Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u has challenged the County Government of Machakos establish a mango pulp processing plant to enhance value addition.
The CS, who spearheaded a tree planting exercise in Machakos, urged residents to consider planting fruit trees such as mango and avocado, which he noted had multiple benefits.
“In the next five years, we need to have a mango pulp processing factory here in Machakos. A lot of potential lies in commercial processing of fruit as well as value addition,” said Ndung’u.
To ensure a high survival rate of trees, the CS encouraged residents to choose tree species suitable for specific ecological locations.
“We must work hard and ensure that every tree planted survives. What we are doing now is ecological restoration. We are the ones that have destroyed our agricultural ecological zones,” said CS Ndung’u.
The CS was hosted by Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti, where they planted several trees at the Governor’s office before proceeding to Muumandu Forest to participate in the tree planting initiative with residents.
Governor Wavinya stated that tree planting is critical in combating the effects of climate change.
“Kenyans must come out in large numbers to plant and grow trees as one way of combating the effects of climate change,” urged Wavinya.
The Governor noted that county governments have been instrumental in tree planting and environmental conservation, calling for a joint collaboration and goodwill with the National Government in promoting tree planting.
“I can tell you that about 11 million trees have been planted in Machakos County since the onset of devolution. This shows that devolution is working. Devolution is where the people are and where the impact should be felt,” said Wavinya.
She said her Government had distributed a wide range of tree varieties across all the nine sub-counties where she called upon Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) to be on the forefront of spearheading tree planting in their respective Wards.
