Central Imenti: In a bid to boost environmental conservation, a businessman cum politician from Central Imenti is distributing fruit trees to all women groups in the region, a move that is also aimed at empowering them economically.
According to Kenya News Agency, KK Mutai, who is also the Meru County Chamber of Commerce Vice Chairman, stated his target is to ensure that every homestead in Central Imenti sub-county has at least five Hass Avocado trees. These trees are expected to mature in three years and start generating income for the owners.
Mutai explained, “As a way of empowering women and their families in general, I have secured enough Hass avocado seedlings for all the women groups, and in addition to that, there are at least 100,000 more seedlings that I will also be raising for the residents.” He emphasized that each avocado tree, after three years, will generate at least Sh20,000 for a homestead, significantly supporting their economic development.
While distributing the seedlings to women group
s in Kinjo, Riiji, and Katheri factory area, Mutai revealed plans to register residents in cooperatives specifically for avocado farming, enabling them to sell their produce without relying on brokers. “We have a vision of forming cooperatives that will enable us even to export our avocados directly as well as having factories within our constituency for value addition. This will be a good way of eliminating poverty in our families,” Mutai stated.
Mutai also encouraged residents to utilize the ongoing rainy season to plant sunflowers, which are expected to be financially beneficial. “We are supposed to also plant other types of trees but I am emphasizing fruit trees because apart from conserving our environment, they will also play a key role in terms of food security in our homes,” he added.