Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) is set to construct a Sh200million research centre in Kieni, Nyeri County.
According to KALRO Board Chairman, Dr. Thuo Mathenge, the centre will ease access by both crop and livestock farmers to new farming technologies and innovations.
He noted that the centre will act as the 65th research hub in the country and will serve the neighbouring counties that do not have such a centre.
“The centre will bring our services closer to the people of Nyeri. This is a coffee and tea growing area and one of the reasons for introducing this centre is to ensure that our farmers get access to better, high yielding varieties that will not only improve the farmers’ income but ensure that we maintain our track record of high-quality yields,” he said.
Dr. Mathenge spoke in Nyeri when he led KALRO Director General, Eliud Kireger and other KALRO officials for a courtesy call to Nyeri Governor Dr. Mutahi Kahiga, ahead of an MoU signing between the county government and KALRO on October 22.
The county government has already leased 20 acres to KALRO at the Agriculture Mechanization Services in Naru Moru for construction of the centre.
Kahiga pledged to support the project. He said that the centre will contribute to the advancement of climate smart agriculture which he noted is essential for improving the county’s food security.
Kahiga said that in addition to the research centre, KALRO will also set up a shop making it easy for farmers to access products at a subsidized cost.
“We want to encourage them to move as fast as possible, so that we are able to establish this centre which will serve the county and parts of our neighbouring communities that do not have their KARLO centres.
There is a need to continue researching on the correct seedlings, the correct types of livestock feeds and medicine and this should be done here,” he said.
By Wangari Mwangi
