More than 25 youth and women groups from Gitugi ward in Murang’a County have benefited from avocado and banana seedlings.
In a programme dubbed Sustainable Economic Livelihood Farming Project which is facilitated by Turkish Corporation Coordination Agency (TIKA) in partnership with Ahadi Kenya Trust, the farmers received more than 30, 000 seedlings.
The fruit seedlings distributed to about 5, 000 members will boost food security and enable small scale farmers to have a source of livelihoods.
The Turkish ambassador to Kenya, Amhet Cemil Miroghu said his government was in support of Kenyan Government Agenda Four programme especially in agricultural programmes.
He lauded the distribution of the seedlings saying apart from being a source of food and livelihoods to beneficiaries, it will help in combating climate change.
Miroghu said TIKA will continue to support less privileged members of society to initiate economic activities which will boost their livelihoods.
He said the Turkish Government has partnered with more than 200 community groups in the country and is present in more than 150 countries.
On his part, Ahadi Kenya Executive Director Dr. Stanley Kamau said the partnership will see distribution of more than one million fruit seedlings to farmers by the end of the expected rainy season.
He underscored the need to plant fruit trees saying they have more advantage to farmers as they can get income from the trees.
“Avocado and bananas do well in Murang’a and my organization supports this initiative as farmers will earn more from the fruits. Within a period of two years, the farmers will start harvesting bananas,” added Kamau.
Avocado, the director noted, has become a major source of income to many farmers within Murang’a County challenging those who benefited with the seedlings to nurture them well.
Kamau called on Kenyans to ensure they remain objective and heed government agenda pertaining to development.
Mama Ida Odinga, wife to ODM party leader Raila Odinga observed that good climatic conditions and soils in many parts of the country, scarcity of food should be something of the past.
Ida challenged farmers to put more effort and work with various stakeholders to boost food production so as to end importation of food from other countries.
By Bernard Munyao
Women, youth groups in Gitugi receive fruit seedlings
