The government has urged farmers in Busia to invest in groundnuts, simsim, sunflower and soy beans with a view to developing the county's economy.
Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Principal Secretary (PS) Susan Mang'eni, while speaking during the disbursement of Sh24.5 million grant to 35 cooperative societies in Busia, said Kenya spends about Sh150 billion per year in importing edible oil raw materials.
However, Mang'eni was emphatic that we have the potential to produce our own raw materials of the edible oil locally, adding, "It's time for the local farmers to invest in their farms, produce the requisite materials and get the money that is being used to import such supplies from other countries," she said.
The PS encouraged farmers to invest the grant funds in producing edible oil raw materials, adding that Busia is the only county within Western Kenya region that has a Special Economic Zone (EPZ).
