Kiraitu plans to boost macadamia farmers

Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi distributes macadamia seedlings to local farmers. [File, Standard]

Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi says his administration will help farmers plant at least one million macadamia trees to improve their earnings.

Mr Kiraitu said his government was distributing macadamia seedlings to farmers in Tigania region where the weather is conducive for the crop.

The governor was speaking at Kianjai during the burial of Janet Chiakwalu, the mother of National Cohesion and Integration Commission Chairman Samuel Kobia.

He said his vision of a million macadamia trees for locals was to ensure the region is productive, just like Imenti and Igembe regions.

Kiraitu said the Imenti side has tea while Igembe has miraa to sustain the communities, and it is important to ensure Tigania region also has new sources of income from agriculture.

He was flanked by Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs Cabinet Secretary Margaret Kobia and Deputy Governor Titus Ntuchiu.

Already a nursery to provide good quality seedlings to local farmers has been established at the Kaguru Farmers Training Centre near Nkubu in South Imenti.

The centre, which also hosts a demonstration farm, has avocado seedlings.