The World Bank (WB) has given the Kilifi Area government more than Sh200 million to empower farmer organizations in the county.
According to Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro, the money is intended to create possibilities for farmers to explore various farming operations that would, in the end, help them to support their livelihoods.
He was speaking after presenting an Sh10 million check to five farmer organizations in the county.
The World Bank funding is being used to undertake the National Agriculture and Rural Inclusive Growth Project in the country (NARIGP).
“We have received more than Sh200 million as a new allocation of funds from the World Bank. The funds are aimed at sustaining your lives through different activities including farming. So make good use of it to enhance your lives,” he said.
He further said that there are plans to start irrigation schemes along River Sabaki to tap into the natural resource as an empowerment to farmers.
“We are in talks with the World Bank and other development partners to start irrigation projects along the Sabaki River. Under this program, the county government will negotiate with farmers living along the river bank to give out their land to the department of agriculture to farm and the share the proceeds between the government and the farmers. With that, there will be a mutual benefit on both sides. That is what we want to see next,’ he said.
The governor said that plans are already underway to build hostels at the Agriculture Training Centre (ATC) in Mtwapa to accommodate more farmers for training in different areas of specialization.
“Begining next year and I have already asked our Agriculture CEC Peterson Chula to make sure that we build more classrooms and increase hostels at ATC Mtwapa so that our farmers are properly trained on good farming methods before they are given funds to carry out their projects,” he said.
The Governor lauded the Narigp program and asked the beneficiaries to make good use of the money to empower themselves and turn their lives for the better.
“Let this be a chance to change your lives through farming. For those who have received the money today, I would love to see you progress by next year so that you set a good precedent to other groups,” he said.
