Nandi County has been identified by Food Agriculture Organization (FAO) as the suitable County to implement its programme. In a survey conducted this year in three Counties Kiambu, Bungoma and Nandi on ‘’Gender Assessment of dairy value chains’’, Nandi emerged as the most viable of the three Counties.
The project dubbed ‘’ Enable Women to benefit more equally from agri –food value chain’’ is a three year programme funded by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency(SIDA), implemented in eight countries in Africa; Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Rwanda and Tunisia.
Speaking at the launch of the programme at Kapsabet, FAO representative in Kenya Dr Gabriel Rugalema said that the project intends to support women in the County by enhancing agri- food systems which are more Inclusive, efficient and addresses gender inequalities and thereby contributing to increased food security in the Country. Further, Rugalema expressed his desire to closely work with the County‘s Administration to ensure that the project’s goals were realized.
On her part CEC Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Mrs Mary Ng’elechei thanked the organization for choosing Nandi County to carry out the project, ‘’As a County we feel happy and privileged to spearhead this project and we would like to extend our appreciation to FAO for choosing Nandi in the entire Country to conduct this programme’’ added Ng’elechei.
The minister also reiterated government’s support towards the project, while noting the positive impact the project will bring to several women in the County, including promoting family businesses and women – led enterprises.
In addition, Ng’elechei has called farmers in the County and particularly women to utilize on the three year window of opportunity offered by FAO to improve their incomes and nutrition in their households.
The project, she added, will be implemented through Cooperatives and Groups with Lessos Dairy Cooperative already identified to kick off the programme.