Cooperatives and MSME Development Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui says Baringo County has continued to lag behind due to myriad of historical problems.
However, Chelugui added that the government is committed to supporting local farmers to realise increased agricultural productivity through improved extension services.
The CS urged residents to capitalise on institutions like the livestock training institutions, which will have a huge effect on their long-term growth and prosperity, especially in the livestock industry.
He therefore challenged farmers, especially from the major towns of Baringo, to venture into profitable agribusinesses that will in turn boost the economy of the vast county, which is mostly semi-arid.
Chelugui said this while facilitating Baringo County dissemination forum on the Fourth Medium Term Plan (MTP IV) at the Kenya School of Government (KSG), Baringo campus, where he announced the construction of a new livestock training institute in Baringo County, which will commence at the start of the 2024–2025 financial year.
The Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Harry Kimtai, who was present, disclosed that the National government had allocated Sh100 million for the upgrade of nine (9) other existing institutes countrywide.
Kimtai said the flagship project to be set up at Mogotio Sub County came into being after it was successfully captured in the fourth medium-term plan for the 2023–2027 period.
He noted that the institute will play a crucial role in training students besides offering support to the county, with 75 per cent of its residents being livestock farmers.
“For the entire five years, there will be a budget for the construction of the training institution that will be a game changer for all Baringo residents,” said the PS.
Kimtai added that, apart from the new facility, the government will be upgrading the other nine livestock institutes countrywide in a bid to improve the sector.
By Benson Kelio
