The County Government of Nandi through the department of Agriculture and Co-operative development is building on structures to upscale the maize value chain. Key among the paths to this realization is the need to use the economical power a cooperative framework holds, in securing investments and the legislative advantage it possesses.
Maize stakeholders as participants during the workshop
The County Government of Nandi holds in high regards the immense contribution, co-operative societies play in the economic and social growth of its society. As a key feature of transformation, the County Government is committed in ensuring that cooperators in Nandi are served efficiently through effective co-operative governance.
With co-operative societies as instrumental tools for development, they are occasioned by mobilization and organization of people and their resources into structures that will grow their investment return capacity. In consequence therefore is the crucial obligation to source for good cooperative leadership.
The newly elected officials tasked with continuing the agenda of Afya SACCO Nandi North branch.
It is in this mandate that the department of Agriculture and Co-operative development is tasked to ensure there is efficiency of operations in cooperative societies, a crucial determinant of the beneficial value capacity it offers. This can only be realized by effecting compliant governance through incorporating a transparent, vision oriented and eligible leadership.
Afya SACCO Nandi North branch members turn out to vote for new officials.
It is to this consideration that on Wednesday, the County Government of Nandi through the department of Agriculture and Co-operative development oversaw elections of officials of Afya co-operative savings and credit society limited(SACCO), Nandi North branch and ensured the election was conducted in accordance to law.
Emgwen Sub County Co-operative Officer, Madam Bismeth Maleya overseeing the elections.
As stipulated in the provisions of society’s bylaws; upon expiry of term of office of elected representatives, the society is authorized to conduct elections to seek fresh leadership to continue to the society’s agenda. The election of new leadership provides for flexibility and modern representative democracy which allows for equal participation and fresh insights into a common goal.
Afya SACCO member voting his cast into the ballot box.
Overseeing the compliance was Emgwen Sub county cooperative officer, Madam Bismeth Maleya.
It is key that the co-operative environment is accommodative and structured flexibly to create an even playing field which will allow co-operators a leverage to satisfactorily achieve their goals.
It is in this line that the Department of Agriculture and Co-operative Development together with co-operators in Nandi see the need to guide the perspective of the Co-operative Legislative Act to complement the needs and system structures of cooperative societies in Nandi. It must be domesticated to include relevance when it guides the specific deliberations in which cooperative bodies run. It is aimed to serve as a well formulated enactment plan complementary to the overall Co-operative Legislative Act.
Hence on Wednesday, the Chief Officer Co-operative Development, Dr. Benadatte Tiony held a consultative meeting with key personnel to discuss on approaches the office should take to facilitate this realization.
Chief Officer Cooperative Development, Dr. Benadatte Tiony chairing the meeting.
In the meeting were Mr. Kosgei, Co-ordinator, Agricultural Sector Development Support Programme (ASDSP) Nandi, Nathan Meli who is a long serving co-operator and member of the national cooperative body and the government’s senior co-operative officers Philip Bowen and Bismeth Maleya.
The meeting would be a start of the many steps into actualizing a workable perspective and guide of the legislative act, tailored to the needs of Nandi co-operators.
Speaking during the meeting, Chief Officer Co-operative Development Dr. Benadatte Tiony mentioned that with all factors withstanding, now is the time to upscale systems that work for the good of co-operative functions.
She assured that the County Government as an oversight function in its role to guide co-operatives in implementing and endorsing that which defines them, is committed to the process.
She further mentioned that the office will start by identifying the relevant legislation documents that will guide the task. It will also identify personnel who will be the key informers in merging the proposals and ideas presented forth. And in addition the office will create a schedule of events to ensure the process starts and continues successfully to completion.
ASDSP Co-ordinator Mr. Kosgei on his part assured the team of the support in his role as a co-ordinator of a program, whose implementation in part entails incorporation of co-operative societies. He mentioned that in line with the task he will focus his effort on matters policies, strategies and regulation in the enterprise function of co-operative societies.
ASDSP program coordinator, Mr.Kosgei and Co-operative officer, Bismeth Maleya following through the talks.
The Co-operative officers echoed the sentiments that upon implementation, a guided perspective of the Act to fit the structure and system function of co-operatives in Nandi will go a long way in securing the beneficial role of societies to the community at large.
Mr. Nathan Meli as an expertise was optimistic of the after effects upon implementation of this legislative approach.
He particularly highlighted how this approach is of crucial importance when it comes to qualifying for opportunities available both in region and internationally and also in addressing administrative hiccups which has in time been a major detrimental to the success of many co-operative societies.
He urged the government to be proactive in the pursuit of it and assured that co-operators will be well welcoming of the idea as it works towards the development of their individual economy.
From left Philip Bowen, Co-operative officer and Nathan Meli, a Co-operator.
In its renewed energy to make true the ambitions of a small scale farmer through collective effort, the county government through the cooperative development office led by the chief officer Dr. Benadatte Tiony on Friday held a consultative meeting with the cooperative development officers who make up the technical team which deals with cooperative issues.
Chief Officer Cooperative Development, Dr. Benadatte Tiony chairing the meeting.
The agenda was to recap the strengths that made 2020 a success and discuss on ways to capitalize on areas revised and opportunities aligned with the mission to be of value to Nandi cooperators.
The County Government is passionate in bringing forth amicable solutions through collaborative measures to otherwise challenging situations that would burden an individual farmer. In addition is the zeal to offer support to ensure farmer cooperators find a pillar of strength and resources in their day to day business.
Co-operative officers following through the meeting
Among the areas of focus for the first quarter of the year 2021 is to channel more energy to activities that will ensure increase in milk collection and hence drive traffic of the same to the newly established Nandi Cooperative Creameries. The aim is to see that dairy farmers in all cooperatives get a first hand benefit in selling their milk to the farmer owned facility.
As a support partner and overseer, the cooperative development office mandate will encompass mobilization of dairy farmers to join the union in their various societies bearing in mind that it is through the Nandi Dairy Cooperative Union that a farmer benefits with access to a stable and secure structure to share his business economies of scale which is a huge boost to the profitability of any business.
In relation, Dr. Benadatte Tiony advised the technical officers to identify and activate collection points for dairy societies that are in process of acquiring milk coolers.
“The societies that received the coolers will in effect be the focal area for volume mobilization and can act as areas of activating collection points for societies yet to receive the coolers upon agreement. This is a proactive measure to ensure such societies are not left behind thus be part and parcel of the N.C.C milk supply wagon and be covered under the umbrella of Nandi Dairy Cooperative Union.”
Other area of importance highlighted was in strengthening the management factor in all cooperative societies. The Chief Officer and the Director stressed on the crucial role a good governance plays in the success of operation in the cooperatives. They urged all officers to ensure sound compliance to all protocols stated under the cooperative compliance act so as to upscale transparency, good flow of fiscal resources to farmers and provide a fair system for equitable distribution of resources among the members.
Director co-operative development, Mr. Stalin Koech
Also key on the agenda was on stakeholder engagement. The need to work as team with the various stakeholders and technical partners involved in cooperative business.
The cooperative development team is geared up to steer the County Government of Nandi transformational agenda of impacting positively the lives of farmers in cooperative societies.
Among the highlights of 2020 was certification of cooperative officers as mediators. Mediation is a key skill in people focused corporations to ensure a fair and accommodative delegation system, an important skill for ease of doing business between a farmer, the society and the government.
As part of inter-county learning and exchange program, the county department of Agriculture and Cooperative Development through the NARIG project organized for a peer to peer exchange visit for Twenty Five farmers drawn from Chesumei Sub – County to Mwala Sub-County in Machakos County.
Farmers learning exchange program allows beneficiaries within a micro-catchment to tour identified parts within the country where technologies on Sustainable Land Management (SLM) have been successfully implemented.
The aim of the visit was to expose the farmers to the techniques so that they can practically learn and implement them on their farms upon return from the tour. NARIGP Nandi conducted farmers learning tour to Machakos County under Component 3 (Supporting County Community-Led Development) from 9th to 11th December 2020 for Chesumei Landscape Conservation project.
The tour was one of the mandatory activity proposed in the Chesumei SLM proposal. Those included in the learning tour were farmers, the Project Management Committee (PMC) and County Technical Staff (CTDs). Specific criteria were used to select the farmers as per the project guidelines. Machakos County was selected for the tour based on its success over the years in implementing SLM technologies and the existence of a similar agricultural project to Nandi County.
The cooperative model is best known for its versatile approach in supporting the broad spectrum of a farming enterprise. It is in its collaborative nurture that it continues to be the only effective vehicle of development that can fully support an individual farmer in all the phases of his farming venture. The department recognizes this and is in a continuous dedicated pursuit to equip its cooperative societies with effective knowledge and resources in a bid to have its farmers be among the top leading players in the market.
On Monday the County Government of Nandi through the department of Agriculture and Cooperative Development in partnership with YARA Mila fertilizer program held a workshop constituting officials of farmer cooperative societies across all value chains and YARA Mila fertilizer. The workshop agenda was geared towards informing the societies on YARA products and the niche it closes when it comes to solving low farm output problems as a result of unsuited nutrient application, poor fertilizer composition and wrong quantity use per acreage.
The value chains represented was tea, coffee, and avocado, potato, maize and dairy.
Farmer societies representative officials
YARA Mila is a high quality standard fertilizer which brings quality and high productivity to the yielding phase of a crop. The uniqueness of YARA Mila fertilizer is that it is formulated with an analysis assurance specifically tailored with nutrients rightly configured to suit the different needs of each crop, type of soil and the acreage capacity.
Display of YARA Mila fertilizers
YARA Mila products provide all nutrients intended for higher yields, are less acidifying and friendly to soil and are an affordable solution to higher farmer profitability.
YARA Mila representatives took the meeting through a detailed explanation of YARA products, their product composition, benefits, recommended usage, and the specific types for different crops.
According to Mr. Sengwer YARA territory manager, Cooperative societies and YARA program share an interest in improving farmer lives and it is in this intrigue that the organization seeks to form a partnership with cooperative societies in an aim of doing business with these farmer institutions.
YARA Mila Territory Manager, Mr.Sengwer.
He emphasized on the tailor effect YARA products have specific to the needs of each value chain and its unique benefits of providing all nutrients intended for higher yields, its properties are less acidifying and friendly to soil and it provides affordable solution for higher farmer profitability through inputting less and yielding more.
Speaking during the event, CEC Agriculture and Cooperative Development, Dr. Kiplimo Arap Lagat appreciated the role of the partnership in providing knowledge for the growth of the farmer.
CECM Agriculture and Cooperative Development, Dr.Kiplimo Arap Lagat
Key among is the need to restore back our soil properties which according to KALRO has been extremely acidified through the common use of Diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer in the area. DAP is not favorable to soils due to its high acidifying effect that in turn results in poor yields.
He also informed on models the county government is working on to strengthen the structure and equip the leadership of cooperative societies so as to enhance good governance among farmer institutions.
‘’Good governance is of importance to drive proactive measures needed for a farmer to benefit from the collaborative nature of a farmer society. I urge the cooperators present to use their positions to effect change in the mode and way of doing farming in Nandi. Nandi has a very big potential of being a top leading player in the sector owing to the fact that its farmers practice diversified farming.”
He urged the officials to look into systems that will negotiate better prices of inputs and resources to their farmers and those which would provide a platform for all value chains to coexist and share support.
He assured of the County Government support to see a forward movement of all farming activities in the interest and benefit of a farmer.
Also in attendance was Chief Officer Agriculture who recognized the role the partnership provides in securing food certainty in our county and its position to make farming a high profitable venture for farmers.
Chief Officer Agriculture, Mr. Wilson Lelei
The Managing Director YARA East Africa praised the mark of quality of YARA products stating that it is the leading fertilizer according to the measure of ISO standards. He also stated that apart from its interest in impacting farmer lives, the partnership goes a long way in creating systems to aid cooperatives better track their farmers’ productivity levels and thus provide opportunities to improve and stabilize their yield return.
Managing Director YARA Mila East Africa.
Also among the partners of YARA program was Co-operative Bank represented by Mr. Kipchumba. Co-operative Bank has a Memorandum of Understanding with YARA to support farmers’ access farm inputs. Within the program, the bank will help finance purchase of the fertilizer through a credit system. The MOU targets farmers, farmer societies, agro vet companies and SACCOs.
Cooperative Bank Relationship Manager, Mr. Kipchumba
“The credit system used does not incur interests and the only charge to be incurred will be a 2% service fee.”
YARA products are available at Jubilee, Tiryo, Chai Farmers and Wareng Agro Vets.
Mrs Leah Saina a farmer and treasurer Cebo Kaptich cooperative society giving a testimonial on the results of using YARA fertilizer on her tea farm.
Planning Officer Cooperative Development, Ms Charity Jepkosgei giving a vote of thanks in representation of the office.
The County Government of Nandi has been keen to equip channels of improving the economic lives of its residents at the grassroots level. The focus to achieve this has been realized through mechanisms of collaboration and mutual agreements. Hence mobilization of strengthening and creating community and self-help groups whose objective is to put together resources at their disposal and makeshift them into an income-generating source.
Members of Lymo Akai sacco participating in the forum
While on the same focus, the co-operative model has been a major boost to this approach, and over the year, the County Government of Nandi through the department of Agriculture and Co-operative development has been able to engage with members of a society to create co-operative societies in a quest to benefit and increase their margins of resource turn over.
Chesumei Sub County Co-operative Officer, Joy Chemutai guiding the members through the co-operative structure
On Friday, a newly registered savings and credit cooperative society, LYMO INUKA received its certificate of incorporation. LYMYO INUKA comprises largely of parents from Kokwet area in Mosoriot who came together to ensure the education of their children is completed successfully. The group after sensitization from the co-operative development office opted to graduate its previous membership as a self-help group to form a SACCO. This is in regards to the immense benefits a SACCO has especially with its credit access facility which is a key interest to the members of LYMYO INUKA.
The SACCO members displaying the certificate of incorporation
The launch was a success with the presentation of certificate, election of officials, and a further seal on the bylaws of the SACCO.
Chesumei Sub County cooperative officer with elected management committee
Chesumei Sub County cooperative officer with elected supervisory committee
Elected education committee tasked with organizing trainings and learning scapes for members
Elected credit committee
Officiating and overseeing the event, Chesumei Sub County Cooperative Officer, Ms. Joy Chemutai applauded the team for taking on an ambitious plan. She urged the management and the members to put in the hard work for the success of the SACCO.
Chesumei Sub County Cooperative Officer, Joy chemutai handing the certificate to the chairman of Lymyo Inuka Sacco
She also assured them of the support of the County Government in all their activities until when they can stand firm on their own.
The County Government of Nandi through the Department of Agriculture and Co-operative development is working to strengthen strategic relationships between cooperative societies and key stakeholders. As a liaison body, the cooperative development directorate aims to expand the productivity and profitability of farmer cooperative societies through key stakeholder engagements and partnerships.
Director Co-operative Development,Mr.Stalin Koech chairing the meeting.
It is on this mandate that on Thursday the department of cooperative organized and oversaw a business to a business meeting between Lelchego dairy cooperative society, Cooperative Alliance of Kenya, and Agricultural Finance Corporation.
Lelchego dairy Cooperative Society Chairman, Mr. James K. Letting.
The meeting saw the two stakeholders agreeing to support the progress of Lelchego’s financial potential in their different areas of expertise and capacity.
Lelchego dairy management in consultation with Cooperative Alliance of Kenya consultancy.
The Cooperative Alliance of Kenya was represented by its business and financial advisory. The team is to create a customized business plan for dairy society. The business plan will encompass a well-articulated strategic structure that will keep Lelchego on the top charts of potential financiers and investors while they seek financial support for their projects.
C.A.K relationship manager field services, David Osata.
CAK consultant Ursula Gesembe stated that the business plan is the only effective path to seeking financial support and attracting serious investors. She gave examples of cooperatives that have worked with them and are now realizing huge profits from taking this step as the first means.
C.A.K business and finance consultant, Ursula Gesembe addressing the meeting.
“Murugu and Kinangop Saccos started small and in their determination to scale up consulted with us for their customized business plan. Now the two are collecting milk from all over the region and have secured high return investor partnerships with reputable organizations. Murugu has recently been able to secure two extra coolers with no extra cost from their pockets because of the convincing power of their business plans.”
She was optimistic that Lelchego is on the same promising path owing to the fact that it is located in a milk invested area compared to the other two mentioned. She, therefore, praised the management for agreeing to the partnership and promised that the consultancy will deliver on the business plan.
The business plan structure will be tailored around the society’s financials, future project plans, project reports, the capacity of production, society profile, organizational structure, audited accounts, and strategic plans.
CAK consultancy also offers support in areas of formulation of co-operative policies, standard operation procedures, human resource consultancy, and training.
C.A.K financial consultant, Elisha Ojwang.
Agricultural Finance Corporation Manager, Dorcas Sang on the other hand spoke on the role of AFC in assisting the development of agriculture and agriculture industries by making loans to individuals and groups engaging in agricultural activities.
AFC Manager, Dorcas Sang
She highlighted the stability and flexibility of acquiring AFC loans as it is specifically created to meet the nature of the value chain.
“The advantage of financing with AFC is that the facilities they offer do not limit your borrowing capacity. It also finances along the value chain and we work within the scope of the organization memorandum.”
Also present was Kipchumba, a financial advisor from Cooperative bank who briefed on financial packages the cooperative is fit and eligible to acquire and ones that are more cost-efficient and effective.
Cooperative Bank financial advisor, Mr. Kipchumba.
Chesumei Sub County Co-operative Officer, Joy Chepchumba.
Today, hundreds of farmers and non-farmers alike participated in a Farmers’ Field Day organized by the County department of Agriculture and Cooperative Development in partnership with Kenya Cereal Enhancement Programme Climate Resillient Agricultural Livelihoods KCEP-CRAL held at Mr. Samuel Kemboi’s farm in Kapkobis village, Chemundu – Kapng’etuny ward, Chesumei Sub-County.
Farmer attendance at Samwel Kemboi’s farm in Chesumei sub county.
During the field day, farmers were trained on various appropriate varieties of grains and other crops that would do well in the county. The event took a hands-on approach with farming professionals, extension officers and exhibitors who were available to showcase and explain best farming methods and practices.
Farmers on training.
Speaking at the event, Chief Officers for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Mr. Wilson Lelei reiterated the Government’s commitment to continue supporting farmers with subsidized Agricultural Mechanization Services AMS for ploughing and other land preparation, certified seeds and trainings to ensure that farmers produce the best and fetch good prices.
Chief Officer Agriculture, Mr Wilson Lelei addressing the farmers.
Kebulonik Reformed Women Group in Sang’alo – Kebulonik ward supported by the County Government of Nandi through the National Agricultural & Rural Growth Project (NARIGP) have recorded an impressive harvest in Irish potato farming reaping approximately 40 – 50kg bags from their 0.6 acre farm.
The harvest
The group of reformed alcoholics and brewers who lived by the bottle for years attribute the bountiful harvest to the use of certified seeds and implementation of Farmers Field Schools (FFS) by the Agriculture department in the area.
Success of the harvest attributed to the use of certified seeds and implementation of Farmers Field Schools (FFS) by the Agriculture department.
Hoping to change and encourage some of their neighbours who are still indulging in alcoholism, the group of 25 members are determined to scale up their farming in the next season.
Group members harvesting.
After presenting a proposal for funding, the group was successfully awarded all the necessary farm inputs for Irish potato farming which included;a water pump generator, digital weighing scale, 2 rolls of horse pipes and materials for the construction of a storage facility which is now complete.
Besides supporting small scale farmers increase production, the project also aims at transforming vulnerable farmers venture into profitable farming hence a decent income.
The group aims at transforming vulnerable farmers ventures into profitable farming.
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