October 15, 2013. Three flower firms have scooped all the top three honours in the large commercial farms category of the just concluded National Farmers Awards 2013.
The Nakuru County farms, all based in Naivasha – grower Panda Flowers, rose propagators and producers of young plants Stokman Rozen and grower Nini Limited decorated the industry by winning the number 1, 2, and 3 in the category respectively beating thousands of entrants.
The National Farmers Awards 2013 are an initiative of Elgon Kenya Limited and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.
The other winners of the inaugural awards are  Kalia Farm from Machakos County,  in the Smallholder Fully Commercialized Farms category followed by Kyanda Farm in Makueni for the same league. The owner of Kalia Farm, Dr Nelson Nyamu received a trophy and certificate from President Uhuru Kenyatta at this year’s Nairobi International Show at Jamhuri Park on October 2, 2013.
Harrison Muriuki of Ruiri Farmers Centre, in Buuri, Meru County won in the Small Scale Agro-dealers category. Number 2 is Blue Agri Supply Services from Nyeri County, and number 3 went to Shamba Input from Njoro, Nakuru County.
In the Small scale Farms Gearing to Commercialization category, the judges didn’t identify the number 1 and 2 since no participant met the threshold, but Bishop George Mbaya of Meru County clinched the third position.
In the Large Scale Agro Dealers category,  number 1 and 2 were  awarded to DK Jolly from Nyeri County and Packsons Enterprises Limited from Kericho County respectively.
The winners will be feted at a gala dinner that is being planned at a date to be communicated later.