Plans to establish Kenya School of Agriculture (KSA) Makueni Campus are in an advanced stage, Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Executive Committee Member (ECM) Joyce Mutua has said.
Ms Mutua disclosed this after farmers drawn from across the county endorsed the idea during a public participation forum held at Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) Kwa Kathoka on Monday.
Also the forum was attended by relevant Departmental heads both from National and County Governments, development partners and other stakeholders.
“I am happy that this is an issue we have been discussing with the National Government and they have reached a point where they need land to establish the agriculture school. We are luck, we have 118 acres of land here at ATC where we research agricultural activities,” said Mutua while addressing the media on Monday.
“Farmers have unanimously endorsed the idea of the government to establish KSA here, this will enable us start to delineate land to accelerate the processes before the national government can allocate funds,” said the ECM.
The ECM disclosed that as a county, farmers who completed training from ATC as artisans were unable to continue to diploma level saying that will be a thing of the past with the establishment of the KSA in the area.
“As a county we shall benefit as we have ATC that is functioning and producing Level 3 Artisan courses. Students who graduated from here were asking where they would continue learning and have diplomas,” she posed.
Additionally, Mutua noted that the Agricultural Extension Officers will do their refresher courses especially now we have evolving technology which they will use to educate our farmers in the county.
Speaking at the same event, an Officer Incharge of Kenya School of Agriculture Mr. Gordon Nyakiti said the national government will only commit funds to the project once land has been allocated for the construction of the Kenya School of Agriculture, Makueni Campus.
“Land must be allocated and a title deed deposited at the Ministry of National Treasury as a trustee for KSA, Makueni Campus. That is when it will become legally tenable such that funds can be appropriated for any development,” said Nyakiti.
“I am happy this process has kicked-off, I am hoping it gathers momentum so that in the next 2-3 months, we get the title and then get consent for funding,” he added.
The national government will fund the construction of the agriculture school fully.
By Patrick Nyakundi
