Makueni County And MESPT Sign A New 5 Years’ MOU For Green Employment In Agriculture Programme Implementation

18th January 2022, Wote -Makueni County

Makueni County Government CEC for Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock and Fisheries Development Hon. Nzioki King’ola and MESPT CEO Mrs. Rebecca Amukhoye led other staff in discussing the progress of various programmes being implemented and plans for 2022 implementation within the county. In addition, it was an opportunity to exchange the signed Green Employment in Agriculture Programme (GEAP) MoU between the County and MESPT.

The CEC noted that he was happy to host a trusted partner who has continuously supported the farmers within the County leading to big wins in increased productivity and income for the locals who are now enjoying better living standards. “MESPT is known for supporting the County tremendously, both the farmers and staff hence our partnership and collaboration will go a long way”, the county agriculture boss said. He noted that in the year 2022, the county through an Extension Programme has commissioned 465 county extension staff and 40 volunteers who will be supporting the farmers in all the sub counties.

Accompanying the CEC were Dr. Martin Mboloi, the Chief Officer Agriculture, Mary Muteti, the County Director of Agriculture and Lucas Nguluu, Agriculture officer who spoke highly of MESPT and Makueni County’s partnership and collaboration work through the AgriFI and GEAP programmes. The Director of Agriculture noted that MESPT is a champion for market driven agriculture linking farmers to markets, facilitating financial access and training farmers in good agriculture practices. The Chief Officer on the other hand noted that MESPT has been on the forefront in championing the food safety agenda and revamping the Kwa Kathoka ATC which is a farmers’ centre of Excellence in the County.

Key milestones highlighted during the meeting include:

• Mapping out and profiling of GEAP beneficiaries within 8 sub counties (15 groups for Mango, 5 for Export vegetables and 7 for Poultry) with a total of 4,602 farmers reached in 2021.
• Training of 1,300 value chain actors on food safety, 25 spray service providers, 150 VCAs trained on productivity and 45 county government officers trained across the departments as Food Safety Inspectors
• Capacity assessment of the farmer organizations, training of 3 groups using the Government TOTs on; leadership and governance, Group dynamic, organizational development, and gender mainstreaming and Food safety and mango Agronomy.
• Setting up food safety committee and sub committees, county foods safety policy, ATVET/ATC Bill and accreditation of Kwa Kathoka ATC to an ATVET centre.
• Infrastructural support to the Kwakathoka ATVET Center, construction of a modern Dairy Unit and establishment of a commercial nursery at ATC Kwa kathoka for agroforest trees
• MESPT is also the chair of the Mango value chain platform in Makueni County.