Tetu Constituency

AGRICULTURE

As indicated in the introductory remarks, the district's main activities are tea and dairy farming in the upper areas, coffee and dairy farming in the lower areas with horticultural and subsistence farming across the district.

The collapse of the coffee industry brought untold suffering to some parts of the district and it has been necessary to diversify over the years for survival. There are signs of gradual revival of the coffee sector.

Given that agriculture is the backbone of the district's economy, there is need for market diversification and value addition locally especially in tea, coffee, dairy, and horticultural farming.

The revival of the dairy industry has continued to boost the farmers' income and the emphasis is now on husbandry and breed improvement.

Rehabilitation of cattle dips, through CDF, has largely been ineffective as the community appears unable to provide subsequent maintenance.

Further, there are two dairy co-operative societies.

Ihururu Dairy Co-op Society covers mainly Muhoya/Kimathi locations and environs.

Tetu Dairy Co-op Society, once the flagship in the constituency, is now largely moribund with limited operations.

A number of private milk companies/groups have cropped up in recent times to offer competition to the two dairy co-op societies, for the benefit of the dairy farmer.

The Constituents also have been rearing goats for meat and milk production. Currently there are a number of dairy goats groups although their commercial viability/production is yet to be realized or fully exploited.

Rearing of dairy goats, rabbits, chicken and bee-keeping are being aggressively encouraged, especially among the women and youth groups, as these will require low capital outlay and will create jobs with sustainable income.

Greenhouse farming and drip irrigation is being aggressively encouraged.

The Tetu Development Association (TDA) is working with UNDP in implementing economically viable and sustainable agricultural practices with emphasis on processing and the value addition chain.

Hon. F. T. Nyammo has, as at June 2010, successfully sponsored 3 one-day workshops on various economic activities and value addition, involving approximately 2000 women. Similar workshops are planned for the youth.

Among the guest speakers have been the staff of K-Rep and Family Banks, two banks who have shown keen interest in partnering with the people of Tetu.

A unique project involving the introduction of fish farming in a hitherto agricultural area has taken off with a lot of enthusiasm and support by locals.

The community based fish farming project was the brainchild of one Dr. Ndungu Mathu and was initially started at Ihwa in Tetu location.

The Government, under the Economic Stimulus Program, has also funded the construction of additional fish ponds throughout the district.

(READ MORE ON FISH FARMING HERE)