Hola,
Monday, March 18, 2024
KNA by Dorothy Mutanu/Simon Guruba
Hola irrigation farmers’ co-operative society now has a new leadership after a period of four years having held their election over the weekend during the annual general meeting at the Hola Cooperative Office.
Mr.Salim Wario, the Tana River County Cooperative Officer witnessed the election of Mr. Omar Berhe as the new chairman succeeding Adnani Umuru Salim, Nasteha Abubakar was elected Vice Chair, Roseline Achieng’, Treasurer and Hussein Aden Hero as the Secretary, a post he retained.
The cooperative has seven villages which are Kiamnyaka, Kiarkungu, Matanye, Maendeleo, Bahati, Umoja and Area 6. From the first 6 villages, each had two delegates forming a management committee of 12 members and from it they chose the chairman.
Outgoing chairman Mr. Adnani Umuru Salim said that the society mandate is to gather, produce and look for market under fair prices, adding that the county government of Tana River has been supporting the cooperative to run its operation.
He also said, the challenges facing the irrigation scheme Cooperative is that they lack their own offices and stores but added that the Cooperative Office has given them a room which they use as the office.
“Tana Irrigation Scheme is very rich because there is enough land, water and can be able to produce a lot of food for the county and even the neighboring counties; its only that farmers prefer to sell their produce on their own without involving the cooperative hence making it weak,” lamented Mr. Adnani Umuru.
The incoming chairman, Mr. Berhe said that the office will continue with recruitment of members since the society has 800 farmers yet its only 100 farmers benefit from it.
He also said that he will engage other partners to uplift the economic status of the Hola irrigation farmers and urged leaders to work as a team and avoid politics.
Speaking at the same event Mr. Charles Wanjala, the Manager emphasized the Kenya kwanza blue print- BETA (Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda) which aims at reducing importation and enhancing output through agriculture.
“We want to develop Hola irrigation scheme the same way Mwea irrigation scheme was developed and other parts of Kenya and through this we will attract investors,” Mr. Charles said.
He said that, good structures like the use of solar system that will enhance pumping thus helping the farmers instead of using diesel to pump water.
Courtesy; KNA