Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects: Ground Breaking Ceremony of The Project for the Construction of Agriculture and Fishery Processing Factory for the Community Empowerment within the Marenga fishing village
2016/3/11
| Title | Ground Breaking Ceremony of The Project for the Construction of Agriculture and Fishery Processing Factory for the Community Empowerment within the Marenga fishing village | |
| Date | 11th March, 2016 | |
| Location | Marenga Village, Budalangi, Bunyala, Busia County | |
| Project title | The Project for the Construction of Agriculture and Fishery Processing Factory for the Community Empowerment within the Marenga fishing village | |
| Amount | US$ 81,629 (approx. Kshs 8.0 Million) | |
| Attendance |
Total of about 600 participants
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| Main activity | A Ground Breaking Ceremony for a GGP project signed on 26th January, 2016, “The Project for the Construction of Agriculture and Fishery Processing Factory for the Community Empowerment within the Marenga fishing village” was held in Budalangi, Busia County. The ceremony was attended by officials from the Embassy of Japan in Kenya led by Mr. Mikio Mori, Chargés d'Affaires ad interim of Japan to Kenya and the project beneficiaries including the County officials. The ceremony was magnificently witnessed by among others, Hon. Ababu Namwamba, Member of Parliament, Budalangi Constituency in Busia County, and Mr. Raphael Mbaluka, a representative from the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock & Fisheries. The GGP grant is going to be used to establish a processing factory that would include installation of machines to enable processing and packaging of the Omena fish and rice. The objective of the project is to empower the community through agriculture and fishery products within Busia County in western Kenya. The ceremony included tree planting and dance entertainment by the community members. There were speeches from officials who expressed appreciation to the Government of Japan for the support and promised to ensure that the project progressed successfully to its completion. In his speech at the function, Hon. Ababu Namwamba, Member of Parliament, Budalangi Constituency thanked the Government and people of Japan for the generous support to his county. Among those who spoke at the function was Prof. Japhet Micheni Ntiba, Principal Secretary, State Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock & Fisheries who explained to the community members the importance of accessing the fishery products in order to improve their general health and also enhance their economic stability through entrepreneurial opportunities. During the ceremony, Mr. Mikio Mori, Chargés d'Affaires ad interim of Japan to Kenya cited the occasion of the trip in Japan in March 2015 when His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta had an epoch making meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to discuss the area of fisheries for further cooperation. H.E. President Kenyatta stated that Kenya had a desire of learning Japan’s experience in Fisheries industry. Japan has a long history of technology and experience in fisheries and is able to contribute to the development of Kenya’s fishery industry. Mr. Mori also said the project would present opportunities that would create fishery products from Lake Victoria and improve economic activities in the area. He introduced one of Japan’s ODA projects in the area “the Lake Victoria Comprehensive Ecosystem and Aquatic Environment Research for Development Project” which was funded by the Government of Japan and was ongoing. This is a collaborative project which involves Maseno University and Nagasaki University in Kisumu and the governments of Kenya and Japan. Among the components of the project are the introduction of Japanese-style fish-trap, developing technology of seedling production and improving quality of harvested fish to increasing profitability of fishing as an economic activity. Mr. Mori informed the gathering that the next Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI), the first TICAD ever held in Africa and out of Japan, would be in Kenya later in the year, on 27th and 28th August. Not only would this TICAD have historical significance, it would also further strengthen ties between Japan and Africa, said Mr. Mori. |
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