TAITA TAVETA – Sunflower farming in Taita Taveta County has taken a major step forward following the distribution of six tons of high-yield certified seeds across all four sub-counties. This latest consignment comes just months after an initial supply of seven tons, dramatically expanding local access to quality planting materials. The initiative stems from Governor Dr. Andrew Mwadime’s ongoing drive to attract strategic partners and private investment to revitalize the region’s agricultural sector.
During a distribution exercise in Mwatate, Agriculture CECM Katuu Mzenge announced that the county government, in partnership with the Agriculture and Food Authority, will install a modern sunflower processing machine before the end of the 2026/2027 financial year.
Speaking at the Bura distribution event, Agriculture and Food Authority officer Florence Rono confirmed that the extraction facility will be operational in the Bura zone by April. Rono emphasized that a single two-kilogram pack of sunflower seed yields approximately two liters of refined cooking oil alongside nutritious animal feed, urging residents to embrace sunflower as a primary cash crop.
For farmers in Bura and surrounding areas, the shift toward sunflower cultivation offers a practical solution to persistent human-wildlife conflict. Because elephants do not target sunflowers, the crop provides a resilient safeguard against the destruction that frequently plagues traditional staple produce. To help maximize yields ahead of the facility’s launch, local growers have appealed to the county government for additional support in acquiring crop treatments and soil nutrients.
