Nyandarua county banks on solar-powered driers to change fortunes in pyrethrum farming

Nyandarua County has taken measures to revive pyrethrum farming by initiating a drive for farmers in the seven pyrethrum-rich zones. 

The county administration on Thursday launched Solar Powered driers for pyrethrum to ensure they have 

higher efficiency due to a higher ability to exercise control over the drying process. 

The greenhouse-like technology can easily adjust the temperature or reduce the ventilation according to the size of the structure. 

According to Governor Moses Kiarie Badilisha, the solar-powered driers will come in handy in enabling pyrethrum farmers to produce quality products with high pyrethrin content.

He noted that the county administration is propagating it as a major cash crop, and so far, the effort has seen over 800 acres of land put under pyrethrum across the county.

Farmers have expressed optimism that the new technology will be of benefit.

They lamented that in the past, farmers had to use crude methods to dry pyrethrum flowers and at times, it would lose the required quality and hence fetch little money or even go to waste.

Prices have remained a major challenge due to fluctuations forcing farmers to abandon the crop, save for the few who have started to re-introduce the crop albeit slowly.

Solar dryers use solar radiation to remove moisture from the flowers and are eco-friendly and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and also help extend the shelf life of the flowers.