Poultry, dairy, banana and fish farmers from Murang’a County are set to improve their production courtesy of Sh200m fund by World Bank. This will save the farmers from poor farming methods which has led to low food production causing some parts of the county to rely on relief foods in the recent past.
According to Peter Njangi, the county chief officer for agriculture the money will be given to established farmer groups which have attempted various agricultural projects in phases whereby the first phase of Sh50 million will be given to farmers from five sub counties, while the remaining three will be factored in the second phase.
“The first five sub counties earmarked to benefit from the funds include Mathioya, Kiharu, Kigumo, Maragua and Kandara while funding to farmers from Kangema, Kahuro and Gatanga will be done during second phase expected to start after two years’ time,” said Njagi.
“The groups will get grants ranging from Sh50, 000 to Sh500, 000 with best performing groups standing a chance to get additional funding from the kitty,” added Njagi who was speaking when he met interior administrators drawn from the areas earmarked to benefit from the initiative.
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This money will be channeled through National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) and will help farmers to venture into best agricultural practices thus increasing profit from their produce.
It will help the groups explore on ways of adding value to their produce, leading to more income.
Among agricultural sectors being targeted to get funding include poultry, dairy, tissue culture banana and fish farming among others.
“The programme aims at helping farmers improve on their production and venture in value addition and this will consequently increase their income,” stated Njangi.
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He further said the 5 year programme will also help farmers get market for their produce, noting that currently farmers are exposed to middle men who exploit them.
“The grant will go in a long way to save rural farmers from losing their money through transactions with middlemen,” noted the chief officer.
Njangi said agricultural extension officers will help farmers in employing best practices and in prudent utilization of the funds.
“The money has been given to the Kenyan government as a loan but to farmers the money is given as grants. There is a need to ensure the funds are utilized for the intended purpose,” he added.
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