The government is in the process of establishing a multi-value chain cooperative in every ward across the country, which will serve as delivery centres for subsidised agricultural inputs.
The proposed multi-value chain cooperatives will be dealing with at least two commodities, unlike the conventional cooperative approach, where a cooperative deals with only one commodity, disadvantaging members in sourcing other commodities, where they are forced to join different cooperatives for other services.
This was revealed by Royford Murangiri, one of the facilitators, during the concluded workshop for sensitisation on Monitoring, Evaluation and Tracking of National Government Programmes and Presidential Directives in Olkalou, Nyandarua County on Saturday.
Murangiri further pointed out that the intention of the government is to not only have the ward cooperatives but also added that each will be empowered to have a sacco.
Murangiri further reiterated that the establishment of ward aggregation centres, which will be collection centres for farm produce and, to some extent, value addition centres, is in the pipeline.
“The commodities that will not be value added at ward aggregation centres will be upscaled to County Aggregation Industrial Parks (CAIPs) for value addition, which will also act as linkages for farmers to buyers and processors,” noted Murangiri, adding that the aggregation centres and ward cooperatives will be the nearest point of contact for farmers.
In addition, the facilitator pointed out that in order to enhance high-quality farm production, the government is in the process of training agripreneurs, noting that already 175 entrepreneurs in Nyandarua County have been trained and adding that more will be trained in other fields such as animal health.
“Most of the entrepreneurs trained are youth, where the government is targeting young people to enhance youth employment and they will be crucial in linking farmers with ward cooperatives,” said Murangiri.
In risk mitigation to cushion farmers from hazardous climatic conditions, Murangiri noted the government’s intent to deploy modern instruments such as crop and livestock insurance, which is different from conventional insurance that will use satellite technology in monitoring weather conditions, which will be timely in informing the farmers of the steps to take to avoid suffering losses.
Other instruments of risk management include contract farming and guaranteed minimum returns, which, he said, will ensure the farmers carry out their activities without fear of losses.
Murangiri encouraged farmers across the country to ensure they are registered on the Kenya Integrated Agriculture Management Information System (KIAMIS) to be able to benefit from farm input subsidies, livestock vaccines, extension services, affordable insurance, and reliable market linkages.
By Kimani Tirus
