One of the biggest challenges facing farmers in Nandi and the entire country is financing, Nandi Governor Stephen Sang has observed.
According to Governor Sang, farmers undergo various challenges as they try to finance their farming activities, a scenario which affects their final proceeds.
Sang said most farmers could not access farming loans from traditional banking financial institutions because the costs are overwhelming while the conditions to qualify are not also easy to fulfil.
“Financing is one of the biggest challenges facing farmers here in Nandi and the entire country,” Governor said while he officially disbursed cheques worth Sh70 million to Nandi farmers Saccos in collaboration with the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP).
He emphasized that strengthening farmers Saccos, to provide affordable loans with minimum attainable conditions would be key to empowering the agricultural sector.
“What we are doing under this programme is to try to support our farmers by providing available credit that is affordable and that is reliable with minimum loan requirements,” he said.
In the event hosted at Eliud Kipchoge Sports Complex Ground, Sang appealed to the Members of the County Assembly to also support farmers of Saccos under the Equitable Ward Development Programme.
“I made a promise to empower the people of Nandi economically and I am glad that this has been achieved significantly through agriculture,” said the Governor.
He also said his administration would remain committed to promoting the federation of farmers along the various value chains.
Notably, the Governor mentioned that the funds that Parliament had approved a total of Sh150 million for Nandi under NAVCDP but the National Treasury only released Sh100 million.
He said that they were in consultation with the National Government to advocate for enhanced allocation as the shortage of funds has forced the project to halt the agri-preneurs’ model which was a critical component of the project aimed at engaging youth in the agricultural extension.
The institutions which have been formed under the project include the Community Driven Development committees (CDDC), Saccos and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).
Speaking during this launch, the NAVCDP Project Coordinator Mr. Jared Mutai emphasized that the money given today would be used to achieve transformation at the ward level.
Mutai said the funds were geared towards improving the value chain in poultry, dairy, coffee, Irish potatoes and avocado farming.
Kochengei Cooperative society which specializes in poultry production will receive funds to cater for the purchase of a boiler to ease operation in the processing plant.
The Chief Executive Committee Member in-charge of Agriculture, Dr. Kiplimo Lagat applauded the people of Nandi who have come out in large numbers and embraced the idea of having a Sacco.
He said that these establishments would benefit with inclusion grants to ten new Saccos and the rest qualified and well established Saccos would receive a line of credit funds.
The presentation of cheques to these community institutions under NAVCDP marks a significant step towards strengthening grassroots agriculture development in Nandi.
It also reflects the government’s support and commitment towards improving the livelihoods of people through sustainable agricultural practices.
By Joselin Chepkorir and Geoffrey Satia
