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Narok farmers advised to use new technologies

Meso

AFC managing director Lucas Meso. PHOTO | FILE

Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) has asked Narok farmers to adopt modern techniques to boost their earnings.

AFC Managing Director Lucas Meso told the farmers to abandon old ways of farming.

The wheat, barley and livestock farmers got a reprieve about a fortnight ago when President Uhuru Kenyatta announced the waiver of loans amounting to Sh500 million during campaigns for his re-election in Narok.

The AFC has since handed Narok farmers their title deeds which the corporation had held as security against the loans for more than 10 years loans.

Mr Meso also urged farmers to diversify to cushion themselves against erratic weather conditions.

The farmers under the Lanterera Co-operative Society have been seeking a waiver for the loans that have been accumulating since 2006.

AFC took hundreds of land titles as collateral for the money it lent to the farmers to to improve production. They ended up making losses due to poor yield caused by drought and were unable to repay the loans.

AFC board chairman Franklin Bett said farmers will benefit from government insurance scheme to avoid losses brought by erratic weather.