Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has said that ‘Wezesha Kirinyaga', an economic empowerment programme, is poised to change the country's economic fortunes.
The programme focuses on the diversification of agricultural activities to increase household incomes. It was introduced three years ago.
While inspecting the progress of implementation of pigs and tomato projects in Thiba, Mwea, Waiguru said that under Wezesha Kirinyaga, the county government has funded 473 farmers’ groups to the tune of Sh172 million, to enable them to undertake agricultural projects.
She said the project currently has an impact on about 14,000 households, a number expected to rise with subsequent recruitment and funding. Each of the participating households is expected to make an extra Sh1,000 per day.
“Wezesha Kirinyaga provides farmers, among them women and the youth, with alternative livelihoods that will lead to more income and better standards of living," Waiguru said.
The governor added that so far 71 tomato farmers’ groups, with an impact of about 2,000 households, have received support.
She said this is to increase tomato production and propagate varieties that are disease-tolerant and suitable for processing. The county produces about 63,000 tonnes of tomatoes, earning farmers about Sh1.5 billion annually.
Waiguru also visited the Thiba South Youth Group Pig project, one of the 20 outfits supported by her administration.
She said that apart from the farmers earning income from the sale of the pigs, there will be many women and youth working in the pig transportation business, pork eateries as well as transportation of pig feeds, among other support activities.
At maturity, each pig is expected to fetch between Sh17,000 and Sh20,000 depending on its weight. Kirinyaga Investment Development Authority will assist the farmers to sell their pigs.
Waiguru said that to support the pig and tomato project, her administration will be constructing an abattoir and a tomato processing factory respectively.
Other projects funded under 'Wezesha Kirinyaga' include egg production, dairy production, avocado farming, beekeeping and fish farming.
Waiguru noted that the Wezesha projects are not only in support of the county’s economic development goals but will also contribute to the achievement of the food security outlined in the Big Four Agenda.
