Kakamega to construct organic fertiliser plant to boost farming

Kakamega county is set to host a massive organic fertiliser factory even as the region focuses on improving food security.

The move will see the county partner with Sanergy Limited, the largest company in Sub Saharan Africa manufacturing regenerative inputs for agriculture and industry from organic waste.

The company engages in upcycling organic waste into much-needed agricultural inputs such as protein animal feed and organic fertiliser.

Sanergy is currently the highest producer of organic fertiliser in Kenya.

The Mumias Industrial Park site in the Matawa area has been proposed as the perfect site for the project.

Last week, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa hosted a high-level delegation from Sanergy at the county headquarters.

The meeting sought to deliberate on the partnership with the intention of investing in the production of organic fertiliser and animal feeds in the county.

The governor has welcomed the collaboration as a timely solution for waste management, which has been a major challenge in the county.

The move also goes to show and encourage private sector investments in the county.

Subsequently, the Kakamega County Investment Development Agency (KCIDA) CEO Elizabeth Asichi has been picked to spearhead the technical team that will fast-track the groundbreaking and implementation of the project.

The partnership is intended to create job opportunities and wealth creation for the residents.

“This will also improve our degrading soils to increase yields through organic fertilisers and other agricultural input thus impacting positively on food security," Barasa said.

The county executive for Agriculture Geoffrey Omulayi observed that the soils in the region have become acidic due to overuse.

He said organic fertiliser will be the perfect solution for the problem.

Omulayi notes that for a county whose major economies lie in sugarcane and maize farming, the fertiliser will be highly beneficial to the local farmers.

Sanergy's managing director Michael Lwoyelo said the firm will make use of waste from markets and hotels in the region as raw materials in the production of organic fertiliser.

“The waste is treated and converted into safe and valuable organic fertiliser and animal feeds currently available on the market. The project will create job opportunities for hundreds of residents,” Lwoyelo said.