AGRITOURISM PILOT PROJECT; MERU

mad mullah chronicles

 KILIMO TALII
 Re-blogged from Feb.
Aren’t you tired of the common wildlife safaris, walking into and waking up in hotels?

BY NOEL MUTUGI

At the heart of the always sensational and vibrant Chogoria lies a treasure that provides an incredible experience if agritourism is to go by. A few metres before Chogoria town junction along the Embu-Meru (Veve city) highway is Kilimo Talii, one of the leading agritourism promotion projects in Kenya. This is a project that was started in the year 2005 through a joint partnership between Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers (KENFAP), Agriterra and the local community in Chogoria, Meru South District. The local community donated 1.6 Ha. of land to put up this facility.
The region offers a rich agricultural land. Tea is the main agricultural commodity while maize, beans, bananas and other fruits are grown for domestic consumption and the surplus for sale. The project was started with an aim to exploit the gap that exist between tourists and the locals by sharing of each other’s lifestyles and at the same time learning the agricultural, environmental, cultural and social diversities of each other. It attracts farm-based rural tourists, nature, culture and adventure tourists. The principal objective of this project is to attract the tourists and at the same time involve the local community in economic activities and environmental conservation.
According to coordinator John Mutegi, Kilimo Talii is a pilot project of Kenfap Services and two more are underway, at Nandi Hills and Kisumu region. It officially started operations in December 2010. “The project has a target of establishing 12 cottages, a restaurant and a camp site and currently we’ve already established an initial seven cottages in the first phase to accommodate 14 guests and a camp site capable of accommodating 25 people. The restaurant is already in operation,” He said. Some of the major products being offered include farm stays and a trek to Mt. Kenya through Chogoria gate.

TO CONTACT JOHN MUTEGI
Email; mutegijohn@yahoo.com
Visit web;kilimotalii or
               kenfapservices