Nyandarua signs agreement to promote pyrethrum growing

Nyandarua’s pyrethrum farmers have a reason to smile following the entry of a major investor into the sector.

The county will partner with Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), an arm of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development to promote pyrethrum growing.

At a consultative forum in Ol Kalou bringing together 80 leaders from Nyandarua’s vibrant co-operative movement, Deputy Governor Cecilia Mbuthia announced that members in each ward will be at the forefront of the revival, ranging from farming, value addition and marketing.

“Nyandarua is known for its leading role in milk and potato production. We will partner with this organisation to see to it that the pyrethrum sector is revived. This is through farmers training, the supply of seeds and marketing," said Mbuthia.

Established in the early 1960s, IPS was created to provide venture capital, technical assistance and management support to encourage and expand private enterprise in the developing world, particularly countries of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Through Memoranda of Understanding with co-operative societies, IPS will provide seedlings, fertiliser and a ready market to absorb more than 100 metric tonnes of dry pyrethrum.

Ahead of his election in 2017,  Governor Francis Kimemia pledged to institutionalise a private sector-led economic development in partnership with investors.