Agricultural Society of Kenya shows to be assigned new roles by the government

Agriculture Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Kiprono Ronoh announced that the government plans to assign new roles to the Agricultural Society of Kenya (A.S.K) by holding quarterly sub-shows nationwide.

During a two-day farmers’ field event in Eldama Ravine town, Dr. Ronoh expressed concern that the annual ASK shows are not fully optimized to achieve their potential and intended purpose.

The PS mentioned that the government is considering transitioning ASK to agro-cities, where all county products are displayed during shows. This would allow investors to identify and distinguish export products from the county.

“In Baringo, for example, there could be quarterly sub-shows in different constituencies, culminating in a year-end showcase of all their products,” he explained.

He emphasized the importance of holding shows at the constituency level to build farmers’ capacity on best agricultural practices.

Dr. Ronoh urged Governor Benjamin Cheboi to establish a permanent building at the Kabarnet main showground to house a collection of products accessible to anyone, including visitors.

Governor Cheboi welcomed the initiative, acknowledging the potential impact of such shows in linking farmers to various markets and potential partners.

He stated that promoting these exhibitions would encourage farmers to adopt transformative technologies and modern farming methods, enhancing growth and development in the agricultural sector.

Eldama Ravine Member of Parliament Musa Sirma, who requested more exhibitions after the successful two-day event, highlighted that the region is the largest contributor of agricultural produce in the county and needs support from his department and other stakeholders to penetrate global markets.