News Categories: Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperative Development

The County Government of Nandi through the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project, NARIGP is set to begin a rigorous sensitization campaign among the residents of Nandi to educate members of public more on the NARIGP programme, especially among the vulnerable members of the society including the youth, women and people living with disabilities (PWDs).

In order to ensure this is achieved, the project took a deliberate action to train talented youths drawn from different parts of the county who will, through their unique talents, mobilize community members to actively participate in the project .

NARIGP is a five year programme seeking to increase agricultural productivity and profitability of targeted rural communities in selected counties in Kenya. Further, the programme is expected to provide immediate and effective response in the event of an eligible crisis or emergency.

While addressing the workshop, Chief Officer in-charge Agriculture Mr. Wilson Lelei noted that youth have an opportunity and potential to explore, nurture and prosper their talents even as they partake the exercise.

The CO observed that many residents were not familiar with the programme and stated that it was the role of these talented youth to act as ambassadors who will move around the 20 participating wards mobilizing communities about NARIGP.

“Through your input, the programme is set to reach and influence the targeted members of the community who may otherwise not be aware of this noble project,” added Lelei.

Nandi County NARIGP Coordinator Mr. Jared Mutai in his introductory remarks stressed on the need to engage the unemployed youth in Agriculture and also on “understanding the bigger picture” as it involves not only farming but fields which can be diversified into Agribusiness.

Mutai stated that mobilization was still a gap and that the training was timely and important as it will guide the participants who will then be tasked to help in mobilization especially for macro and multi community projects thus bridging the gap.

A total of forty youth successfully underwent the participatory theater training organized by NARIGP in collaboration with the County government at Kaimosi Agricultural Training Center ATC. The workshop was well attended by young talented people among them two special needs people, one who is visually impaired and another who is physically challenged to walk.

According to Ms. Caroline Lagat who is in-charge of NARIGP component three, the group of 40 youth will be very resourceful in sensitizing and mobilizing the community using using their art and talent. She revealed that the use of art and talent has proved to be an ideal tool to influence more youth to take up agribusiness.

Susan Njeri, Head of Participatory Education Theatre at NARIGP appreciated the participants for the utmost cooperation throughout the training. Njeri noted that the project intends to use performing arts to make agriculture cool and attract most of them to embrace agriculture

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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).

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