Over 30,000 youth in Homa Bay County are set to benefit from an aquaculture empowerment project dubbed Youth in Sustainable Aquaculture.
Governor Gladys Wanga said her government was rolling out the project in partnership with an Organization christened Farm Africa.
Wanga said the project will avail loans to youth at no interest to undertake Aquaculture projects.
The Governor spoke when she signed a memorandum of understanding for the project implemention with Farm Africa Programmes Manager Teddy Nyanapa. Thus, the project is expected to benefit youth from all eight constituencies.
Nyanapa said they are going to equip the youth with skills and resources to undertake aquaculture profitably.
Hence, this programme is aimed at giving the youth the capacity to undertake aquaculture. This will be done by giving the youth interest free loans and grants,” he said.
The manager said they are also going to support production of quality and affordable fish feeds to enable the youth fish farmers undertake aquaculture sustainably. Whereas we are going to ensure the youth have the capacity they need to produce fish profitably,” he added.
Nyanapa said they were undertaking the project in six counties in which a total of 150,000 youth will be benefit.
He added that the cost of the project in the six counties is 20 million US dollars and will run for five years.
“Our key partner MasterCard Foundation and other partners are funding this project at USD20 million for all the six counties.” Nyanapa said.
He added that the allocation for each county depends on the number of beneficiaries which will be identified each county government.
Wanga said the project is going to create job opportunities for the youth of Homa Bay County. “We are going to support Farm Africa to ensure our youth benefit from this project. Fish is a good value chain which generates a lot of money for farmers,” Wanga said.
She said the main agenda is to empower youth in the county to earn a living and ensure economic growth.
By Davis Langat
