Taita Taveta County recorded a major milestone in its drive to become a leading producer of edible oils and related products after distributing seven tones of sunflower seeds to more than 3,500 sunflower farmers across the county yesterday.
The initiative implemented by the county government of Taita Taveta in partnership with the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), was part of the broader strategy to boost local oil production and strengthen the sunflower value chain.
The exercise came after the groundbreaking of the Taveta Sunflower Processing Unit, a key investment expected to revolutionize the county’s agribusiness landscape.
According to the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, livestock Development, Irrigation, Cooperatives, and Blue Economy, Dawson Katuu Mzenge, the programme aims to empower sunflower farmers to boost production and sustain the upcoming processing facilities.
“We have distributed these seeds in the areas that have shown great potential to ensure that the processing plants we are establishing will have adequate raw materials once they begin operations,” said Mzenge.
The Chief Officer for Agriculture, Mr. Mcharo Mwalugha, noted that the county government continued to prioritize value addition initiatives to ensure farmers reaped maximum benefits from their produce.
“The County Government put a lot of effort into promoting value addition initiatives to ensure that every farmer in Taita Taveta gained maximum benefit,” he said.
The sunflower seed distribution programme reflected the county’s determination to transform agriculture into a profitable and sustainable sector.
By investing in both production and processing infrastructure, Taita Taveta aims to increase oil production, enhance farmer incomes and create employment opportunities. With the Taveta Sunflower Processing Plant construction, the county is steadily positioning itself a regional hub for oilseed production and agribusiness innovation.
