ODM party leader Raila Odinga's wife, Ida Odinga has encouraged youths in Homa Bay county to embrace agriculture just as they do white-collar professions for economic growth.
Speaking at Asumbi Teacher's Training College during a graduation ceremony for more than 500 farmers who have been equipped with entrepreneurial skills through the Nyanza Locational Economic Development Forum (N-LEDFO) programme, Ida asked the youths to refrain from flocking to urban centres in search of scarce jobs.
She, therefore, urged them to follow in the footsteps of the elderly farmers who have succeeded in agriculture.
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“There are opportunities in the agricultural sector that yield more than what we are paid in offices,” Ida said.
“Our region is blessed with good climate and fertile soils that will see every seed we plant sprout to maturity and we should take advantage of this and change our economic statuses,” she added.
She also called on residents to scrutinise the manifestos of political aspirants and choose leaders who will ensure continuity and growth of the agricultural sector, saying this would lead to the fulfilment of one of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big 4 Agendas which is to ensure food security.
Ida further called on politicians to embrace peaceful campaigns as the political temperatures rise ahead of the August elections.
On his side, Professor Charles Orero, one of the programme's partners, explained that the initiative is aimed at ensuring residents of the four Lake Basin counties of Siaya, Kisumu, Migori and Homa Bay diversify sources of income ranging from poultry, dairy farming, fish farming, as well as micro-businesses.
