Kalro trains Machakos farmers in Kenya on high yield pigeon pea farming

The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) has embarked on a training programme on pigeon pea value chain for extension staff, service providers and farmers from Machakos County. Machakos prioritised to promote the crop to reduce poverty among its people. The expected results are increased incomes, improved food and nutritional security especially among women, children, youth and vulnerable groups. Speaking during the training at Kisumu Hotel on Wednesday Kalro Director-General Eliud Kireger said with support from the World Bank, they had deployed resources to develop intervention strategies to upgrade the pigeon value chain. “These include breeding of high yielding varieties, promoting utilisation of improved technologies, innovations and management practices and provision of marketing information,” said Dr Kireger. Kenya produces about 275,000 tonnes of pigeon pea with the crop largely cultivated in lower eastern and Coastal regions. “Our consumption as ...