Devolution Principal Secretary (PS) Nelson Marwa on Thursday conveyed President Uhuru Kenyatta's plans to launch one of the largest government projects in Migori county.
Marwa spoke in the Kuria region where he had toured to survey a five-acre piece of land where President Kenyatta intends to start a Ksh4 Billion potato plant.
The PS explained that the project would be in line with two of the national government's Big Four Agenda, those are, Food Security and Manufacturing.
He added that the project would be of help to the sweet potato farmers in the region who have been complaining of exploitation by middlemen.
[caption caption="File image of Devolution PS Nelson Marwa"]
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"Some of the products the plant will be processing from the sweet potatoes include crisps, flour and biscuits. This will give the farmers value for their crops," he outlined.
The national government will set up the plant in Getonganya in Mabera sub-county through a partnership with the European Union (EU).
"The project aims at realising two of the Big Four agenda: food security and manufacturing. It will also offer jobs for young people and open up the region for more investment.
"We have already identified the land. The Ministry has also set aside funds for capacity building among farmers in order to increase production," he explained.
Farmers in the region abandoned tobacco farming and started relying on sweet potatoes after their tobacco lacked a market.
The national government has moved in despite an earlier promise made by Governor Okoth Obado in Kehancha, Kuria.
[caption caption="File image of CS Eugene Wamalwa with Devolution PS Nelson Marwa"]
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