The government has assured residents of Tigania West Constituency, Meru County that the upcoming Kenya School of Agriculture being constructed at Kamutune will be completed by December 2026.
Speaking during an inspection tour of development projects in the constituency, Agriculture PS Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh said the government had intensified efforts to fast-track construction of the facility, aimed at transforming the region into an agricultural hub.
According to the PS, the Kenya School of Agriculture Kamutune will become a centre of excellence that will produce highly skilled graduates capable of enhancing agricultural extension services and improving farm productivity in Tigania West and across the country.
Dr. Ronoh also inspected the ongoing construction of agricultural aggregation centres at Urru and Ngundune.
He said the aggregation centres under construction will serve as last-mile fertilizer distribution hubs and storage facilities where farmers can safely keep their produce while waiting for favourable market prices.
The PS said the Kenya Kwanza administration, led by President Dr. William Ruto remains committed to delivering all the promises it made to Kenyans through accelerated implementation of development projects.
He urged area residents to invest in residential houses that will accommodate students, trainers and other staff who will be drawn from different parts of the country, once the agricultural college commences operations.
Dr. Ronoh also encouraged coffee farmers to expand production by planting more coffee bushes, noting that coffee prices have risen significantly over the last few years.
He said coffee prices had increased from about Sh50 in 2022 to approximately Sh150 currently, expressing optimism that returns would continue improving.
“The future of our farmers is bright, and they should take advantage of the favourable prices by increasing production,” he said.
On macadamia farming, the PS said the government had introduced regulations requiring the crop to be processed before sale in order to increase farmers’ earnings.
He urged growers to maintain high quality standards, assuring them that the government would continue securing markets for their produce.
He added that the government had streamlined the agricultural sector to ensure farmers receive better returns for their hard work.
Tigania West MP Dr John Mutunga on his part called on residents to continue supporting the government to enable completion of all the 27 development projects planned for the constituency.
The MP cited the ongoing tarmacking of the Kunene–St Ann–Miomponi road and the Kirindine–Miathene road as some of the key infrastructural projects already underway.
Mutunga said Tigania West had for many years lagged behind in development and urged residents to support the ongoing programmes, aimed at accelerating growth and bringing them to the same level as other regions of the country.
by Dickson Mwiti
