Kiambu senator Kimani Wamatangi has urged the county government to pump more money into farming and also encourage locals to adopt new farming technology.
Addressing a section of farmers at Ngecha trading centre on Thursday, Wamatangi accused the Kiambu county government of abandoning the agriculture sector.
He observed that there is less focus on agriculture yet it is the activity many residents engage in.
The senator said that the county’s food security is at risk if the government does not fund agriculture programmes.
“It is unfortunate that as a county we are abandoning agriculture a sector that many of our people engage in daily,” he said.
Wamatangi asked the county to fund farming projects to assure food security in the county. The senator also asked the government to help farmers get farm input s and also educate the on new technology.
He said that the emergence of new farming technologies can help residents alleviate poverty. He also encouraged youths to take part in farming saying that it will help curb high cases of unemployment.
Speaking at the ongoing Thika District Business Association Trade Fair at Mama Ngina Grounds in Thika on Thursday, agriculture CeC Dr Monica Waiganjo said the county has set in place programmes to educate farmers on new technology.
She said that the county is keen to use agriculture to propel the county’s economic growth.
“We have put in place enough resources to make sure that our food security as a county is not compromised,” said Dr Waiganjo.