Mombasa passes resolution to promote urban farming

KENYA: Mombasa county assembly has adopted a resolution urging the county government to promote urban farming to enable residents to supplement incomes and combat shortage.

A motion tabled by county assembly deputy speaker Mswabah Rashid called for the establishment of smallholder model farms in the country's second largest city.

He argued that the county faced a high rate of unemployment especially among the youth and women and hence the need to promote urban agriculture.

According to the Airport ward representative, Mombasa County faced a serious food deficit and imported most of its food from other counties and abroad.

He argued that failure to take proactive measures to stem unemployment and food dependence would escalate poverty and other economic ramifications in the county.

"Noting that there is scarcity of land for agricultural production in the county, I therefore urge the county assembly to resolve that the county government and donors to model horticultural farms which economize space to empower and enable youth and women generate income," he noted.

County assembly speaker Thadius Rajwayi chaired the assembly. The motion was referred back to the committee level to be improved before it would be returned to the house for debate.

Mombasa County has so far introduced fish farming through the use of 40-foot containers as pounds which are run by youth groups.

Mswabah urged the county government to carry out research and engage experts on the best way of establishing farming in the mostly urban county.

In the motion, the MCA also urged the county government to assist farmers with capital and marketing of the produce.