Kiambu County Government has embarked on a project to construct tissue culture banana hardening nurseries in banana growing areas of Gatundu and Kiambaa Constituencies.
The project that will cost over Sh400,000 is aimed at enhancing food security and economic empowerment of the residents.
Agriculture CeC, Dr Monica Waiganjo, while speaking to HiviSasa on Wednesday said that the banana hardening technology is being disseminated in collaboration with farmers’ groups.
"It will be implemented in a cost sharing arrangement where farmers are required to provide labour and land for demonstration and construction of nurseries," she said.
She said that the County Government has already engaged Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (Kari) in Thika and Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology (JKUAT) to offer training to the farmers.
The Agriculture CeC further explained that as a pilot project three In-vitro tissue culture hardening nurseries have already been established in Gatundu South and handed over to youth groups as a way of encouraging the youth to adopt agri-business.
She said that the cooperative and marketing department in the county will then connect the youth groups to markets in Nairobi and its environs thus ensuring economic empowerment to them as well as rescuing them from substance abuse.
"Plans are underway to upgrade Waruhiu Agricultural Training Center into a center of excellence in practical training on Agriculture, Livestock and fisheries," she revealed.