News Categories: Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperative Development

A group of 33 enumerators drawn from across county who competitively satisfied a panel of interviewers edging out over 600 other applicants to be among the number have successfully completed their three day training.

According to the County Programme Coordinator Mr. Job Kosgei, the purpose of the survey which begins on Monday 30th September, is to establish benchmarks against which the programme will be monitored on routine and evaluated at mid and end term levels.

More farmers entrusted by the community to spearhead community projects under the National Agricultural & Rural Inclusive Growth Project, NARIGP have concluded a four day training workshop on financial management in a bid to develop a culture of accountability and responsibility.

This week was the turn of Community Driven Development Committee CDDC and Social Accountability and Integrity Committee SAIC members from Aldai, Mosop, Chesumei and Emgwen Sub Counties, who have been mandated and tasked by members of their respective communities to spearhead community projects.

A four day training organized by the National Agricultural & Rural Inclusive Growth Project, NARIGP in collaboration with the County Government of Nandi on effective Financial Management for Community Driven Development Committees (CDDCs) & Social Accountability and Integrity Committees (SAIC) drawn from NARIGP beneficiary Common Interest Groups (CIGs) from Tinderet and Nandi Hills Sub-Counties comes to a close.

This was aimed at enhancing the farmers’ Financial Management skills in terms of making right financial decisions at the community level. This is because Financial literacy is an important and crucial aspect to ensuring Community CDDSs diligently utilize and manage community grants received from the project.

Small Holder Dairy Commercialization Programme (SDCP) that has been running for the last thirteen years came to a close today during an exit workshop held at Lelchego Dairy Cooperative Society grounds in Mosoriot.

SDCP Programme was jointly funded by the National Government and the International fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and implemented by the County Government of Nandi.

The programme’s overall goal was to increase the income of poor households in the rural areas that depend substantially on production and trade of dairy and dairy related products for their livelihoods.

Accoriding to the outgoing County Programme Coordinator Mr. Samuel Rono, the programme has invested Ksh 202,181,314 in Nandi since the start of its operations on 12th July 2006 and has attained its objective by greatly improving the lives of rural communities.

Food security advisor to the Governor Mr. Benjamin Sirma said that the programme has really transformed the dairy sector across the County. “It goes without saying that the 13 years of SDCP running in Nandi County has achieved its objective.” said Mr. Sirma.

“Initially, the average production of milk per cow stood at 4% but we’re elated to report that the average production of milk currently stand at 13%” he added.

Dr. Moses Kembe the programme coordinator SDCP lauded the county leadership for taking a step to improve the sector through field days and capacity building.

Dr. Kembe noted that since inception, dairy farming was purely for subsistence but now farmers were doing the venture for commercial purposes.

He further challenged the County Government to strive to ensure continuity and sustainability of the programme.

Chief Guest during the function Deputy County Commissioner for Chesumei Mr. Mwamachi urged farmers to share the information and knowledge gained through the programme to other farmers for the betterment of the entire community.

Following the signing of MOU between the County Government of Nandi and the Co-operative University of Kenya on 19th July 2019 on matters research, training, consultancy and capacity building, the MOU Working Team today held a joint planning meeting to identify priority areas and develop a Work Plan.

Among the priority capacity building areas identified for the County Cooperative staff are book-keeping and financial reporting, public relations, product development, service delivery and facilitation skills.

The key priority areas identified for the Co-operative Board members, Supervisory Committees and managers include roles and duties, Co-operative governance, Co-operative policies, financial management, book-keeping and auditing, tax matters, product quality and diversification of products.

The meeting also identified priority areas for members as,rights and obligations, benefits of Co-operatives, management of loans, value addition and diversification for new and higher income streams.

The MOU Working Team identified key priority areas for Co-operative institutional development that include, strategic plans, business plans and succession planning.

Finally, to ensure effective service delivery by the County Government, the MOU Working Team identified baseline survey, Co-operative policy, legislation and digitization of Co-operative operations as key priority areas.

Through Boresha Jamii na kuku initiative, we are empowering women, youth and people living with disabilities (PWDs) in Nandi County.

On Wednesday, the County Government through the department of Agriculture & Cooperative Development distributed 30 day old pullets to beneficiaries in Aldai Sub-County.

The County Government of Nandi through its department of Agriculture & Cooperative Development has today dispatched 17,000 grafted Macadamia seedlings to different groups of farmers to boost Macadamia farming across the county.

Speaking during the commissioning, Deputy Governor Dr. Yulita Mitei alluded that Agriculture is one of the key areas of emphasis in development agenda Governor Stephen Sang. Dr. Yulita reiterated the government’s commitment to support to with various programmes for agricultural productivity already in place.

In efforts to revive the dairy sector in Nandi County, the County Government is constructing a Milk Processing Plant in Kabieyet ward, Mosop Sub County to encourage value addition and job creation.

The Government identifed Kabiyet due to its close proximity to major milk producing primary cooperative societies of the county.

To ensure this is achieved, the Joint Steering Committee (JSC) spearheading the implementation of this flagship project and constituting of the Nandi Dairy Cooperative Union (NDCU) officials, Government officials and the contractor held a meeting today to follow up on the progress of construction and equipping of the plant.

Among the issues discussed included the completion of the structure, supply & installation of equipment, aquisition of an additional parcel of land, electricity connection, water suppy and marketing strategy.

Earlier on, the committee inspected the construction works at Kabiyet whose construction is estimated at 60% and it’s expected to be complete September 2019. The JSC alluded that it intents to deliver Nandi Milk to the market on time.

Installation of milk coolers are underway across all the 30 wards in the county. And to increase milk production, the government through the department of Agriculture and Cooperative continue to offer quality AI semen at a subsidized price.

In line with Governor Sang’s manifesto, the Government through the plant intents to also supply pupils under the Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) in the entire county once the project complete.

Among the JSC members present at today’s meeting included CECM Agriculture Dr Kiplimo Araap Lagat, CECM for Trade Mr. Jacob Tanui and Tourism Wilson Taiy. Others included commitee Co-chair Mr. Rugut, COs Dr. Benerdate Tiony (Cooperatives) and Wilson Lelei (Agriculture).

#TransformingNandi

Coffee farmers in Nandi Hills Sub-County are the latest beneficiaries of the Government’s ambitious programme to empower farmers through provision of certified coffee seedlings.

Today, coffee farmers received their batch of 10,000 coffee seedlings commissioned last month by Governor Stephen Sang during Ushirika Day celebrations. Among the sub counties that have received their share of 50,000 commissioned seedlings include Mosop and Tinderet Sub-Counties.

While addressing the farmers at Nandi Hills Sub County, Chief Officer Cooperative Development Dr. Benadatte Tiony said that the county government through her department is keen in supporting cooperative societies since they are vehicles for economic growth.

Agricultural extension officer Mr Togom took the farmers through the procedure in readiness for planting.

The provision of seedlings to coffee farmers is a deliberate move by the County Government through its department of Agriculture and Cooperative Development aimed at promoting the cash crop and economically improving the sector.

Also present during the issuance exercise were Hon. Rael Rotich – MCA Kapsimotwo ward, Hon. Gideon Koech – MCA Nandi Hills ward and Sub County Co-operative Officer Mr. Paul Boen.

#TransformingNandi

Farmers in Nandi County will no longer use back pumps while spraying their livestock to kick out parasites and diseases from their domestic animals.

This is after the County Government of Nandi department of Agriculture & Cooperative Development in the financial year 2018/19 renovated and constructed 60 new cattle dips across the county.