Farmers uproot pyrethrum over delayed payments

As the Government starts a programme to revamp the moribund pyrethrum sub-sector, disillusioned farmers in the North Rift are uprooting the crop due to Pyrethrum Board of Kenya (PBK) delay in paying for the produce.

Growers are shifting to horticulture and dairy farming, which they consider more lucrative.

This has consequently reduced acreage under pyrethrum from 1,800 acres to less than 500 acres, with production set to drop further. Other farmers were displaced during the post-election violence last year.

“We intended to increase area under the crop in the region to 3,000 acres. But this will not be achieved due to displacement of some workers, uprooting of the crop and shortage of seedlings,” said North Rift regional crop manager, Mr Joel Kosgei.

The region, he says is in need of 30 million seedlings. The PBK owes local farmers over Sh15 million.

“It is no-longer profitable to invest in pyrethrum farming. Apart from delayed payments, there is shortage of seedlings and the is mismanagement of its entire affairs,” says Joshua Kiptoo, a farmer from Timboroa, Uasin Gishu district, who has since switched to dairy farming.

According to Mr Kosgei, the most affected areas include Burnt Forest and Timboroa in Uasin Gishu and most pyrethrum producing areas in Marakwet and West Pokot District.

“There is potential in pyrethrum sector and more players should be encouraged to join it. Restructuring has been done which will see farmers earn profit by investing in the sector,” says Mr Kosgei.

Agriculture minister William Ruto recently announced plans to revive the trouble-ridden pyrethrum sector to enable Kenya reclaim its glory as the world leading pyrethrum producer.

The reforms include increase of producer prices from Sh50 per kilo to Sh150, recruitment of the new management officials and retrenchment of some of the workers.

Extension services
“We want to have a lean workforce at the board and allocate more funds to settle debts, purchase more seeds and provide extension services to encourage farmers to re-invest in the sector,” said Mr Ruto.

The board is to elect new directors in June to help steer reforms in the sector . He said the government was to allocate Sh 472 million to help revive the sector and motivate farmers to step up pyrethrum farming.

The government has in the past spent over Sh860 million to revive the sector with little success.

“Kenya’s pyrethrum output has been declining in the last five years due to delayed payments and general mismanagement of the board affairs.

The revival plans might not be achieved unless there is commitment from the government,” said Mr Samuel Kiplagat, a farmer from Marakwet.