NANDI MAIZE FARMERS REAP RICH HARVEST THANKS TO COUNTY PARTNERSHIP WITH KCEP
The County Government of Nandi through its department of Agriculture and Cooperative development has partnered with the Kenya Cereal Enhancement Programme (KCEP) to enhance agriculture and boost cereals productivity among farmers in the County.
KCEP is a program that the agricultural sector has put in place with an objective of contributing to national food security and smallholder income generation by supporting farmers to increase the productivity and profitability of key cereal commodities such as maize, sorghum & millet and beans.
The program offers capacity building to farmers and provide materials to be used in growing, treating , harvesting and even marketing these commodities.
Today, KCEP National and Regional coordinating units led by National programme Coordinator Ms. Maryanne W. Njogu visited Nandi county to access the development of the program in Chesumei and Mosop Sub Counties.
The team first visited Kamonjil Self Help group in kosirai ward, Chesumei Sub-County where they found the members of the group progressing well with their project and whom were able to move their testimonials about the programme.
Through interventions by the County Government in collaboration with the programme, Kamonjil Self Help Group has been transformed from aggregating 250 bags of maize for home consumption to Commercial Grain Trade Business Hub aggregating over 1,000 bags of maize annually. The chairlady of the Group, testified of how KCEP had helped her increase the maize production from 8 bags in 2018 to harvesting 22 bags in 2019 per acre.
The team would later visit the second beneficiary group Okilgei Sogin Cooperative in Mosoriot where members have grown from a Jumuiya (faith based group) to being a cooperative that aggregates maize and beans and sells then together.
The team concluded its visit at Chemuswo warehouse in Kaptel Kamoiywo ward that has just completed and is set to begin its operations soon.
Speaking during the visit, CECM Agriculture Dr Kiplimo Lagat appreciated the groups for their commitment in agriculture and urged the farmers to continue with their hard work and uphold unity, maximizing the opportunities that come their way, and do diverse value chain through other programs to be launched in the county that will enhance expansion of agriculture.
“As an administration, we’re in the process of supporting Cereal aggregators and cooperatives streamline the maize and beans market by upgrading the two value chain storage facilities while ensuring farmers have a unified and stronger voice and/or bargaining power.” said Dr. Lagat.
He added that once the Warehouse at Chumuswa is complete and operation later in the year, Maize farmers in Mosop will now store their grains in a warehouse until demand or the price of their produce increase.
Dr. Lagat also popularized the county call/data center services that are available on 24 hour basis on short code 1548 and it is toll free so that farmers can leverage on it whenever they need any of the services offered by the administration within the county.
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