Sh 34million has been disbursed to farmers’ groups in Gichugu Constituency, Kirinyaga County. Governor Ann Waiguru who issued the funds said that the groups are part of 314 others drawn from across the County that have benefitted from a Ksh 117 million kitty disbursed to fund phase two of the National Agricultural Rural Inclusive Growth Program (NARIGP).
The farmers’ groups are involved in implementation of various projects initiated by the County Government among them poultry keeping, avocado, tomato, dairy and pig farming in the constituency. Governor Waiguru said the projects that are being implemented under Wezesha Kirinyaga economic empowerment program are aimed at increasing agricultural productivity in the County to improve the livelihood of the residents.
The funds will see construction of greenhouses and installation of drip irrigation systems to enable growing varieties of tomato processing which will be supplied to the proposed tomato factory. poultry farmers will be assisted to rear improved Kienyenji chicken for massive egg production, complementing phase one of the one million eggs per month project.
Proper management of projects
Avocado farmers will be provided with hass avocado seedlings with an aim of increasing production towards the construction of an avocado pack house. The funds will also support dairy farmers to improve their dairy cow breeds through Artificial Insemination (AI) for increased milk production while pig farming groups will each be supported with a sow and 20 piglets.
Governor Waiguru noted that the leadership of all the groups have been trained on proper management of the projects and are expected to ensure successful implementation of the projects. At the same time, she enumerated various massive infrastructural development projects in various sectors such as health, roads, agriculture and urban upgrade.
