About 30,000 farmers in Meru County have taken up green gram farming in an initiative meant to eradicate food insecurity and reliance on relief food. Meru governor Kiraitu Murungi rolled out the ‘DenguPesa’ programme in partnership with the Kenya Red Cross and national government where farmers were supplied with free certified seed. While signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Kenya Red Cross Secretary General Abbas Gullet, governor Murungi said farmers will be engaged in contract farming where the county will purchase the produce. Governor Murungi said the county was taking advantage of the Red Cross’s expertise in disaster management as well as the development wing involved in water and agriculture initiatives. "To kick off this partnership, we want to adopt the ‘Dengu revolution’ being implemented in Kitui County. The green gram farming programme will help boost food security in the dry parts of the county. Red Cross will distribute free seed to farmers and the county will buy the produce through the County Investment and Development Corporation," Mr Murungi said. Governor Murungi said they would work with Red Cross in alleviating food shortage and eventually ban distribution of relief food in the county. "Instead of waiting for drought, we want to increase food production. I will ban relief food provision in Meru after four years," the governor said. More than 130 tonnes of seed was given to farmer with the national government providing 72 tonnes, Kenya Red Cross 53 tonnes and AVCD project five tonnes. About 116.2 tonnes of seed have been planted in the current season while the rest will be planted come next season. In Tigania West, 8,488 farmers received the green gram seed, 4,611 in Igembe Central and 3,438 in Igembe North. Dr Gullet said Kenya Red Cross would support the food production initiative to avert reliance on food aid. "Red Cross wants to be part of the efforts to restore the human dignity that has been lost by reliance on food handouts. The agenda of economic empowerment and food security can only be achieved through partnerships among various players," Dr Gullet said. Following the initiative, more than 29,000 acres of land in 35 wards has been put under green gram farming. It is estimated that 13,000 tonnes of green grams worth Sh1.05 billion will be harvested in June. Meru Agriculture CEC KarwithaKiugu said the county microfinance corporation will buy the produce at Sh80 per kilo from willing farmers. She said the market is open and if farmers can get other markets where they are paid more than Sh80 they can sell. "As we encourage this initiative of the project we have a ready market and as a county, we have set a minimum price for the Dengu at Sh80 per kilogram. We are expecting high yields and is the responsibility of the farmer to manage because we want a minimum of eight bags per acre and if they can produce 15bags we are comfortable," Prof Karwitha said.