30,000 women benefit from Sh8 million poultry projects

Campaigns for food security and women empowerment in Migori received a major boost after Hellen Obado, wife of the governor, rolled out poultry projects worth more than Sh8 million.

She said the poultry programme targeted more than 30,000 women belonging to saccos in the 40 wards. Incubators will also be distributed to each sacco to boost chicken production.

“The poultry project is meant to empower all the women in the county. But first, the women must be in a sacco. This will enable them to work as a group so they can get quick returns,” said Mrs Obado.

She said she had also received funding from different donors and would use it to empower women and promote education among the youth.

10,000 PUPILS

Speaking in Nyamaharaga Primary School grounds in Kuria West, where she launched the poultry project, Obado appealed to the county government to ensure farmers were helped to improve agribusiness to reduce food insecurity.

“I know our county government has achieved a lot in agriculture, but I still urge it to come up with more ideas aimed at boosting agribusiness that will see farmers uplift their lives,” she noted.

She has also launched a shoe distributing programme, in which more than 10,000 pupils and the elderly from poor backgrounds across the county benefited.

This is part of her anti-jigger campaign, in partnership with Ahadi Kenya Trust, that seeks to improve pupils’ academic performance.

“Once we empower women and give our children opportunities, the county will have achieved its goals,” she said when she donated shoes to more than 500 pupils in Not, Aringo and Abwao primary schools in Nyatike sub-county.

SAVING CULTURE

This comes days after Deputy President William Ruto’s wife Rachel launched the Table Banking project in Migori town to help improve the saving culture among women groups.

“Women must embrace a saving culture in their groups and saccos to help improve what was started by the Deputy President’s wife. The ball is now in our court. We either play it or watch it die,” said Obado.

Apart from collaborating with Ahadi Kenya Trust and the region’s Kenya Red Cross branch, Obado has also distributed sanitary towels, petroleum jelly and soap to pupils and locals across the county.

“My target is to ensure the poor in the county feel loved and cared for. These projects give me the opportunity to meet and talk to the poor in an effort to understand their problems so that, as a team, we can find a lasting solution,” she said.

She later toured Isebania ward in Kuria West, where she distributed more shoes.