Vihiga County Agricultural Sector Steering Committee (CASSCOM) convened a meeting to review the progress of ongoing projects and follow up on key resolutions made in previous sessions.
The meeting, chaired by County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Julius Maruja, brought together stakeholders from various agricultural sub-sectors.
Maruja emphasized the need for all members to share detailed updates on their respective projects, including challenges faced, to enable the committee to devise informed solutions.
One of the major items on the agenda was the implementation of the county’s agroecology policy, which was launched earlier this year.
County Director of Agriculture Reuben Chumba reported notable progress in the policy’s rollout, highlighting active engagement by development partners, including the Vihiga Youth Agricultural Network.
Chumba noted that all five thematic areas of the agroecology policy were currently under implementation, contributing to sustainable agriculture and job creation, particularly for the youth.
Brian Nyota, Chairperson of the Viyan Farmers group, shared updates on the group’s progress, stating that over 400 youth were actively involved in various agricultural ventures under the program.
He appealed to the county government to provide access to the Manyatta cold storage facility to support youth agribusiness operations, especially in produce preservation.
Also present was Wilson Munala, County Project Coordinator for the NORAD/ARNSA initiative implemented by ABDP, a pilot programme aimed at supporting youth and women in agribusiness. Munala confirmed that 450 beneficiaries are already engaged under the project.
He revealed that the initiative would further involve youth in the production of black soldier fly for fish feed, as well as capacity building for women and young people in fish processing and value addition.
The importance of promoting agripreneurship was also underscored during the meeting, with stakeholders noting its critical role in addressing youth unemployment and boosting rural incomes.
The committee highlighted the growing impact of Farmer Service Centres (FSCs) in linking farmers to input suppliers and markets, thereby strengthening the agricultural value chain and enhancing productivity.
The committee resolved to strengthen coordination among stakeholders and ensure continuous monitoring of all agriculture-related initiatives across the county.
By Rose Wasike
