News Categories: Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperative Development

With the coming of the Boresha Jamii na Kuku initiative, representatives of youth and women groups set to benefit from the program in Nandi Hills Sub-County today received training on poultry farming.

The groups officials were equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge on how to manage poultry farming projects and learn about all aspects of raising poultry for commercial meat and eggs production.

Today, the County Government of Nandi through the Small-holder Dairy Commercialization Programme (SDCP) hosted a dairy farmers stakeholders field day at Koilot, O’lessos ward, Nandi Hills Sub-County.

The exhibition held at Lessos Farmers Cooperative Society grounds presented an opportunity for small holder farmers among other stakeholders working in the dairy value chain to showcase their outputs and technologies in the presence of key industry stakeholders and share innovative solutions in addressing dairy related challenges.

Today, the County Government of Nandi through the Small-holder Dairy Commercialization Programme (SDCP) hosted a dairy farmers stakeholders field day at Koilot, O’lessos ward, Nandi Hills Sub-County.

The exhibition held at Lessos Farmers Cooperative Society grounds presented an opportunity for small holder farmers among other stakeholders working in the dairy value chain to showcase their outputs and technologies in the presence of key industry stakeholders and share innovative solutions in addressing dairy related challenges.

Speaking during the event, Deputy Governor Dr. Yulita Chebotip Cheruiyot noted that agribusiness is the mainstay of Nandi and through the department of Agriculture & Cooperative Development, the County Government has various programmes in place aimed at promoting crop production as well as dairy farming.

“We are striving to commercialize the dairy sector to enable our residents derive their livelihood and also boost Food Security.” said Dr. Yulita.

Lessos Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society Chairman Mr. James Letting who led other farmers in appreciating the support the government has offered them lauded the subsidized AI programme saying that many farmers can now afford quality sexed semen that will guarantee them good breeds.

SDCP County Programme coordinator Mr Samwel Rono said that the programme has already installed three milk coolers in the area and and they are expecting one more . He reported that the area has so far received projects worth Ksh 26.3 Million in support of coolers and establishment of ICT infrastructure for various cooperative societies.

All this, he adds, is geared toward increasing milk production to be supplied to Nandi Cooperative Creameries (NCC) in Kabiyet

This was the first field day and similar exhibitions are scheduled to take place in the remaining five sub counties. Today’s theme was Dairy commercial Agenda towards Climate Smart Production Systems. The exhibition was co sponsored by SDCP, LFCS & KCB Group Mobigrow.

#TransformingNandi

The County Government of Nandi in collaboration with African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) has today flagged off 30 tonnes of maize seeds to be distributed to identified groups of farmers in all the six sub counties, courtesy of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF)

While flagging off the seeds, the Governor said that his government is committed to ensure that the identified families are food secure for societal economic growth.

Deputy President William Ruto has lauded Nandi Governor Stephen Sang’s Development record saying that Nandi residents have tasted the fruits of Devolution.

Deputy President Dr William Ruto laying the foundation stone for the Nandi County Milk Processing Plant.

Speaking on Friday when he toured the County, Ruto said the various development projects initiated by the County Government has changed lives of many residents.

“We commend Nandi County for being one of the model counties in the country that Devolution has worked especially on the health sector, Value addition and youth empowerment” Dr Ruto said.

The DP said that Nandi County will now be a benchmark for other counties across the country who want to excel in various sectors such as Health, Agriculture and Infrastructure.

The two leaders begun their development tour of the County at Emsos Technical Training Institute in Chesumei Sub County where they opened the institution that was funded by the National Government.

Speaking during the opening of the institute, Dr Ruto said the National Government has allocated enough funds that will be used to pay school fees for technical students.

“We have allocated enough funds to make Technical education free and parents should ensure that their Children who have completed form four enroll in TVETs”

Nandi Governor appealed to parents and guardians to take their children to Technical training colleges so that they can acquire technical knowledge that will enable them live better lives.

“We are working closely with the National Government in ensuring that we support the technical institutions. We have prioritized bursaries for students in Vocational Training institutes as one way of encouraging form four leavers to enroll in technical colleges”

During his tour, Dr Ruto also layed a foundation stone for the proposed Nandi County Milk Processing Plant that is being established at Kabiyet in Mosop Sub County.

Once established, the Processing plant will benefit more than 100,000 dairy farmers in Nandi and will enable them add value to their dairy produce resulting in huge profits.

The Milk Processing Plant is the first ever Milk plant to be constructed by a County. Deputy President William Ruto commended the county’s idea of constructing the Milk plant saying that it help dairy farmers in the region.

“With the processing plant, Nandi is one County that Devolution has worked because such development projects will directly benefit the residents”

The Dp called on the residents to work with their leaders so that the development agenda is realized.

Present also were Chesumei Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, Woman Representative Tecla Tum, Chesumei Mp Wilson Kogo, Mosop Mp Julius Melly, Aldai Mp Cornelly Serem, Benjamin Washiali among other leaders.

Deputy President Dr. William Ruto on Friday laid a foundation stone for the first ever Farmer Owned Milk Processing Plant to be constructed by a County Government

Deputy President Dr. William Ruto laying the foundation stone.

Nandi County will be the first County to construct a Milk Processing Plant that will help dairy farmers in value addition by processing and packaging their dairy produce.

A lorry full of fertilizer distributed by the County Government of Nandi.

Continuous cultivation of land without regular addition of nutrients has reduced soil fertility especially on farms belonging to small holder farmers who cannot afford fertilizers.

In a bid to enhance farm productivity for the small holder farmers who own one acre of land or less and do not have other requisite resources, the County Government of Nandi in collaboration with the National Accelerated Agricultural Input Access Programme (NAAIAP) on Tuesday distributed 750, 50KG bags of fertilizer to small holder maize farmers in Songhor/Soba ward, Tinderet Sub-County.

The vulnerable groups receiving fertilizers from County Government officials.

250 farmers drawn from 5 villages in Songhor/Soba ward received 3 bags of fertilizer each that included two 50KG bags for planting and one 50KG bag for top dressing.

The NAAIAP program seeks to address the problem of low farm productivity by offering targeted subsidy in form of technical inputs to resource challenged farmers.

The program’s global goal is to address the problem of low farm productivity arising from farmers not using the right fertilizer and certified seeds.

While officiating the distribution, the CO Agriculture Mr. Wilson Lelei said the increase in yield and production by the farmers would meet the household food security and generate surpluses that can be traded leading to an increase in household income.

Vulnerability preference and priority were given to Child & Women headed families, HIV/AIDS members of the society, PDWs, Youth and resource poor farmers.

Present during the distribution excersice were the area MCA Hon. Justine Chepnyango, CO Agriculture Mr Wilson Lelei, NAAIAP program coordinator Pr. Oduori among, SCAO, Chief among other government officials.

On Monday Chief Officer Cooperative development Dr.Benadatte Tiony together with Director Cooperative Development Stalin Koech held a meeting with the interim committee of the proposed Nandi Cane Growers Cooperative Union to brainstorm over the way forward of the issues that arose in the previous meeting.

The objectives of forming the union include the need to add value to the cane, all the canes from primary cane cooperative societies, to provide advocacy role to the cane farmers on cane policies.

The county government  will not only chip in and provide extension services, but also provide enabling environment for the growth of the industry through  friendly policies, it will also partner with other development partners in the industry.

The interim committee pleaded for construction of sugar cane factory in Nandi County, citing that it will be a relief to them since whenever there is a political difference they face insecurity issues transporting their goods. They also mentioned that 75% of sugarcane  processed in the surrounding sugar factories originate from Nandi County but the most of the Corporate Social Responsibility activities are conducted in the neighboring counties.

The establishment of a sugar factory will not only enhance sugarcane farming but also provide employment opportunities for young people and enhance the county’s revenue generation.It is also through the union that the farmers will have the power to bargain farm inputs and the sale of cane and its products.

Interim Officials with the Chief Officer Cooperative development

They agreed to re brand the existing Union whose proposed name will be Nandi Cane Growers Cooperative Union. The Committee laid down strategies in how to achieve its objective among which was planning on sensitization of primary cane cooperative societies into subscribing to the said Union. The sensitization programme has been scheduled to take place between 16th to 18th April 2019, after which one major meeting will be organized and graced By His Excellency the Governor

Kenya Cereal Enhancement Programme (KCEP) in partnership with the County Government of Nandi on Friday held a sensitization programme to commercial maize farmers from Chesumei and Mosop Sub-Counties on how to register and manage cooperative socities as well as operating and managing the warehouses/stores to be installed in the respective sub counties to help farmers address issues of post-harvest loses.

KCEP Representative

The County Government through its Cooperative Development department appreciate the good gesture by KCEP in expressing interest of partnering with county government in addressing some of the challenges faced by the commercial maize farmers in the county especially on the issue of post-harvest loses.

Speaking during the training, Chief Officer in charge of Agriculture Mr. Wilson Lelei lauded the strategies outlined by KCEP to set up warehouses for farmers to keep their cereal as they wait for prices to appreciate.

Wilson Lelei. CO Agriculture

On her part, the Chief Officer Cooperative Development Dr. Bernadette Tiony reaffirmed government’s commitment to continuously and diligently train commercial maize farmers on matters cooperative governance, management, record keeping new trends among other good cooperative practices. Dr. Tiony also revealed that the department is investing heavily on capacity building for cooperative leaders and impart the cooperative leadership with good managerial skills to ensure that the resources its members are in safe hands.

Dr. Bernadette Tiony . CO Cooperative Development

KCEP is going to establish warehouses in strategic places within the two sub counties in the first phase and also provide 12 motorbikes that will boost extension services among the maize farmers in Mosop and Chesumei Sub-Counties.

During his campaigns, Governor Stephen Sang promised residents of Nandi that he would build a milk processing plant and ensure that value addition is done before the milk is sold to consumers.

In keeping his promises, the construction of the milk processing plant is underway in Kabiyet area, Mosop Sub County.

Excavation of Nandi Dairy Creameries.

The construction process is being done in strict adherence to the required standards considering that quality is the number one prerequisite for any food manufacturing plant, it is always very important to ensure that the plant structure and equipment facilitate the required quality as much as possible.

A technical committee which was established and tasked to oversee the construction of the Nandi Cooperative Creameries (NCC) has been closely monitoring the construction process and were on the construction site today inspecting and assessing the ongoing works of the plant.

Members of the technical committee assessing the project.

The committee commended the contractor for the tremendous progress so far, for adhering high standards of safely and recommended a few variations on the structure.

The processing plant, whose first phase is expected to be completed later in the year, will consist of cold storage space with loading docks, processing section, utility & west handling facilities, administrative offices and dispatch platform.

Upon completion, the plant will create job opportunities to hundreds of youth and women from the county who will be recruited to collect milk, operate the facility, market and distribute its products.

Happy employees at work.

Already, the construction has created informal employment to over 70 locals and the number is expected to rise as contraction advances.

#TransformingNandi