Kirinyaga County
Governor Anne Waiguru on Wednesday disbursed Ksh. 117 million to fund farmers
groups to undertake various projects aimed at increasing agricultural
productivity in the county.
go into implementation of the second phase of National Agricultural Rural
Inclusive Growth (NARIG) projects which include poultry, dairy, avocado, tomato
and pig production among others. The projects are being implemented by 314
community groups comprised of about 8,000 households.
said that the funded projects are part of Wezesha Kirinyaga program which is
aimed at making agricultural activities translate to better incomes and
improved livelihoods of the county residents.
the projects will economically empower residents through enable them diversify
their agricultural activities to reduce overdependence on traditional cash
crops whose prices are unreliable.
groups are 45 poultry groups, 60 tomato groups, 30 avocado groups, 60 dairy
groups and 20 groups each among pig farmers, bee keepers, incubators, fish
farmers, vulnerable and marginalized groups and 19 nutrition groups.
farmers groups have been funded to the tune Ksh. 22.5 million to undertake mass
egg production projects. The governor said that the county will provide each of
the groups with 1,250 improved Kienyenji chicks adding that the project will
complement the ongoing phase 1 project in which 32 groups are already producing
eggs.
The county will also provide chicken feeds for the farmers for the first
six months of the project while marketing of the eggs is done through Kirinyaga
Investment Development Authority (KIDA).
growing groups will receive Ksh. 30 million for construction of green houses
and drip irrigation systems to enable them grow tomato varieties suitable for
processing. The project is tied to the proposed tomato processing factory that
will add value and address post-harvest tomato loses.
will go towards supporting avocado growing groups with hass avocado seedlings
with an aim of increasing production geared towards feeding a proposed avocado
packhouse while Ksh. 30 million goes to the dairy sector towards improvement of
cow breeds through improved Artificial Insemination (AI) program.
farmers groups will be supported with Ksh. 4 million which will go towards
getting each of the groups a mother sow and 20 piglets. The county also plans
to construct a pig abattoir.
be supported with Ksh. 4 million which will go towards acquiring 25 beehives
and honey harvesting kits for each of the group.
will be supported with Ksh. 4 million towards installation of incubators each
with a capacity of hatching 1000 chicks which will be sold to the poultry
production groups.
farming in the county, fish farmers will be given Ksh. 4 million worth of fish
pond liners and fingerings while Ksh. 2 million will be given to vulnerable and
marginalized groups to enable them undertake income generating activities of
their choice such as soup making.
will be supported with Ksh. 950,000 to enable them produce and process local
vegetables with an aim of boosting the nutrition status of the county.
said that Kirinyaga being an agricultural county, her administration has been
committed to ensuring that farmers get value from their produce.
