NCCK, Elgeyo Marakwet, Partner to Boost Pyrethrum Farming

NCCK, Elgeyo Marakwet, Partner to Boost Pyrethrum Farming

The National Council of Churches of Kenya and Elgeyo Marakwet County Government are set to drive a revival of Pyrethrum production.

The partnership was firmed up during a consultation between the County Executive and NCCK leadership in North Rift Region. The NCCK during the meeting hosted Governor HE Wisley Rotich, Deputy Governor Prof Grace Cheserek, all County Executive Committee Members, and the County Assembly Committee on Agriculture led by Hon Jeremiah Kibiwott.

Led by Mod Daniel Barno, the NCCK team urged the county government to support the Pyrethrum value chain so as to lift the community members from poverty.

Governor Rotich led his government in thanking NCCK for spearheading the revival of pyrethrum production in the County, and affirmed that the crop will be integrated in all plans and budgets.

“Just over 190,000 adults in our county are living below the poverty line,” observed the Governor, “and we are confident that pyrethrum, being a new venture, will single-handedly pull them out of that poverty”.

So confident is Governor Rotich of the success of Pyrethrum value chain in the county that he challenged the church to take lead in “dealing with the social problems that will come due to increased income from pyrethrum farming”.

It was agreed in the meeting that the first steps in revitalization of Pyrethrum in the County were establishment of pyrethrum caucuses, funding research for development of high quality planting materials, and advocating for domestication and implementation of the 2019 Pyrethrum Regulations.

The revival of Pyrethrum production in Elgeyo Marakwet County is part of the Daisy Project being implemented by NCCK in partnership with Dan Church Aid (DCA) Kenya.

Hon Kibiwott on behalf of the County Assembly assured the Executive and NCCK that the Agriculture Committee was ready to support the process and especially development and passing of necessary legislation.