News Categories: Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperative Development

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.

# TransformingNandi

On Friday 23rd October, the Chief Officer for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Mr. Wilson Lelei joined Chepkunyuk Ward representative in the County Assembly Hon. Dr. Paul Sanga, Agriculture staff and members of Kapngoriom Farmers’ Cooperative in unveiling of their new society and bee farming project.

Chief Officer Agriculture Mr Wilson Lelei presenting certificate to members of the society.

Presiding over the event, the CO called on residents of Chepkunyuk Ward in Nandi Hills Sub-County to take up the lucrative apiary venture saying that it is more profitable than most traditional crop farming. He took the opportunity to reaffirm the county government’s commitment in strengthening cooperatives through funding, technical advice and support.

Chief Officer Agriculture,Mr Wilson Lelei.

The department of Agriculture has been training and sponsoring exchange visits for young enthusiastic farmers on modern bee-keeping technologies to boost their production. The Government of Nandi pledges to continue with the support through extension services and more funding though the National Agricultural & Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP)

Display of the hives.

Dr. Sanga who likened the Choimim area to ‘Canaan’ said that with the unveiling of the first Apiary Cooperative Society in the area, the place will soon be full of milk and honey.

NARIGP County Project Coordinator Mr. Jared Mutai reiterated the government’s devotion in support of Kapngoriom Farmers’ Coop through the Sustainable Land Management (SLM) window supports Common Interest Groups and Producer Organizations (POs).
He encouraged the group to devise a proposal, with the help of Chepkunyuk Community Driven Development Committees (CDDCs), for funding towards expanding their apiary project.

Nandi NARIGP Coordinator, Mr. Jared Mutai

According to the society’s secretary, the group which has 50 Langstroth hives looks forward to expanding their capacity to 200 beehives with the county’s support. The event culminated with the official unveiling of the apiculture venture and presentation of certificate of registration as well

Construction of a new milk cooling and storage facility with a holding capacity of 5,000 litres at Choimim, Chepkunyuk Ward in Nandi hills Sub County is now complete.

Establishment of the modern facility seeks to improve the farmers’ milk production capacity by enabling them preserve their milk and sell it to processors at a good price and at their convenience.

The Complete Milk Cooling Plant and Storage Facility.

Speaking when he inspected the project, Chief Officer incharge of Agriculture Mr. Wilson Lelei commended the contractor for a job well done. The CO urged farmers to work on increasing their production noting that the new facility will offer bulking and chilling services before milk is transported to processing facilities.

Chief Officer Agriculture, Mr. Wilson Lelei in briefs with management.

Area Member of the County Assembly Dr. Paul Sanga commended the department of Agriculture and Cooperative Development for delivering the project in time. Dr Sanga who sits in the Agriculture committee at the assembly revealed that they are working closely with the Agriculture department and the National Government to ensure installation of coolers is fast-tracked.

Mr Joshua Araap Bungei, Managing Director Lelbren Dairy Co-operative Society, thanked the county administration for setting up the cooler in the area saying that farmers are more than ready and eagerly waiting to make use of the facility.

Chief Officer Agriculture, Mr.Wilson Lelei with management team behind successful completion of the milk cooling facility.

#TransformingNandi

On Tuesday, the Department of Agriculture and Cooperative Development held consultative talks with member officials of the Nandi Avocado Farmer Cooperative Society.

The meeting was centered on discussing progress and process other ways of strengthening the capacities of its subcommittees in a bid to fast track and enhance operations of the society.

In attendance was sub-county cooperative officer Mr. Hosea Kiprop. Mr. Hosea underscored the various roles of each subcommittee and the responsibility each share as a means to successful returns of their members’ investment.

Sub-County Cooperative Officer, Mr Hosea Kiprop following through the session.

Areas discussed were on governance, education and training, finance, production and marketing, procurement, and oversight.

It is the role of the office to ensure cooperatives are well guided and that they have access to all the necessary tools they require for increased productivity thus profitability.

Meeting in progress

Avocado is one of the priority value chains the county government is scaling up as a means to introduce its farmers’ produce internationally.  Avocados in Kenya can be sold in the lucrative markets in Europe, the Middle East, and South Africa prior to previous restrictive measures that had seen avocado imports from Kenya restricted from international borders.

The county government of Nandi, therefore, through the department of Agriculture and cooperative development has invested in processes to capacity build the value chain to take advantage of such a profitable venture.

Members following through

It has provided funds and created marketing channels for Avocado produce through partnerships. Such is True Trade Africa who has a Memorandum of Understanding with the County Government of Nandi to support avocado and potato farmers in Nandi, market their products to regional and international markets.

Cooperatives nature of pulling of resources creates a high bargaining power and risk-sharing for its members in an otherwise competitive market environment.

The department of Agriculture and Cooperative Development has continued to support farmer value chain cooperatives in their quest to make their farming activities a worthwhile venture to their members and the society in general.

On Monday, Chief Officer Cooperative Development Dr. Benadatte Tiony met with officials of Kocheng ngei farmer cooperative society to discuss on their progress and relook into modalities that will fast track their investment capacity and thus attract high returns to their members.

Kochen ngei officials in consultative talks with Chief Officer Cooperative Development, Dr. Benadatte Tiony.

Kocheng ngei is a poultry investing cooperative society. It is among the common interest self-help groups who qualified for the National Agriculture and Rural Inclusive Project fund. NARIGP is an initiative of the county governments with World Bank to equip farmers in rural areas with necessary tools to aid in increasing the profitability and productivity of their priority value chains as a measure of improving livelihoods in rural settings

Speaking during the meeting, Chief Officer Cooperative Development, Dr. Benadatte Tiony, highlighted on the various areas of support the office will provide to the team on matters governance, bookkeeping, audits, education and trainings, sensitization, marketing, overseeing service delivery, and providing resources.

Chief Officer Co-operative Development, Dr. Benadatte Tiony and Betty Koech, Sub County Co-operative Officer.

She urged the team to take up their role as economy developers seriously and be game-changers of the poultry industry in Nandi and the region at large.

Mudslides has become rampant within the areas of Tinderet Sub-County due to the above normal rainfall currently experienced coupled with poor land use management along the escarpments.

In this regard the Chief Officer Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries- Wilson Lelei together with County Head of Disaster Management- Lorrine Cherono visited Kabiemit Sub-Location in Songhor/ Soba Ward where five (5) farmers had their land adversely affected by mudslide and crops destroyed.

The team assessing the affected area

Mr Lelei advised farmers to venture into planting of fruit trees and cover crops as an alternative source of income. Ms Cherono further encouraged them to plant environmentally friendly vegetation so as to maintain greenery and hold the soil along the slopes.

A section of Land affected by the mudslide

Further to this they joined the Chief Officer for Transport and Infrastructure-Jonah Biwott and other well-wishers who donated maize and clothing for relief support to the people of Taptengele Location who in the recent past have been victims of mudslide.

Chief Officer Jonah Biwott donating clothes

CO Wilson Lelei and Lorrine Cherono donating maize to one the affected residents

It is that time of the year again that the world comes together to celebrate the International Day of Cooperatives. It is a day scheduled annually to increase awareness on cooperatives and to highlight their achievements throughout the year.

The theme for this year is COOPERATIVES FOR CLIMATE ACTION.

As the world commemorates this day, we take a look back at how the County Government of Nandi has integrated cooperatives in their inclusive and sustainable approaches into areas of environmental sustainability.

The County, just like other areas globally, has not been exempted from climatic challenges. And through its department of Agriculture and Cooperative Development, it has been keen to involve cooperatives in their models and leadership to address these challenges.

It has also put in place strategies to create enabling climatic conditions that would reduce barriers to cooperative development.

In the recent past, heavy rainfall has caused floods and landslides that created destructions in parts of the County with most affected areas being Chepkario and Mbogo Valley in Tinderet Ward; Chelogong in Tuiyobei and Kapkitany in Songhor Soba ward.

The County Government in liaison with Agricultural Cooperatives rolled out an ambitious plan to reclaim these affected areas and all areas prone to land and mudslides by introducing and promoting the planting of fruit trees and cash crops such as coffee, avocado and macadamia nuts not only to increase food security but to increase land cover and reduce soil erosion.

Certified coffee seedlings distributed at Songhor-Soba ward

In the same effort, the County Government has partnered with Acre Africa, to insure farmers from potential crop damage caused by unfavorable weather conditions.

It provides weather index insurance products for each yielding crop phase. Acre Africa is a licensed insurance intermediary working with local insurers and other stakeholders in the agricultural value chain to provide farmers with transparent, non-exploitative timely payouts after suffering crop loss.

The government has also advanced in solving climate change effects through enabling strategies that will empower the cooperatives to find solutions.

One is the provision of capital. The government has provided special access to capital to enable cooperatives to expand in areas that mitigate or adapt to climate change. The county government has invested in seed granting programs, over 50,000 certified coffee seedlings have been distributed so far from the project, and it is in the process of rearing quality potato and avocado seedlings to be distributed to local farmers.

It has also facilitated the provision of revolving loan funds and inclusion grants through their partnership with World Bank. This partnership has seen cooperatives and self- interest groups’ drawn from wards across the County benefit from funding. The said groups wrote funding proposals that got approved for the financing.

Coffee seedling nursery at Kabunyeria Farmer Cooperative Society to be distributed to farmers.

Through legislation, the government has created a non- discriminatory regulatory environment that facilitates the creation and development of cooperatives.

It is one of the critical transformational agenda of  Governor Stephen Sang government to empower cooperatives to improve livelihoods at grass root levels through access and resource mobilization.

The County Government has also recognized and promoted cooperatives in educational programs, business development programs, and as part of the economy.

It has organized and facilitated Ushirika days to create awareness on cooperatives, partnered with organizations to offer trainings to cooperative members. DigiCow and Digital Green are technology-based organizations with a memorandum of understanding with the county government to provide real-time expert trainings to farmers and farmer groups in Nandi.

It has also facilitated the provision of subsidy programs in crop and dairy sector to cooperatives to manage production costs faced by their members.

Also, the diversity of different sectors in which cooperatives engage means they can work together to address climate change while also advancing sustainable development goals.

Cooperatives could look into a renewable source of energy for their farming activities, for example, the use of natural manure or eco -friendly manure. Hence affects the quality and the healthiness of food produced, which affects the population health.

Agricultural cooperatives could also look into using sustainable management practices to keep ground secure and fertile.

Credit unions to provide investments in natural resource sustainability.

Insurance cooperatives to provide resiliency to their members in the face of extreme weather events

Public transport cooperatives to work to provide sustainable transportation by providing high efficient vehicles to the public and reduce the rate of driving and car ownership. They should look into fuel-efficient cars.

Bodaboda saccos provide low carbon transport

Kapsasur bodaboda sacco

Retail cooperatives provide local goods at affordable prices, minimizing the need for commercial transportation. They work to reduce the environmental impacts of the production of the products at source, reduce waste, generate renewable energy; reduce the impact of their operations, and educate consumer-members and staff.

Cooperatives can also advance their efforts to address climate change by building on the cooperative principles. They should encourage members to set policies on climate change to reduce risk to the business. Identify and report on the threat that climate change poses to cooperative business, use cooperatives as a mechanism to enable members to address climate change.

Establish a capital mechanism that supports strategies to address climate change without compromising cooperative values. Provide training and education on climate change impacts, risks, and plans to reduce emissions. Identify ways in which cooperatives can support members to reduce their impact on climate change. Work with organizations and other businesses to minimize climate risk operations.

Provide decision-makers with information on the effect of climate change on cooperative business and steps to recover. Identify opportunities to build or enhance the resilience of the community to climate change impacts.

Identify and support populations that are particularly vulnerable to the harsh effects of climate change.

The characteristics of cooperatives puts them in a unique position to combat climate change challenges.

The County Government of Nandi has shown  progressive commitment in supporting farmer groups in cooperative societies.

This in line with HE Governor Sang transformational agenda of supporting farmers economically.

A Cooperative Society is a safe cushion to a farmer in facing any production challenge with minimal risks among it being a profitable space where he enjoys immense benefits from a collective pulling of resources and support.

And with the County Government renewed focus on emerging lucrative value chains, Nandi Avocado Farmers Cooperative Society has since been established with its introductory meeting held on Wednesday graced by the CO Cooperative Development, Dr. Bernadette Tiony at the Cooperative Development Building.

Nandi Avocado Farmers Cooperative Society Management courtesy call at CO Cooperative Development Dr. Benadatte Tiony.

The aim of the meeting was a courtsey call and a brief to the office on the progress of the society amidst it seeking guidance of ways of engagements with the county government through the department of Agriculture and Cooperative Development in achieving its specific objectives.

The County Government through the department has since partnered with key producer and marketing organizations through various partnerships to support and promote Avocado value chain in Nandi County.

Key amongt is True Trade Africa a trade finance organization that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the County Government through the NARIGP project to offer market access linkages to farmers with avocado and Irish potatoes as priority value chains.