Turkana county government will establish a model agrinutrition farm, mainly focusing on horticultural and fruit farming at Nakwamekwi area near Lodwar town.
The County executive for Agriculture, Pastoral Economy and Fisheries, Philip Aemun has said that the devolved unit is reclaiming more land for crop production especially along rivers, so as to utilize the available water for irrigation and address cases of hunger and dependence on relief food in the area.
Aemun was speaking on Tuesday while accompanying the County Commissioner (CC), Wambua Muthama for an inspection tour of the ongoing bush clearing in a 10-acre farm at Ngilukumong village, Lodwar Township Ward in Turkana Central Sub County.
The national government through the Kazi Mtaani initiative has recruited 600 youth to clear Mathenge plant (Prosopis Juliflora) that had overgrown in the selected farming site.
A total of 3,700 youth have been recruited in the county to work on various projects in Lodwar municipality among them bush clearing and beatification of the town.
Aemun said the Agriculture Department will help in leveling of the farm, river protection works, nursery establishment, distribution of seedlings, destumping as well as training of farmers on modern farming techniques.
While emphasizing on the need to plant trees along the river banks to control floods, the County Executive urged youths to embrace agricultural farming which had a ready market in the region.
On his part, the CC applauded the Kazi Mtaani initiative for establishing a farm in Nakwamekwi, while calling for strict adherence to preventive measures against corona virus.
Wambua called for consideration of youth during allocation of farming plots and assured that the National Government was committed in supporting area residents clear the bush through the Kazi Mtaani initiative.
Once completed, 40 youths will be allocated farming plots in the farm.
Others present during the function, were the Turkana Central Deputy County Commissioner, Alexander Mativo, the Lodwar Municipality Manager, Esther Kiyonga, the County Director for Agriculture, Paul Lokone and his Administration counterpart, Rachel Aroo.
By Peter Gitonga
