By Reporter
Agriculture is the backbone of food security in Kwale County and the County Government is committed to improve the sector.
Kwale County Deputy Governor Chirema Kombo led the distribution of Mango seedlings at Kalalani in Mwavumbo Ward Kinango Sub-County where a total of 12500 mango seedlings were issued to 2500 farmers across the Ward.
Chirema said that already the county government has made a big step forward by initiating the construction of a Fruit Processing plant at Mwananyamala in Shimba Hills that will provide a readily available market for the fruits that will be produced in Kwale.
“We have established a fruit processing plant at Mwananyamala that will provide a market for our products and also enhance food security in our county.” Said Chirema.
He urged the farmers to form cooperatives that would help them to do business and investment hence economic growth.
“Let’s form cooperatives that will help us to invest and do business widely and in that note we will grow economically.” Noted Chirema.
Omondi Cornel from Nature Conservancy Organization urged farmers to take care of the seedlings given for their own benefit and also urged the agricultural officers in the area to help the farmers in planting the seedlings.
“Let’s take care of these seedlings and make sure they benefit us after a few years and we will continue to empower you. On the same note, the agricultural officers in this Ward help the farmers in planting them so that they meet the required process and conditions for the seedlings to thrive.” Said Omondi.
On her side Maimuna Mwake Mwaiti a resident of Mwavumbo Ward lauded the County Government’s efforts to improve the agricultural sector noting that most of the people in the county are farmers hence it will bring food security and cash crop farming.
” The County Government is doing a good job by empowering farmers. This will help us to produce a lot of agricultural products for both food and commercial hence food security in our County.” Said Maimuna.
Kwale County Government is devoted to improving the agricultural sector. The farmers have been provided with different agricultural support such as different types of seedlings, Galla Goats,different types of seeds and construction of dams in semi-arid areas for irrigation.
The Deputy Governor was accompanied by Chief of Staff Joshua Mdoe, Chief Officer Public Service and Administration Mebakari Mwatabu and other County Government officials.