BY ELLY MWANDIKI

Meru county government will patner with a non governmental organization called United States African Development Foundation (USADF) in giving agricultural grants to registered groups.

The NGO gives agricultural support by giving financial support to promote food security initiatives to youth led cooperatives .The focus in the county will be on Horticulture, livestock, Dairy farming and Fish farming sectors.

The NGO that works in 20 African country and in Kenya is working in about 4counties with Meru is set to benefit immensely.The NGO receives proposals from groups to offer their grants .USADF implementation patner CEZAM ,Finance officer , Nelson Ekomwa said they will give technical training on prudent use of the grant to give achievable results.

The county government of Meru has released all the bursary money meant for college and University students for this financial year.

CECM Agriculture, Prof Karwitha Kiugu said the NGO will provide grants directly to the registered groups and not through government.However, the foundation supports Blended financing in which the county will offer an interest free loan of 50percent with USADF giving a 50 percent grant.

Yale Nagar, Program Analyst USAIDF ,said the NGO was focused on increasing food production by using registered youth groups.

The meeting was attended by Chief officer Dionisia M'Eruaki and Director External patnership Pauline Laibon.