1,000 households to benefit from Sh12 million from FAO in Makueni County

Makueni,

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

KNA by Patrick Nyakundi

At least 1,000 households affected by drought in Makueni County will benefit from a Sh12 million grant under livelihood support to vulnerable communities in Kenya to create resilience among the farmers.

The project that is implemented by Candle of Hope Foundation (CHF), will see 500 households whose crops were affected and a similar number of livestock beneficiaries will also receive Sh 12,000 each to cushion them from the effects of drought.

 Beneficiaries hail from Kibwezi East and Kibwezi West for crop intervention whereas in the livestock sector the recipients are in Kibwezi East, Kibwezi West and Kilome Subcounties respectively.

  “In crop intervention we have a total of 500 households from Kibwezi East and Kibwezi West subcounties who will receive each Sh12, 000 and a similar number of livestock farmers drawn from Kibwezi East, Kibwezi West and Kilome subcounties,” said Jonathan Mwaniki Candle of Hope Foundation Programme Director during a County Steering Group (CSG) meeting chaired by Makueni Deputy Governor (DG) Lucy Mulili on Tuesday in Makueni County Commissioner’s Boardroom.

 “The monies will be disbursed before Christmas through Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that is spearheading the project funded by the Government of Norway. Each beneficiary has been issued with Unconditional Cash Transfer Card (UTC),” noted the programme Director.

   Further he observed that already they have started distributing 2,500 bags of range cubes to 500 households whereby each will get 5 bags of 50kgs besides adding that they have dewormed a total of 25,500 animals belonging to the targeted farmers.

 “Five hundred beneficiaries will each receive 5 bags of range cubes each of 50kgs. A total of 2,500 bags. The exercise began on 18/12/2023 and it is anticipated to end by 30/12/2023,” said Mwaniki.

He also disclosed that another 500 households will receive agricultural inputs through E-voucher system where they will be linked to Agro-dealers who have been contracted by FAO to supply the farm inputs.

“The 500 farmers have been issued with E-vouchers of Sh10, 200 each to enable them access farm inputs from agro-dealers accredited by FAO. They will get fertilizer for cereals and foliar besides other farm inputs,” Mwaniki revealed.

 The project period was to start on September 8,2023 to December 2023, however it is poised to be scaled up after the pilot phase of E-voucher project. The project is also being implemented in Kitui County.

The project is carried out in collaboration with Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperative Development and National Drought and Management Authority in the county.

On her part, the deputy governor Mulili lauded the Candle of Hope Foundation for the good work they are doing hoping that the needy people whose crop and animals were affected benefited from the programme.

Courtesy; KNA