Nairobi County will spend Sh84 million on
greenhouses, poultry farming and rabbit
keeping projects in the city.
At least Sh40 million will be used to set up
greenhouses and water tanks even as the
government works to fight unemployment
among the youth.
An additional Sh34 million will be used to set
up the first ever poultry slaughterhouse and
generally improve the sub-sector.
Sh10 million will be used to start at least 10
rabbit units, a venture the county government
will undertake in partnership with various
youth and women groups.
The money is part of the Sh534 million that
the department of Agriculture, Livestock and
Fisheries proposed for the 2016/2017 budget
to improve the sector in Nairobi.
Members have until June 30 to approve the
Sh36 billion budget, the highest ever for the
county.
Agriculture executive Bernard Mugenyo said
interested groups will be expected to
contribute towards hiring labour and
purchasing of materials required to set up the
necessary structures for the projects.
"We will be targeting high-density areas where
the rabbit projects will be started and we hope
this will earn income for the young people,"
said Mr Mugenyo.
He revealed the rabbit projects will mainly be
established in informal settlements such as
Kawangware, Kibera, Korogocho and Mathare.
Meanwhile, Mugenyo said the Sh40 million will
be used to construct 34 green houses in 34
wards and will mainly target areas where dairy
farming is being practised.
Already, there are 17 greenhouses in Nairobi in
several areas including Njiru, Kangemi and
Shauri Moyo. The allocation is expected to
increase the number to 54. "The existing
greenhouses have been distributed to schools
and are being used for learning. The new ones
target women and the youth as we work to
ensure food security while boosting income
generation," said Mugenyo.
He added: "The county government will
initially control the projects but will later hand
them over to local communities. We want
youth and women groups as well as local
communities to contribute towards the
projects as this will instil a sense of
responsibility and ownership," he said.
Part of the Sh34 million is meant to improve
poultry farming generally, according to
Agriculture Chief Officer Jasper Balanya.
He said the proposed poultry slaughterhouse
will be set up through a public-private
partnership. They are already in the process
of identifying a suitable area for the facility.
Balanya said they will also set up set up 34
poultry projects in the county. "This will be the
first poultry slaughterhouse in Nairobi and will
ensure the chicken we eat is safe and
hygienically prepared," he said.
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