchery machine as an empowerment platform and sooner or later they would be able to acquire themselves a lorry that would greatly help them to transport potato related goods to external markets.

Mrs. Obado also used the platform to issue solar lamps, blankets and mattresses to needy families from the ward.

Naomi Hellen Mwita the Sacco chairperson thanked Migori First Lady for considering empowering women through her Kuku Ni Pesa initiative.

She said her continued support for the project is a clear indication that she is committed to improve the livelihoods of Migori women.

Mwita however challenged groups and individuals to form saccos for them to attract funding from Migori County Government and other willing organizations.

“It is easier for the Migori County Government or other financial institutions to finance a Sacco than an individual,” Mwita said.

The Kuku Ni Pesa Project is Kshs. 8 million poultry farming project started to empower women in the 40 wards across eight sub-counties in Migori County.