The County Government of West Pokot has intensified efforts to tackle food insecurity and improve
household incomes by distributing 6,000 fruit seedlings to farmers in Kanyarkwat Location as part of its
agricultural empowerment programme.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Wilfred
Longronyang on Thursday presided over the exercise, where farmers received 4,000 mango seedlings
and 2,000 Hass avocado seedlings to promote commercial fruit farming and enhance nutrition across the
county.
Speaking during the distribution, Longronyang urged beneficiaries to properly plant and nurture the
seedlings, saying fruit farming offers farmers a long-term source of income while contributing to
environmental conservation through increased tree cover.
“These fruit trees are an investment in the future. Once they mature, they will improve household
nutrition, generate income for families, and strengthen resilience against the effects of climate change,”
he said.
The initiative comes at a time when West Pokot continues to grapple with recurring food insecurity driven
by erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts and low agricultural productivity. Large parts of the county’s arid
and semi-arid zones experience chronic food shortages, with many households relying heavily on
livestock production that remains vulnerable to drought and fluctuating market prices.
While the county’s highland areas record relatively better crop production, seasonal droughts continue to
disrupt food availability, leaving many families vulnerable. Children and pregnant women remain among
the most affected by malnutrition.
County officials say promoting drought-resilient and high-value crops such as mangoes and Hass
avocados is part of a broader strategy to diversify livelihoods, reduce dependence on rain-fed staple
crops and strengthen food security.
The seedling distribution is one of several interventions being implemented by the county government to
increase agricultural productivity, build climate resilience and improve the economic well-being of farming
households across West Pokot.
