Japanese International Corporation Agency (JICA) in collaboration with the Kenya government has identified farmer groups In Nyamira County for training and funding in horticultural production.
Smallholder farming groups practicing horticulture will be targeted Under the Small Horticulture Empowerment Promotion Project for Local and Up scaling (SHEP PLUS).
Addressing farmers during a field day at Nyachichi in Manga Sub County, JICA’s senior representative, Shinjiro Amaneish said the groups’ activities will be upgraded and cascaded to the grass root.
He described Nyachichi Youth Group from the area as a success story in the programme saying a market survey will be conducted to promote its activities.
A Drector with Crop Resources and Plant Protection Directorate, Zakayo Magara, said projects under the program will be up scaled to the level of value chain status.
Magara explained the projects will be supported to source for own export markets for their value added products.
The Nyamira County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Peris Mong’are said the farmers groups were being encouraged to be self-dependent through improvement of their produce quality and diversification.
Petitioning JICA and the two levels of government to involve them whenever similar projects started to gain more experience Albert Matara, chairmanNyachichi Youth Group disclosed the members had managed to acquire solar driven driers for their vegetables besides earning income for individual self-advancement.
By Jane Naitore
