That's what Trade and Industrialism CS Betty told North Rift farmers, urging them to not only diversify from maize to avocado and passion fruit but also to venture into silkworm farming. Farmers have depended for too long on maize and need to diversify to higher-yielding crops, she said on Tuesday in Eldoret. She urged them to plant mulberry trees, which silkworms feed on, as demand for silk is high. Farmers in Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet and Nandi counties have relied on maize as their economic mainstay. A Chinese investor plans to build a silk processing factory in the AEZ that will provide a ready market.

Source: The Star August 26, 2020 18:56 UTC