By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, September 02 , 2026 - Migori is preparing for a major agricultural and economic showcase as Governor Ochillo Ayacko and County Executive for Agriculture Lucas Mosenda Chacha rally thousands of farmers, traders, investors and residents to attend this year’s Migori Agricultural Show.
The four-day event will run from September 24 to 27, bringing together farmers, agribusinesses, government agencies, financial institutions, researchers and investors as the county seeks to turn its vast agricultural potential into higher incomes and new economic opportunities.
Governor Ayacko said the show would provide Migori with an important platform to showcase its economic strengths while opening new opportunities for investment, enterprise and job creation.
“Migori has enormous economic potential in agriculture, fisheries, livestock, mining, tourism and trade. We want to create an environment where our people can produce more, add value to what they produce and access better markets,” Ayacko told the press.
He explained that the county's strategic location, fertile agricultural land, Lake Victoria resources and mineral wealth gave it a strong foundation for economic transformation.
Ayacko disclosed that his administration was keen to strengthen partnerships with the private sector and development agencies to unlock investment opportunities across the county.
But Chacha wants the agricultural show to go beyond speeches and exhibitions.
He told the press in a candid interview that the county would use the event to demonstrate practical farming technologies and climate-smart agriculture as Migori prepares for the expected El Niño rains.
“We are focusing on climate change and mitigation. We shall demonstrate to farmers the best farming practices that can help them mitigate the effects of climate change,” Chacha said.
He explained that the county was encouraging farmers to diversify their enterprises instead of relying on traditional crops alone.
Among the emerging opportunities are avocado, rice, coffee, macadamia, fruits and leafy vegetables, which he said could significantly raise farmers' income per capita.
The county is also investing in value addition, particularly in fish, dairy and honey products, as it seeks to ensure farmers earn more from their produce.
Chacha revealed that the county had recently commissioned a chicken processing and packaging facility at Nyalinga in Suna West, initially targeting domestic consumption but with ambitions to enter export markets in future.
The push is also being extended to crop and fisheries production.
The county has supplied 5,000 certified maize seedlings to thousands of farmers and distributed 200,000 fish fingerlings as part of efforts to improve productivity and strengthen commercial farming.
In the blue economy, Chacha said 35 fish cages had so far been established on the Migori side of Lake Victoria, signalling growing interest in aquaculture as an alternative source of income and employment.
The county is also promoting other agribusiness opportunities, including dairy farming, poultry, beekeeping, horticulture, aquaculture, agro-processing and livestock value chains.
Chacha said farmers were being sensitised on the opportunities while civic education programmes were being taken deeper into rural communities.
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The county has already visited Rongo and Nyatike sub-counties and plans to intensify the programme after the agricultural show through field days across the county.
“We want to decentralise these services and take practical knowledge directly to the people. After the show, we shall embark on field days in the sub-counties to promote best farming practices and effective ways of mitigating climate change,” Chacha said.
The campaign comes as farmers prepare for potentially heavy rains, making soil conservation, crop diversification, water management and resilient farming practices increasingly important.
The agricultural show is also expected to attract political leaders from across Migori.
Those slated to grace the event include Rongo MP Paul Abuor, Uriri MP Mark Nyamita, Kuria East MP Marwa Kitayama, Kuria West MP Mathias Robi, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed and Suna West MP Peter Masara.
Their presence is expected to give the event a strong political and economic dimension, bringing together national and county leaders around the shared question of how to transform agriculture into a more productive commercial enterprise.
For Migori, the stakes are significant.
The county sits within a rich agricultural belt producing maize, sugarcane, tobacco, bananas, vegetables, fruits and livestock. Its Lake Victoria shoreline provides opportunities in fishing, aquaculture, fish processing and trade, while its gold deposits give it another important economic pillar.
There are also opportunities in tourism, hospitality, agro-processing and cross-border trade, particularly given Migori's links to neighbouring counties and the wider East African market.
The challenge is converting these resources into wealth that reaches ordinary households.
That means moving farmers from production to value addition, connecting them to reliable markets, expanding access to finance and technology, and creating enterprises that can absorb young people entering the labour market.
The agricultural show therefore comes at a crucial time.
For Ayacko, it is a chance to market Migori as an investment destination.
For Chacha, it is an opportunity to put practical knowledge into the hands of farmers.
And for thousands of farmers expected to attend, the message is increasingly clear: the future of Migori agriculture lies not merely in producing more, but in producing smarter, adding value and earning more from every acre, animal and enterprise.