News Categories: Agriculture and Cooperative Development

09 Aug
By: Peter Koima 0

INVESTMENT FOR PROSPERITY; PROMOTING MACADAMIA FARMIMG IN NAND

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.

Chief Officer Agriculture Mr. Wilson Lelei told farmers that the department is promoting crop diversification through introduction of emerging cash crops such as Macadamia which has potentially high returns.

He said that grafted macadamia is a strategic crop and am investment for posterity that start to fruit after 3-4 years, with marketable & more profitable yields expected after 5 years.

On average, the yields of a grafted macadamia tree range between 55-60 translating to Ksh over Ksh 6000 and expected annual gross income is Ksh 560,000 per acre.

Deputy Director incharge of Agriculture Mr. Jared Mutai took farmers through the basic information on macadamia establishment from planting to maturity before the issuance.

Distribution of the Macademia seedlings will prioritize wards which do not benefit from the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP).

#TransformingNandi #TugaTai

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09 Aug
By: Peter Koima 0

PHASE I CONSTRUCTION OF NANDI COOPERATIVE CREAMERIES (NCC) NOW AT 60%, SAYS JSC

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).

#TransformingNandi

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07 Aug
By: juliter jepkinyor 0

DISTRIBUTION OF COFFEE SEEDLINGS TO FARMERS CONTINUES

Coffee farmers in Nandi Hills Sub-County are the latest beneficiaries of the Government’s ambitious programme to empower farmers through provision of certified coffee seedlings.

Today, coffee farmers received their batch of 10,000 coffee seedlings commissioned last month by Governor Stephen Sang during Ushirika Day celebrations. Among the sub counties that have received their share of 50,000 commissioned seedlings include Mosop and Tinderet Sub-Counties.

While addressing the farmers at Nandi Hills Sub County, Chief Officer Cooperative Development Dr. Benadatte Tiony said that the county government through her department is keen in supporting cooperative societies since they are vehicles for economic growth.

Agricultural extension officer Mr Togom took the farmers through the procedure in readiness for planting.

The provision of seedlings to coffee farmers is a deliberate move by the County Government through its department of Agriculture and Cooperative Development aimed at promoting the cash crop and economically improving the sector.

Also present during the issuance exercise were Hon. Rael Rotich – MCA Kapsimotwo ward, Hon. Gideon Koech – MCA Nandi Hills ward and Sub County Co-operative Officer Mr. Paul Boen.

#TransformingNandi

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01 Aug
By: juliter jepkinyor 0

CONSTRUCTION OF NEW AND REHABILITATION OF DILAPIDATED 60 CATTLE DIPS ONGOING ACROSS THE COUNTY

Farmers in Nandi County will no longer use back pumps while spraying their livestock to kick out parasites and diseases from their domestic animals.

This is after the County Government of Nandi department of Agriculture & Cooperative Development in the financial year 2018/19 renovated and constructed 60 new cattle dips across the county.

Among the dips that are complete and operational include Kimaasas cattle dip in Nandi Hills ward, which was on Thursday commissioned by Dr. Benadatte Tiony, CO Cooperative Development. Kapkeben and Gorgor in Kabwareng ward, Kimolwet in kabisaga and Koibem in Chepkumia ward just to mention a few.

This will eventually help in improving the economic fortunes of the region where majority residents depend on Agriculture as its main economic backbone.

While Commissioning Kimasas Cattle Dip Dr Tiony urged farmers to take advantage of the cattle dip to practice dairy farming saying it has huge returns since dairy products have readily available market not only in the county but also regionally.

“Dairy farming is one of the lucrative economic activities that will earn residents of Nandi County a lot of money. This is where I want us to ensure that subsistence income is realised,” said Dr. Tiony.

Farmers are excited to have a plunge dip, the most efficient method of tick control for big herds, and this will go a long way in controlling tick borne diseases.

#TransformingNandi

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29 Jul
By: Peter Koima 1

FARMERS RECEIVE KSH 7.5M FUNDING TO BOOST THEIR PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFITABILTY

A total of eighteen Community Driven Development Communities (CDDCs) drawn from eight NARIGP participating wards namely Koyo/Ndurio, Tinderet, Songhor/Soba, Kapchorwa, Kapsabet. Lelmokwo/Ngecheck, Kurgung/Surungai and O’lessos have recorded a milestone after they received a whooping Kshs 7.5 million micro development fund from the County Government.

While presenting the first batch cheques to the 18 beneficiary CDDCs, Nandi Governor H.E Stephen Sang challenged the beneficiaries to be good forerunners for the implementation of the project to be emulated with other participating counties as well as make use of natural resources for the common good.

Governor Sang’s administration continues to empower farmers in different value chains for improved productivity and livelihood change through the provision of resources that will increase profitability in the sector.

In view of this, the County Government of Nandi through the department of Agriculture and Cooperative Development in partnership with National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) is financially supporting farmer’s projects through Community Driven Development Committees.

Preparation for disbursement of subsequent batches to the remaining CDDCs are ongoing and will be announced in due course.

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22 Jul
By: juliter jepkinyor 1

FARMERS IN TINDERET AND MOSOP SUB-COUNTIES GET 20,000 COFFEE SEEDLINGS

Coffee farmers in Songor/Soba & Tinderet wards in Tinderet Sub-County and their counterparts from Chepterwai & Kipkaren wards in Mosop Sub-County are among the first crop of farmers to benefit from the Government’s programme to empower coffee farmers through provision of certified coffee seedlings.

In a bid to boost Farmer’s income and improve on their livelihoods, the County Government of Nandi has embarked on distribution of coffee seedlings. Just last week, farmers in Mosop received 10,000 seedlings and today was turn for Tinderet farmers to receive their share of 10,000 seedlings.

In recent times, coffee has attracted high pay with a lot of demand from the market hence supply from the farmer should increase. In Nandi, coffee is the second most paying cash crop after tea and that is why the government is heavily investing in the crop.

The County Government of Nandi also intends to set up a coffee milling plant in the near future thus the need to increase farmers production of coffee for them to enjoy higher prices and cut on transportation costs when the time comes.

Distribution of coffee seedlings was officially commissioned earlier this month by H.E Governor Stephen Sang during Ushirika Day Celebrations and will continue across the county. This is a move by the County Government of Nandi through the department of Agriculture and Cooperative Development seeking to broaden the source of income of farmers through diversification and cash crop farming.

#TransformingNandi

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17 Jul
By: Peter Koima 0

MILK COOLING PLANTS TO BE SET UP IN ALL 30 WARDS

A total of 30 structures are to be built and commissioned in the next 2 months across the county whereby one structure is to be raised in each ward which will house the milk cooling plants that will be distributed once the structures are complete.

This is after the Department of Agriculture & Cooperative Development on Tuesday officially handed over cooling sites to the contractors for construction work to commence.

Speaking during the site handing over, the Chief Officer for Cooperative Development Dr. Benadatte Tiony noted that setting up of the structures to house the coolers is timely since the construction of a milk processing plant at kabiyet is ongoing.

An effort she says will help reduce the distance covered by farmers from their farm gates to the cooling plants for bulking before the milk is transported to the processing plant which will have capacity to process 100,000 litres of milk in a day.

In a bid to increase milk production in the county, the department has embarked on a programme to first improve the breeds of cattle in the county with an intention of getting high yielding cows in the near future.

Besides provision of affordable AI services, the department is currently rehabilitating 60 cattle dips, two in every ward, as a primary measure of disease control among other vital extension services.

Dr. Tiony urged the primary dairy cooperative societies to join the Nandi County Dairy Cooperative Union as this is the apex and it will help them have a unified voice as the dairy sector.

For sustainability, the Chief Officer advised the cooperators to regularly participate in capacity building and trainings on leadership, management and governance which will be sponsored by the Cooperative Department.

Provision of the cooling machines will not only enhance sale of quality milk but also eliminate milk hawking of contaminated milk.

Also present during the site handing over were the Sub County Administrator, area MCAs and the management of respective cooperative societies. Residents welcomed the initiative saying that it will also create employment opportunities for their children who have a background in milk handling

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15 Jul
By: Peter Koima 6

FIRST BATCH OF NARIGP MICRO-PROJECT GRANTS APPROVED FOR DISBURSEMENT

National Agricultural & Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) County Project Steering Committee (CPSC) members today met to ratify and approve, among other issues, the disbursement of the 1st batch of Micro- Project grants to Community Driven Development Committee (CDDCs) and funding proposals.

NARIGP project is providing grants to Common Intrest Groups (CiGs) ranging from Ksh 50,000 to Ksh 500,000 to finance micro-projects developed along prioritized value chains namely Dairy, Indigenous Chicken, Irish Potato and Avocado. To date, 64 proposals have been developed out of which 45 groups drawn from 8 participating wards have been approved for funding.

In today’s meeting chaired by Agriculture Executive committee Member Dr. Kiplimo Araap Lagat and attended by COs Agriculture Wilson Lelei and his Counterpart for Cooperative Development Dr. Benerdate Tiony, the committee approved disbursement of funds amounting to over Ksh 15M to the successful applicants of the grants.

The committee also ratified formalization of NARIGP Producer Organizations POs for Dairy and Potato Value chain and approved their funding proposals. Those who were given priority include the vulnerable and marginalized community members.

Nandi is among 21 counties implementing NARIGP, whose objective is to increase agricultural productivity and profitability of rural communities in targeted counties, and in the event of an Eligible Crisis or Emergency, to provide immediate and effective response.

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06 Jul
By: Peter Koima 0

DISTRIBUTION OF OVER 50,000 CERTIFIED COFFEE SEEDLINGS TO FARMER IN COOPERATIVES, COMMISSIONED DURING USHIRIKA DAY

The County Government of Nandi Department of Agriculture & Cooperative Development on Saturday joined the rest of the world in commemorating the 97th International Day of Cooperatives locally known as ‘Ushirika Day’. The day is observed worldwide every first Saturday of July every year to allow cooperators reflect on the achievements of cooperative movements. This year, the celebration was themed ‘Cooperatives For Decent Work’.

During the celebrations held at AIC Kapsabet Bible College, Nandi Governor Stephen Sang commissioned distribution of over 50,000 certified coffee seedlings to be distributed to farmers through different cooperative societies in all the six Sub Counties in Nandi.

 

Nandi Governor Stephen Sang issuing seedlings to cooperative societies.

 

 

While addressing the cooperators, Governor Sang noted that Nandi County has over 70,000 cooperative members with a share capital/deposit of over Sh1.3 billion and turnover of over Sh1.2 billion, majority of whom practice farming, and thus the sector should receive necessary attention and support.

The County boss said that provision of seedlings to coffee farmers was one among many programs by his administration aimed at improving the sector for more economic benefit to the residents of Nandi.

Sang revealed that the Enterprise Fund Policy which will assist Cooperative societies to access affordable credit facilities, through a revolving fund, was at advance stage and soon it will be operational.

“I encourage all savings and credit cooperatives societies to lead in mobilizing resources and to prudently manage them so that in future they will be able to do business with other small cooperative societies who will be in need of affordable financial services.” said Sang.

Youth and women are also encouraged to take the advantage of the revolving fund once it is operational.

On his part, CECM Agriculture and Cooperative Development Dr. Kiplimo Araap Lagat said that his department will continue supporting and strengthening cooperative societies saying that they’re vehicles for rapid economic growth in the County.

 

CECM Agriculture and Cooperative Development Dr. Kiplimo Araap Lagat addressing Cooperators

 

 

“As people centered enterprises & key development actors, Cooperatives have an important role to play in the creation of decent jobs, social and economic empowerment of local communities.” said Dr Lagat.

He also urged the cooperative societies to to put into consideration the principle of good governance for the success and smooth running of cooperative societies.

Chief Officer Cooperative Development Dr. Benerdate Tiony led the County Government in taking stock of the achievements by the societies over the past year, recognize and reward the best performing cooperators to grow the movement to higher levels.

Cooperatives Director Mr. Stalin Koech receiving an award from Governor Sang

 

 

Prudent management of the cooperatives and SACCOs will ensure economic growth and I’m turn transform the livelihoods of members.

Ushirika day 2019, which began with an awareness march from Kapsabet town to AIC Bible college, gave an opportunity for cooperators to show how they run successful business while respecting natural environment and resources as a sure way of improving the livelihood of their members.

Farmers and cooperators participated and shown their commitment towards growth & development of cooperative societies.

#TransformingNandi

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23 Jun
By: Peter Koima 0

FARMERS IN TINDERET AND MOSOP SUB-COUNTIES GET 20,000 COFFEE SEEDLINGS

Coffee farmers in Songor/Soba & Tinderet wards in Tinderet Sub-County and their counterparts from Chepterwai & Kipkaren wards in Mosop Sub-County are among the first crop of farmers to benefit from the Government’s programme to empower coffee farmers through provision of certified coffee seedlings.

In a bid to boost Farmer’s income and improve on their livelihoods, the County Government of Nandi has embarked on distribution of coffee seedlings. Just last week, farmers in Mosop received 10,000 seedlings and today was turn for Tinderet farmers to receive their share of 10,000 seedlings.

In recent times, coffee has attracted high pay with a lot of demand from the market hence supply from the farmer should increase. In Nandi, coffee is the second most paying cash crop after tea and that is why the government is heavily investing in the crop.

The County Government of Nandi also intends to set up a coffee milling plant in the near future thus the need to increase farmers production of coffee for them to enjoy higher prices and cut on transportation costs when the time comes.

Distribution of coffee seedlings was officially commissioned earlier this month by H.E Governor Stephen Sang during Ushirika Day Celebrations and will continue across the county. This is a move by the County Government of Nandi through the department of Agriculture and Cooperative Development seeking to broaden the source of income of farmers through diversification and cash crop farming.

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