Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has been feted by the World Bank for helping farmers to improve productivity through their cooperative societies.
Governor Wavinya was awarded at the county offices in Mavoko on Wednesday April 3 for her collaborative efforts with the World Bank-funded Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP) to improve agricultural productivity among farmers.
Governor thanked the organisation for honouring her with a trophy.
“The trophy that you have just presented to me is a symbol of our unwavering commitment to supporting our farming communities across different wards in Machakos County. Thank you so much KCSAP for being forthright in supporting our cause,” said Wavinya.
She asked Government officers to ensure proper utilisation of public funds.
“Our main goal has been to make Machakos a food secure county and lift our people out of the chains of poverty. Through collaborative efforts with KCSAP, we are able to actualise our social economic transformation agenda of Chakula Mezani, Pesa Mfukoni,” said the governor.
Through the programme, Mukuyuni Coffee Cooperative Society in Upper Kaewa benefited from KCSAPs infrastructural improvement initiative and also from various farm inputs.
Coffee farmers in Kakuyuni Coffee Cooperative Society in Kangundo Sub-county and Kambusu Coffee Cooperative Society benefited from farm inputs worth millions of shillings courtesy of KCSAP.
Some KSh62 million was channeled into coffee farmers in the three cooperative societies benefiting a total 124 groups.
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A total of 382 groups spread across Kalama, Katangi, Masii, Muthetheni, Ikombe and Kola wards also benefited from various grants which were tailored to their needs. They included seeds, chicks, poultry feeds, ploughs and threshers.
The incentives to organised groups have put farmers on a sustainable path that will eventually free the residents from perennial hunger cycles, governor Wavinya said.
Through joint efforts with KCSAP, the county government rehabilitated two dams; Ukanga Utune in Kangundo Central and Kilaata in Ikombe Ward.
The County also constructed three more dams including Kithaayoni in Kalama, Limba in Wamunyu and Kitambaasye in Wamunyu at a total cost of KSh83 million.
Mukuyuni Farmers Cooperative Society Chairman Mr Stephen Wambua who spoke on behalf of other farmers said the coffee sector had been neglected for a long time but was now making a turn around.
“This season we from Mukuyuni are anticipating to harvest 1.5 million Kilograms up from 700 kilos last season, Kambusu and Kakuyuni Cooperatives are anticipating to harvest 1million kilos each, this season. The coffee sector is making a turn around,” said Mr Wambua.
Finance and Economic Planning County Executive Member Onesmus Kuyu said the award given was a clear testimony of prudent utilisation of funds on projects that were impactful to the people.
KCSAP Coordinator Priscilla Muiruri presented the award.
Every six months the World Bank and the National Government does an assessment of the project implemented through KCSAP.
“It is a very rigorous process, we call it a league and for Machakos to emerge third is a great achievement,” said Muiruri.
A further KSh600 million has been given to Machakos County due to the success.
Machakos County was ranked third in Kenya for prudent utilisation of the KCSAP funds and implementation of the projects.
By Stephen Muthini.
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