Makueni County government has unveiled an Agricultural Training Centre at Kwa Kathoka to offer advisory and extension services to farmers in a deliberate move to boost agricultural production and food security in the region. The County Executive for Agriculture Joyce Mutua said the facility, situated about 17kms from Wote Town in Makueni sub-county, will also provide capacity building and field programs to farmers and the youth to equip them with sustainable skills in horticulture, dairy, poultry, and Agribusiness farming techniques. ‘This week Monday, the first batch of 52 students reported at the institution and we are also targeting to build capacity for 420 farmers in organized groups every week to gain skills on how to improve agricultural production on their farms,’ she said. ‘The trainees, who will have practical agribusiness plans will also benefit from a seed capital from the county to support their businesses,’ added Mutua, while speaking at the training Centre Wednesday. The county Executive said the institution is accredited by TVET to offer certificate courses and demonstration sites for horticulture, dairy, and poultry farming and they have plans to increase the number of students to benefit from the training. She said the government has partnered with the investors to provide students at the training centre with affordable houses in the vicinity. ‘The training centre will spur economic development in the area, the nearby markets will host our students, while the local community will benefit from job opportunities at the facility. A section of students at the newly inaugurated Makueni Agricultural Vocational and Training Center at Kwa Kathoka On her part, the County Executive for Education and ICT Elizabeth Muli said the institution is among other Technical training institutes focused on agriculture, to secure food security and sustainable agribusiness in the country. At the same time, a local business lady, Mary Wamaitha lauded the government for opening the institution, saying it will spur economic growth in the area ‘My hotel business has now started to thrive, I used to cook only tea, beans, Maandazi and Chapati, but which could not be finished by evening sometimes as we had fewer customers then,’ noted Wamaitha. ‘But currently my business is thriving because what I cook nowadays including rice, ugali, and a whole chicken is all consumed and I am making more savings,’ she added. Another trader, MaryAnn Sammy also welcomed the new development saying her retail business will now thrive. She urged the government to improve infrastructure in the area so as to attract even more investors.
Source: Kenya News Agency