The Kenya Vision 2030 delivery board, led by its chairperson, Sakwa John Bunyasi, had a working tour of Taita Taveta County with eyes set on identifying areas of cooperation in the spaces of development and the creation of employment for vulnerable youth and women.
Speaking when the delegation was hosted by Governor Andrew Mwadime at Mwatate, Bunyasi expressed optimism as he named various areas that are in the scope of Kenya’s Vision 2030 and could be strategic in lifting the coastal devolved unit from the bottom of the development index in Kenya and become a key player in the contribution of the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Among the key areas identified for partnership are crop farming, value addition, and livestock production, which are currently underexploited and largely left to small-scale farmers who hardly make any meaningful contribution to the county’s revenue basket.
“When we look around, there is no shortage of opportunities and areas of collaboration. For instance, crop farming and animal production, on a large scale and with value addition chains in place, are crucial areas that can contribute to economic growth for both the county and Kenya at large,” said Bunyasi.
Governor Mwadime, who has been on a charm offensive to woo domestic and foreign investors since taking office in August 2022, agreed there was a big gap in investment and development in the food value chain.
The governor highlighted livestock production as an area that would boost the economy of the county and called for the national government to complete the Bachuma Livestock Export Processing Zone (LEPZ) to further expand and explore the massive meat export market in the Gulf nations.
“Livestock production, especially meat for export to the Gulf nations, is a low-hanging opportunity for the county and country. I call upon the national government to expedite and operationalize the Bachuma LEPZ,” said Mwadime.
Currently, the county exports 18,000 heads of animals per year, according to the livestock department, and this is a meager figure given the massive potential of the county’s livestock and related products.
Another area that was brought to the attention of the Kenya Vision 2030 delivery board is banana production and its value-added chain.
While calling for investment partners in the sector, Governor Mwadime said his administration was working hard to increase the current banana production from 75,000 metric tons to 200, 000 metric tons per year.
By Arnold Linga Masila
