Sh84 million set aside for youth farming projects in Nairobi

Nairobi County will spend Sh84 million on greenhouses, poultry farming and rabbit keeping projects in the city.

At least Sh40 million will be used to set up greenhouses and water tanks even as the government works to fight unemployment among the youth.

An additional Sh34 million will be used to set up the first ever poultry slaughterhouse and generally improve the sub-sector.

Sh10 million will be used to start at least 10 rabbit units, a venture the county government will undertake in partnership with various youth and women groups.

The money is part of the Sh534 million that the department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries proposed for the 2016/2017 budget to improve the sector in Nairobi.

Members have until June 30 to approve the Sh36 billion budget, the highest ever for the county.

Agriculture executive Bernard Mugenyo said interested groups will be expected to contribute towards hiring labour and purchasing of materials required to set up the necessary structures for the projects.

"We will be targeting high-density areas where the rabbit projects will be started and we hope this will earn income for the young people," said Mr Mugenyo.

He revealed the rabbit projects will mainly be established in informal settlements such as Kawangware, Kibera, Korogocho and Mathare.

Meanwhile, Mugenyo said the Sh40 million will be used to construct 34 green houses in 34 wards and will mainly target areas where dairy farming is being practised.

Already, there are 17 greenhouses in Nairobi in several areas including Njiru, Kangemi and Shauri Moyo. The allocation is expected to increase the number to 54. "The existing greenhouses have been distributed to schools and are being used for learning. The new ones target women and the youth as we work to ensure food security while boosting income generation," said Mugenyo.

He added: "The county government will initially control the projects but will later hand them over to local communities. We want youth and women groups as well as local communities to contribute towards the projects as this will instil a sense of responsibility and ownership," he said.

Part of the Sh34 million is meant to improve poultry farming generally, according to Agriculture Chief Officer Jasper Balanya.

He said the proposed poultry slaughterhouse will be set up through a public-private partnership. They are already in the process of identifying a suitable area for the facility.

Balanya said they will also set up set up 34 poultry projects in the county. "This will be the first poultry slaughterhouse in Nairobi and will ensure the chicken we eat is safe and hygienically prepared," he said.

Another Sh28 million has been set aside for the construction of an animal shelter in Pangani. This will also include rehabilitating the existing structure in a plan that will also see it turned into an animal clinic to address the problem of rabies. Vaccination of pets will also be done there.

Some Sh20 million will be spent on fish ponds and Sh9 million on installation of  milk dispensers in Starehe, Embakasi and Langata.