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Harsama said the initiative will transform the livelihoods of ASAL communities by providing a reliable source of income.
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The PS said with this project, the government seeks to increase the country's overall agricultural production.
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The Ministry of Agriculture is embarking on a new initiative to promote the growth of biofuel crops, such as castor, croton, and cotton, in the arid and semi-arid land areas of Kenya.
State Department of Crop Development Principal Secretary Kello Harsama said the project aims to use marginal or degraded land to grow crops that do not compete with the food supply chain.
"With 80 percent of the country's land classified as arid, this move will significantly increase the country's agricultural production," the PS said.
Crops used in manufacturing biofuels like biodiesel and ethanol are known as biofuel crops.
The initiative will be in collaboration with the ENI group.
Harsama noted that ENI has already supported more than 50,000 farmers in 11 counties and established a processing plant in Makueni county with a production capacity of 15,000 tons per year.
He said the vegetable oil produced by the said plant is currently used in the Gela refinery in Italy.
" To expand this program, a second agri-hub will be launched in the latter half of 2023, with more planned in the years ahead, aiming to produce 200,000 tonnes by 2026," the PS said.
Harsama said the expansion to more counties, with plans to reach over 200,000 farmers and 200,000 hectares, will have a significant impact on the lives of these communities, creating economic opportunities and improving overall agricultural production.
"To achieve this goal, the initiative will involve the provision of technical support and training to farmers on modern agroforestry techniques, such as intercropping and soil conservation practices," Harsama said.
He said the initiative will transform the livelihoods of these communities by providing a reliable source of income and improving the economic conditions of the ASAL areas.
The PS said with this project, the government seeks to create economic opportunities for the local communities in the ASAL regions while increasing the country's overall agricultural production.
The 11 counties include Makueni, Kitui, Kilifi, Kwale, Taita Taveta, Nakuru, Baringo, Embu, Kirinyaga, Machakos and Lamu.
Twelve more counties will be added to the project.