EMBU COUNTY INK DEAL ON BIO-FORTIFIED NYOTA BEANS FARMING

The County Government of Embu has entered into a partnership deal with a non-profit farmer-based organization, Cereal Growers Association (CGA) to promote the growing of bio-fortified Nyota beans known for high iron and protein content. The partnership set to run for three years will involve 3, 500 farmers and 85 schools across Embu County in the Nyota Beans Campaign funded by the Rockefeller Foundation through Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). CGA is one of the stakeholders in the campaign alongside HarvestPlus and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), which has developed the bean variety. The program is being implemented in three African Countries of Malawi, Tanzania, and Kenya, where it is currently being run in five counties, namely Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Elgeyo Marakwet, Narok, and Bomet, according to AGRA Commercialization Officer Sammy Okita.