West Pokot county has taken a bold step toward transforming its agricultural sector, following the unveiling of 140 agripreneurs under the Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) Agripreneur Business Acceleration Model.
Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr. Paul Rono and his Public Works counterpart Joel Arumonyang, flanked by the county Deputy Governor Robert Komolle attended the launch event, which brought together national and county leaders, development partners and local stakeholders.
The Food Systems Resilience Project (FSRP), a six-year initiative (January 2024 to August 2029), is funded by the World Bank through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD).
It aligns with the broader objectives of the World Bank-supported Food Systems Resilience Program, which is being implemented across 46–47 counties in Kenya to modernize agriculture and transition smallholder farmers from subsistence to commercial, climate-smart farming.
The initiative marks a significant milestone in the county’s journey to empower farmers, strengthen agribusiness enterprises, and expand economic opportunities for youth and women.
The Agripreneur Business Acceleration Model is built on a business-oriented approach to farming. Rather than relying solely on traditional extension systems, the model nurtures independent agri-preneurs, who operate as private, sustainable enterprises offering fee-based or commission-based services to farmers.
Through this structure, agripreneurs become crucial intermediaries within the agricultural ecosystem. They provide advisory and training services on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and climate-smart technologies, connect farmers to quality inputs such as certified seeds and fertilizers, and link producers to reliable markets to minimize post-harvest losses.
The model also integrates digital solutions including the Know Your Farmer (KYF) platform, which enables farmer registration, GPS mapping, data collection and production tracking.
This digital integration enhances transparency, planning, and response to emerging issues such as pests and diseases.
The program targets key agricultural value chains that are critical to West Pokot’s economy including dairy, poultry, red meat, aquaculture, indigenous vegetables, potatoes, apiculture and drought-tolerant crops such as sorghum, green grams, and beans.
By accelerating value addition and improving productivity along these chains, the county is positioning agriculture as a sustainable driver of economic growth and resilience.
Agripreneurs are also trained to facilitate access to financial services, working closely with SACCOs and cooperatives to help farmers secure credit and loans necessary for expansion.
They also undergo intensive training in digital tools, business management and technical agricultural skills before deployment. The initiative prioritizes youth and women, creating meaningful employment while building a new generation of agribusiness leaders.
Unlike short-term support programs, the model is designed to be self-sustaining. By creating independent service providers within communities, it establishes a system where farmers pay for value-added services, ensuring continuity and long-term impact.
Oversight and accountability are reinforced through Community-Driven Development Committees (CDDCs) at the ward level, which monitor performance and ensure that services remain responsive to local needs.
Speaking during the event, Komolle reaffirmed the County Government’s commitment to supporting programmes that build resilient food systems, create sustainable livelihoods, and unlock the full potential of agribusiness in West Pokot.
The launch was also attended by Kacheliba MP Titus Lotee, Women Representative Rael Aleutum, and Suam MCA and Chair of the County Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Emmanuel Akasile, among other leaders and stakeholders.
The Deputy Governor expressed appreciation for the continued partnership with the National Government and development partners in advancing transformative agricultural initiatives.
With the unveiling of the 140 agripreneurs, West Pokot has signaled its determination to shift agriculture from subsistence to a commercially viable, technology-driven sector capable of withstanding environmental and economic shocks.
As implementation begins, the program is expected to strengthen food systems, increase incomes for farming households and contribute significantly to the county’s broader economic resilience and growth agenda.
by Parklea Ivor
