Nandi County Governor Stephen Sang, through the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCPD), has unveiled 210 young agricultural entrepreneurs.
They will aid in providing essential extension services starting next year in a bid to enhance quality agricultural practices as well as promote sustainable growth within the sector.
NAVCPD is a community-driven project that seeks to increase market participation and value addition for targeted small-scale farmers in Kenya.
Speaking during the session held at Eliud Kipchoge Sports Complex grounds, Sang divulged that agriculture is one of the sectors that require a lot of resources to improve the value and quantity of agricultural produce, adding that the county government is committed to investing in the sector to enable farmers to move forward as a whole.
The governor called on all farmers in Nandi to utilise the agricultural entrepreneurs, who are equipped with the essential skills that, if well applied, will lead to increased productivity as well as added value to their agricultural produce ranging from crops to animal products, thus increasing their income.
He observed that apart from creating employment opportunities for the youth, agripreneurship application in agriculture will play a key role in transforming the sector, hence contributing positively to the economic growth of counties and the country at large.
“Today we have commissioned technical experts who have the passion and knowledge to change and turn around our agriculture. I want to urge farmers to utilise these agripreneurs because I have no doubt that they are willing to support us. Let us ensure that we take advantage of this wonderful team to work with farmers to ensure we improve our agriculture,” noted Sang, adding that the County government is committed to investing in agriculture.
Sang revealed that the county government has vowed to operationalise all the flagship projects, calling on farmers to increase their productivity to be able to supply the processing sectors within the county to avoid sourcing products from the neighbouring counties.
“I want to give you a commitment that we will do whatever needs to be done by our level as government to ensure that we support you,” pointed out the governor.
Additionally, the governor launched motorbikes to be used by agricultural extension officers, which will enable their mobility to the remote areas.
This will ensure services like training farmers on how to increase productivity reach all farmers, including those in the interior areas.
He further defended the national animal vaccination that will commence soon, noting that farmers should not worry about the raging propaganda but rather welcome the move, saying that preventing animal diseases also contributes to increased and quality productivity.
The County Executive Committee Member for agriculture, Dr. Kiplimo Lagat, said that to strengthen the value chain, the County government also signed a memorandum of understanding with Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs), Farmers Produce Organisations (FPOs), Community Driven Development Committees (CDDCs), and the Kenya Sustainable Potatoes Institute (KSPI).
Lagat noted that the SACCOs and FBOs will be working with agricultural entrepreneurs to enable them to utilise opportunities that can help them get inputs to support their work.
“Once we train you, we will identify opportunities where there is money. SACCOS will be working with the agripreneurs, and that is one of the areas we have identified as an opportunity. We are supporting the flagship projects to ensure they are fully operational,” noted Lagat.
By Ruth Mainye
