Historically, residents of Elgeyo Marakwet County (in Kenya’s Kerio Valley) considered their area unsuitable for any meaningful agricultural activities. That has meant that pastoralism has been, since time immemorial, their major economic mainstay notwithstanding the recurrent banditry and cattle rustling incidents that have claimed several human lives and wiped away livelihood of cores of families. But the semi-arid region is experiencing economic transformation as residents increasingly take up crop farming, particularly horticulture, driven by low investment and attractive returns. Many of them now consider investment in crop growing to be less risky compared to pastoralism that exposes them to recurrent attacks by armed raiders. An acre of mango plantation generates Sh750,000 (€6,500) or more a season on average, depending on how it is cared for. Francis Kiplagat from Cheptebo has over 40 acres under the crop. The farmer grows six different varieties of the fruit targeting different markets. The varieties include, Apple, Ngoe, Tommy, Fantaic, Keit and Keint that are popular in the vast Kerio Valley region as they have high demand. Mr Kiplagat is among farmers who benefitted from Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA)’s move to encourage investment in fast maturing, disease resistance and high yielding mangoes, thus earning better returns. Source - https://www.freshplaza.com