Youth in agribusiness in Kiambu County have benefited from a Sh. 2 billion program of establishing agribusiness incubation centers in the County.
The project that is funded by the European Union and DANIDA is also implemented in eight other counties with Kiambu having the highest applications made for the funding.
In October last year, Kiambu County Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kenya Climate Innovation (KCIC), to establish an agribusiness incubation center in Kiambu County to target youth in agribusiness.
According to the Kiambu County Chief Officer of Agriculture, Dr David Kamundia, during the inspection tour to beneficiaries of the funds, agriculture remains pivotal to economic growth of the County and empowerment of our youth.
He further said that the main aim of the visit by KCIC and the Department of Agriculture, is to discuss possible areas of empowering the applicants in different levels of the agriculture value chain.
In Cianda Ward within Kiambaa Sub-county, we met Rahab Wangari, the proprietor of Rwaga Farm. Wangari got funding from KCIC to kick-start her horticulture business.
In her five-acre parcel, she grows: Spinach, cabbages, mint, rosemary, broccoli, cauliflower, pepper and red, green and yellow capsicums.
“I would like to thank KCIC and the County Government of Kiambu, because of this initiative, if they keep supporting farmers, especially the youth who are now venturing into the horticulture industry, we will manage to sustain the market demand all while raking in the profits.,” said Mrs. Wangari.
Other beneficiaries include: Fidelis Wanjiku, the founder of Bulk Resources. She supplies fresh farm produce to local consumers, while supporting small scale farmers by providing access to markets.
James Mwangi, who is the founder of Kabete Vegrow, one of the beneficiaries of the AgriBiz programme, has managed to build four greenhouses, create four job opportunities and increased his production capacity.
The program is an ongoing programme that will seek to support youth and women who have innovative agricultural businesses to help put the County on the frontline when it comes to contributing to the national food basket, by making agribusiness profitable.
By Grace Naishoo
