EMO Strikes Deal With Seed Company
Oct 31, 2011 (Menafn - Nairobi Star/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) --The Kenya Seed Company has contracted EMO Investments to multiply seeds on part of the controversial Kruger Farm in Eldoret. EMO bought 568 acres of the Kruger Farm at Sh113 million from South African farmer Stephanus Petrus Kruger. The land will now be used to grow the seeds for KSC. EMO Operations manager Charles Chelimo said on Saturday that they have already agreed with KSC to use the land in Uasin Gishu county for seed production.
KSC Public Relations Manager Sammy Chepsiror confirmed that they had signed the deal with EMO to help boost seed production for the company. "The deal will help us to back up seed production for KSC so that our farmers do not experience seed shortages as was the case last year," said Chelimo. Chepsiror said the KSC had secured the deal because the EMO land was strategic and fertile for seed production.
EMO held a special AGM for its members in Eldoret where the move on seed multiplication was passed . The EMO group is a key investments group for the Kalenjin community. The AGM was hosted at the Kenmosa village in Eldoret. Present also were EMO Company Secretary Hosea Kiplagat, Patron Emo Societies Rev Jackson Kosgey and Director John Sang'ut.
The meeting also approved the hiring of a renowned Safari Rally driver and Narok based prominent farmer Carl Tundo to manage the farm professionally. "We have settled the dispute over the sale of the Kurger Farm and now are looking forward to development. We will use the farm we got for the benefit of our country," said Chelimo.
Chelimo says the seed production will start soon.KSC is set to move to the farm to start preparations. He noted that EMO- KSC partnership was part of their strategies for empowering the local community and cushioning farmers from seeds shortage problems. EMO had planned to buy all the 5,000 acres of the Kurger Farm but a dispute emerged after several other investors were allowed to buy the same land.
Chelimo said the dispute was now a gone matter and EMO would focus on other investments in the region to help its members.The initiative was spearheaded by former EMO Chairman, the late James Bett. The EMO shareholders said the group would remain united and focused to pursue their goals.
Copyright Nairobi Star. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
