Published on: January 20, 2025 07:45 (EAT)
An agricultural officer collects soil sample for testing. Photo/COURTESY
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KARLO)has kicked off intensive digitized soil testing and sampling across 45 counties in a bid to increase agricultural productivity in the country.
The programme will be conducted in partnership with county governments where the national government through the Ministry of Agriculture has trained Agriprenuers who will conduct testing and sampling.
According to KALRO researcher Peterson Njeru, the exercise is targeting to record over 77,000 soil samples from farms.
Speaking during a training at Mwea Irrigation Agricultural Development Njeru said that the digital sampling will provide recommendations to farmers on the right fertilizer to use in their farms.
Njeru added that the exercise will also provide advice to the government on the fertiliser subsidy programme and ensure the ministry buys fertilizer that fit ecological zones in every region.
He said that continued use of fertiliser without technical advice has affected the soil making it acidic, this declining food production in the country.
Njeru emphasized that trained personnel will visit farms across three counties testing soil and using mobile phones and transmit data to KALRO laboratories for further analysis.
This follows a long-time practice where the government used to do manual sampling which has proved difficult to implement these recommendations.
On his part, John Maina from the Ministry of Agriculture said that degradation of soil has negatively impacted food production and the government will now get necessary advice on recommended fertilizer and nutrients needed to improve soil.
Trainees will partner with county governments officers ,chiefs and assistant chiefs to conduct the exercise calling on farmers to participate fully in the programme.