The County Governments of Kilifi, Lamu and Kwale have partnered with the European Commission under the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, Farm Africa and Tensenses in a joint 5-year project that will see over 5 million high yielding cashew trees planted in each county.
Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi said this will lead to food security, job creation and income generation for over 15,000 local cashew nut farmers in the County.
The joint project between the aforementioned counties and the Visegrad Group (V4) – Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland – will go a long way to improving social and economic conditions of small-scale cashew nut farmers across the Coast region.
Speaking during the official launch of the cashew nut and sesame value chain project at Kakanjuni, Kibarani ward on Tuesday, Kingi indicated that the County Government of Kilifi will provide free cashew seedlings and actively engage farmers in training and other extension services.
Also present during the launch was Foreign Chief Administrative Secretary former Budalangi MP Ababu Namuamba who said revamping the cashew nut industry in the Coast region will boost incomes of local farmers who derived livelihoods from cashew nut farming and attract others to take up the venture as a lucrative business.