Kwale county is set to benefit from a national government project meant to produce bioenergy oil.
The project will be implemented in close partnership with an international oil company from Italy Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi (Eni). It is expected to commence by the start of next year.
Ministry of Agriculture research secretary Oscar Magenya said the government aims at reducing the fuel cost by looking for alternative, cheap and reliable sources of energy.
He said they have opted to use bioenergy-generating crops to substitute petroleum and diesel.
"We are looking forward to seeing local farmers grow bioenergy crops to locally produce fuel," he said.
They also target to produce organic fertilisers to reduce soil and environmental pollution. The programme will, however, be rolled out in 12 drought-prone counties because the crops can withstand harsh climatic conditions.
The move is also meant to improve food production and livelihoods in semi-arid counties. Farmers will be contracted under legitimate cooperatives.
Magenya said local farmers will be prioritised to do intercrop bioenergy crops like castor and cotton together with food crops like coconuts and mangoes.
The agri-hub processing plant will be built in each of the identified regions for farmers to channel their produce for collection and bio-refining.
The targeted oil is the jet fuel that is expected to be refined at the oil refinery in Mombasa once it has been modified. Some will be exported to Europe because of its high demand and as a way of expanding the market.
Magenya said by November, the first agri-hub will have been set up in Makueni county.
Meanwhile, in Kwale, the Ministry of Agriculture is engaging farmers and the county government for the project. Magenya said the government is in the process of identifying a suitable area for the construction of the factory.
"We met with the county commissioner and we have yet to initiate talks with the Kwale administration to see exactly where to put up the processing plant," he said.
The industry will, however, be built closer to the road network, water source and power for easy processing and transportation.
Magenya urged small-scale farmers to adopt and take advantage of the project to upgrade their lives.
