Farmers removing maize grains from cobs for drying. [Photo/farmerstrend.co.ke]
The World Bank has launched a National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) which will cost Sh22.5 billion aimed at increasing agricultural productivity.
The project will be rolled out in selected 21 counties and it is set to improve livelihoods and reduce vulnerabilities of targeted rural communities.
Speaking during the lunch of the project in Embu town World Bank Agricultural Economist Ladisy Komba Chengula the project will increase agricultural productivity and profitability to farmers in the rural areas.
Komba said that out of the 219 Million US Dollars, the World Bank will provide 200 million dollars and the balance will be topped up the national and the county governments.
Komba said that some of the negative impacts and mitigation measure the project intend to address include promoting the participation of the private sector, communities and other stakeholders in creating employment, reduce poverty and ensure the sustainability of the agricultural activities in the 21 counties.
He said that since agriculture is a devolved function and the selected counties will implement the project and the communities will be given a chance to identify the area they want to be addressed urgently hey would want to be addressed.
On her part Embu county Executive Committee members for agriculture Ann Nyaga said that the project will focus on value-adding programs with communities be allowed to indemnify areas they would want to be improved.
Nyaga said that the coffee, dairy, and horticultural are the main areas the county will give much attention in order to help farmers benefit from the project.
She said that in order to reach more farmers within the county the projected will equally be distributed among the four sub-counties where programs of value-adding are taking place.