Embu,
Saturday, May 11,2024
KNA by Steve Gatesse
Government to support businesses hurt by floods The government is working with the World Bank to set up a fund to support businesses adversely affected by flooding, Investments, Trade and Industry CS, Rebecca Miano, has said.
Ms Miano said they will soon be speaking to MSMEs to see how they can be helped to rebuild their resilience in the wake of the devastating floods that have hit the country in recent times.
Ms Miano was speaking at Irangi Forest Block in Embu when she led residents in planting trees Friday.
She said many businesses were left in poor shape and that her ministry was determined to see that they quickly get back on their feet.
The CS urged residents to plant fruit trees alongside other trees that they can exploit commercially later.
Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire said her county is in a drive to promote fruit growing so as to ensure a steady supply of produce for value addition at the County Aggregation and Industrial Park under construction at Macang’a in Mbeere South.
Dr Elizabeth Wambugu of the Kenya Forest Service urged farmers to have a balance between fruit and commercial trees on their farms to ensure they meet their timber needs and also for food security reasons.
Dr Wambugu, who is the Principal at the Kenya Forestry College in Londiani said on-farm woodlots will help in the protection of established forests.
She said KFS will continue to work with community forest associations to prevent forest destruction.
Courtesy of KNA