Bungoma county leaders have urged the youth in the region to embrace hass avocado farming as an alternative source of income.
Speaking during the official opening of Sisi Village produce demonstration centre for hass avocado and bee keeping projects in Kanduyi constituency, area MP John Makali and his Bumula counterpart Jack Wamboka urged locals to fully embrace the initiative since avocado farming is currently one of the most profitable businesses.
“Cane farming is no longer viable in the region hence residents should embrace avocado farming,” he said.
Makali hailed the demonstration centre for the ongoing agribusiness youth training and employment which keeps the youth busy.
“There are 17 million unemployed youth yet only about 3 million can access jobs. This is why youth should embrace agribusiness as a source of income,” he said, adding that he fully supports the project by Sisi as it will empower the youth to be business oriented persons.
He noted that plans are underway to procure processing machines that will enable local production and also create more employment.
The MP further acknowledged that the demonstration centre’s initiative of planting many fruit trees is in line with the national government’s agenda of increasing the country’s forest cover.
On the other hand, Wamboka said his constituency is ready to have a promotional center where locals will be trained on the best farming practices.
“Hass farming is proving to be the in thing as far as agribusiness is concerned,” he said, adding that the produce has a big market in China.
He warned middlemen against exploiting farmers over the produce and announced that all MPs from Bungoma county are ready to set up a factory in the region to cushion farmers from unnecessary exploitation.
“Our region will only develop through projects that create jobs for our people,” he noted.
Sisi Village Chief Executive Officer Patrick Kisia confirmed that Hass avocado farming is very marketable if practiced well.
He asked the government to set aside funds for training of the youth in matters agriculture.
“The opening of our 6th promotional center is just a tip on the iceberg. Over the next five years, we plan to have 20 centers that will produce 30 Million trees.” He concluded.
By Andanje Wakhungu
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