Over 50 farmers, traders, and agribusiness players from across Homabay County have completed a 2-day training on improved groundnut production.
The training, held on 11-12 June 2026, brought together 10 smallholder farmers, 5 groundnut traders, 35 Farmer Service Center operators FSCs, and 5 bulkers under one roof.
The goals were to reduce crop losses, cut aflatoxin levels, and connect farmers directly to ready markets.
Organized by the Cereal Growers Association (CGA), the sessions focused on 4 practical steps farmers can use immediately. These included proper land preparation, correct spacing of 50cm x 15cm, timely weeding before pegging, and sun-drying on tarpaulins to meet KEBS moisture standards of 8% or less.
“Most of us have been planting groundnuts the old way and blaming the weather,” said Michael Jabuya, a farmer from Ndhiwa Sub-County adding that, “Now I know my drying method was giving me aflatoxin. I will change that on my one-acre farm.”
Traders and bulkers who attended said the training will improve supply quality.
“We lose money buying nuts that fail KEBS tests,” noted Lucy Achieng’, a processor from Suba North. “If farmers dry well and store properly, we can buy more from Homabay and pay better prices.”
Farm to Market Alliance (FtMA) officials who closed the training urged participants to share the knowledge in their villages and wards.
Groundnuts are a priority crop under Homabay County’s climate-smart agriculture plan. With erratic rains affecting maize, officials say the crop offers farmers both food security and income with lower water needs.
