The NCCK has today provided cement to farmers in Kitui County to enable them build longlasting water pans.
Speaking during the ceremony to issue the cement, Bishop Joseph Mutungi, the NCCK Chairman for Lower Eastern Region, challenged the farmers to embrace economic empowerment through agribusiness and also not to rely so much on the help they are given; they should stand on their own.
“The principles to a successful life are think, work, take care of, and invest”, Bishop Mutungi advised the gathering at Kwa Vonza Chief’s Camp.
In addition to the cement, which will benefit 35 farmers, the NCCK also donated 20 goats to two women groups. The members of the groups are to jointly care for the goats, then benefit from the kids when the goats reproduce. The donations were given through the Maisha Thabiti project, which is supported by Diakonia Sweden.
On their part, the beneficiary farmers are contributing sand, bricks and hardcore for the construction work.
Beneficiaries who spoke during the event expressed gratitude for the transformation they have experienced in their lives and families due to the capacity building by the project. “Feeding my family was difficult. From the time I got married, I would harvest only one bag of maize from the 2 acres of land. Today, using the conservation agriculture techniques NCCK taught me, I harvest even 14 bags. I have been able to feed the family and even educate my children”, said Agnes Simon.
Another beneficiary, Munyange Kilonzi, appreciated that conflicts in families had greatly reduced because of the project. “Fights in families always originate from poverty at home, but now we don’t have poverty as much, so there is peace”.
Maisha Thabiti project, a three year poject, is coming to an end in November 2020. Through it, NCCK transformed the lives of just over 500 farmers in Ikutha, Kanyonyoo and Kwa Vonza wards in Kitui County.
