News Categories: Agriculture and Cooperative Development

Nandi Governor has appointed members of a Taskforce to conduct an extensive review on Multinational Tea Companies engagement in Tea Sub-sector in Nandi County. The taskforce will develop a tripartite report that will provide a roadmap to facilitate sustainable solutions and coexistence between multinationals, communities and all stakeholders involved with the tea sub-sector across the County.

The Members of the Taskforce are:

John Cheruiyot – Chairman

Rev. Elijah Yego

Dr. Bernard Kiplimo Lagat

Dr. Philemon Bureti

CPA Alfred Lagat

Steven Rotich

Dr. Ruth Choge

Wilson Kipkogei Lelmengit

The Secretariat:

Godfrey Sang

Kibet Gim Awi

Maureen Chepngetich

The national economic vision of the hustler economy has identified cooperative societies as socio-economic enterprises whose framework of operations is in line with the productivity and profitability model of bottom-up economics, that integrate harmonious bearings to low-income populations.

Cooperative societies have demonstrated this through their enterprise approach of pooling member resources to accommodate a low-income member with a cost-benefit platform through shared capital expenditure and sharing of risk while ensuring members’ autonomy and independence of ownership is maintained.

It is on this mandate, that the County Government of Nandi is committed to the process of finalizing policy and legislation interventions that reflect on the structure of cooperative contexts in Nandi aimed at enactment of a comprehensive Nandi County Cooperatives Development Policy and the first ever Nandi County Cooperatives Act.

These are legislative frameworks that will ensure every cooperative in Nandi has secured property rights, access to finance, and a supportive regulatory framework to actively participate in a more enabling environment stipulated on law.

On Thursday, the department of Agriculture and Cooperative development, in collaboration with global communities legislative consultants had a physical meet up to continue on the analysis of the operational legal contexts of the various cooperative activities in Nandi and build on legislative interventions that speak to Nandi cooperative interests and concepts in a way that gives legal effect to the strategic policies and legislation drafted, guided by the national cooperative law as framework to guide the regulatory reform.

Technical team in session.

Open governance and effective service delivery form the major principles that the team is basing on to ensure a robust, supportive legal backbone for a much anticipated vibrant Nandi cooperative movement.

Director Cooperative Development, Mr. Stalin Koech

          Review in Progress|Photo

In view of this, and with the governance role of the County Government of Nandi, the department of Agriculture and Co-operative Development has developed a FIRST, NANDI COUNTY COOPERATIVES DEVELOPMENT POLICY DOCUMENT, as an action framework to address the processes, applicable policies, laws, regulations and ethical standards that will guide and support the cooperative societies to account for, monitor, identify, develop, and make these key decisions in an enforceable way within a changing environment.

This comes after evaluation by the department, that there is need to address management gaps within our cooperative societies, brought about by challenges in transitioning existing solutions to meet the interpretations of the newness of emerging issues and on translating the requirements amidst resource, politics and mental models that might block progress.

Such is that, on Thursday, the directorate of Cooperatives led by the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Agriculture and Cooperative Development, Dr. Kiplimo Araap Lagat and Chief Officer Cooperative Development Dr. Benadatte Tiony, in partnership with Global communities, conducted a review of the developed policy document, purposively towards accreditation.

The policy document goes on length to address institutional management issues of identity, transitions, and reforms, service to the public in privatization, partnerships, and compliance.

The review exercise is the final step in recognition and accreditation of the first ever NANDI COUNTY COOPERATIVES DEVELOPMENT POLICY 2021, which was developed under the development transformative agenda of His Excellency Governor Stephen Sang, of revitalizing the cooperative sector, as spelt out in the Nandi County Integrated Development Plan 2018.

#ContinuedTransformation

Happy Ushirika day to our cooperatives societies as they join other cooperatives in celebrating the centenary ushirika day; the 100th International day of Cooperatives.

Your socio-economic contribution to the people of Nandi is of immense value and greatly recognized.#Ushirikaday #Coopsday

The department of Agriculture and Co-operative Development, is continuously reviewing the operational strategies of its primary farmer cooperative societies to ensure the frameworks in place are sustainable and are fine tuned to develop the production and profitability capacity of these institutions, with focus on improving the production process.

It is on this mandate that on Tuesday, the department through the directorate of Co-operative Development in partnership with National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA CLUSA), led the Nandi Cooperative Dairy Union to assess the measure of performance of the strategies the Union acquired from Meru Cooperative Dairy Union, during a benchmark session on February this year.

Review in Progress

In accordance with which, the union customized the proven techniques to match the needs of their producer cooperatives and had them apply and add to their standard production processes, so as to achieve a competitive advantage.

Nandi Cooperative Dairy Union Chairman, Dr. Abraham Rugut.

Key takeaways that the union continues to implement centres around; timely payment plan to member farmers, accountability of leaders on matters milk production in their responsible zones,quality feed production and management training to farmers through establishing demo plots, providing farmer members with quality seeds by establishing seed multiplication plots and empowering farmers on the skill as a means to source more from them, establishing a breeding strategy to match the strengths of the different catchment areas in Nandi ,performing regulatory and policy functions without improper political interferences, develop policies that will support youth and women mainstreaming in the dairy sector, record keeping for identification and traceability, extensively exploring and using the available technical support from the County Government and collaborative partnerships, establishing a Nandi Cooperative forum to share knowledge and come up with solutions to challenges the farmer co-operatives face as a block, and to strengthen the ties between the directorate of Co-operative Development and the union in liasing with primary cooperatives.

The Chief officer Cooperative Development, Dr. Benadatte Tiony, stated the set action plans the department has, towards supporting the union towards a superior business position in the region and on maintaining accountability to the administrative wishes of the farmer cooperatives.

Chief Officer Cooperative Development, Dr. Benadatte Tiony addressing the meeting.

Present were Nandi Dairy Union officials, Co-operative officers, and NCBA CLUSA country directors.

NCBA CLUSA Country Director, Ms. Lydia Omamo speaking during the review

#TransformingNandi

In order to improve methods of negotiation and conflict resolution prone in cooperative decision making structures, and applying to issues of public concern, the department of Agriculture and Co-operative Development is keen to sustain the Alternative dispute resolution framework to support the operational resolve-capacity of its farmer co-operatives.

On Monday, Sub County cooperative officers and cooperative managers sourced from the Nandi Cooperative Union, together with stakeholder link from National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA CLUSA), held a year review of progress on matters conflict and resolve of disputes since the inception of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) desk in Nandi on July of 2021.

Director Co-operative Development, Mr. Stalin Koech leading the review.

The review was marked with extensive coaching built on challenges cited from foregoing resolution dynamics and sharing of proven effective methods tested on the field.
In the performative year, the directorate of cooperatives has resolved over 12 notable cases amicably.

The department is keen to ensure farmer cooperative institutions which are human centered businesses, are built and sustained through preventing and amicably resolving conflicts.

Alternative Dispute Resolution framework is a conflict resolution initiative that settles dispute without litigation in that it allows involved parties to identify mutual satisfactory solutions without facing a tribunal.

It is an effective management tool for cooperatives as it is developed from the shared principles of cooperative values of self-help, self- responsibility, equity, equality and solidarity.

NCBA CLUSA Country Director, Ms. Lydia Omamo speaking at the forum.

#ContinuedTransformation

On Tuesday, the county department of Agriculture & Cooperative Development in liaison with CAISLEY INTERNATIONAL, ADGG, ILRI & KALRO held a stakeholder engagement forum with farmers’ representatives, from over 17 dairy cooperatives across the county, with a view of introducing the important component of modern animal identification.

Globally, animal identification and traceability are recognized as important components of the management of animal and human health, and food safety.

Modern Ear Tags

Digital animal identification systems read/scan information from a modern ear tags with unique numbers and barcodes affixed to individual cows. It collects and records information regarding mandatorily identifiable animals, their keepers and keeping locations.

Additional systems are also available to automatically collect a variety of data for the identified animal including information on their birth and origin, vaccination status, illnesses – in case of occurrence, health condition, and slaughterhouses, to document the full path of animal from farm to the plate.

These data are sent to a central collection point where they are organized, analyzed, and stored by a computer-based records system. Records systems will help to identify animal health problems and determine reproductive status.

The data is also crucial in ensuring food quality, disease control, environment and climate change, animal genetic resource, stock theft mitigation, governance, market access, herd management, and genetic improvement.

Farmers are therefore encouraged to adopt the modern animal identification and traceability systems which has the potential to help farmers in registration, getting more benefits from county programs and selling more products. All this together serve the consumers’ interests, it insures development of the new farming standards and the increase of credibility towards Nandi Dairy product for both local and future export markets.

Farmers Engaging During the Forum

#ContinuedTransformation

Nandi Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative Union Mill steadily taking shape at Chebonet area in Songhor – Soba ward, Tindiret Sub County, barely two months since its foundation stone was laid by H.E Governor Stephen Sang.

25TH March 2022|Groundbreaking of Nandi Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative Mill.

Speaking while inspecting the ongoing works, Chief Officer in charge of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Mr. Wilson Lelei noted that the Agriculture and Cooperative Development department is committed to delivering the project and ensure that timeliness are met.

Chief Officer Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Mr.Wilson Lelei inspecting the structure.

Upon completion, the coffee Mill will help coffee farmers add value to their produce attracting better prices both locally and internationally, hence better earnings for farmers.

#TransformingNandi

Hundreds of farmers in Songor Soba ward, Tinderet Sub County, are set to benefit from the rehabilitation of Kibukwo Cattle dip that had stopped operating and remained dilapidated for many years due to poor management.

Start of operation

The revamping of the cattle dip comes timely during a rainy season, when tick borne diseases are rampant. Reviving cattle dips is therefore crucial in making the county disease-free and ensuring steady and quality supply of dairy products to the market.

Speaking on Monday at Kibikwo while re-opening Kibukwo cattle dip, the Chief Officer in charge of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Mr. Wilson Lelei encouraged the farmers to dip their cattle at least once every week.

Chief Officer Agriculture, Livestock &Fisheries, Mr. Wilson Lelei delivered over 40 litres acaricides.

“Our farmers have been spending a lot of money to control tick diseases at their farms but they are not effective. Weekly dips are therefore required so that we have healthy animals thus increasing productivity and better market for our dairy produce.” noted the C.O.

The chief officer also deliver over 40ltrs of acaricides, from Governor Sang’s led administration, to revamp the Cattle dip.

#Winchit #TransformingNandi

Lelchego SACCO society limited has continued to be a successful demonstration of the collaborative efforts between the County Government of Nandi and the local capacity of dairy farmers in the region in maximizing the local agricultural economy from consumptive dependency to productive resilience through investment, customized service delivery and open governance.

On Tuesday, the County Government of Nandi, through the Department of Agriculture and Co-operative Development in its mandate, led by director of Co-operative Development, Mr. Stalin Koech, and Chesumei sub-county co-operative officer, Ms. Joy Jemutai, oversaw the society’s 4th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at Cheptarit Catholic Church hall in Mosoriot.

The County Government, through the department, is committed to protect the local economies of farmer co-operatives through recognizing and networking the infrastructural needs of the co-operatives to frameworks that establish sustainable developmental growth and resilience of farmer members, in their dependency on the social and commercial aspects of farming.

Director Cooperative Development, Mr. Stalin Koech.

Lelchego Sacco Cooperative Society is a dairy farmer-owned organization based in Mosoriot, Chesumei sub-county, whose membership stretches to Mutwot, Ngechek, Kosirai, Kokwet, Itigo, Lelmokwo, Sigot, and Biribiet zones. The society has continued to expand the socio-economic capacity of its members in areas education, business, agriculture, asset finance, and overall well-being.

Through various initiatives of the County Government, Lelchego society members have capitalized on the county’s provisional assets in areas partnership networking and collaboration, regional and international ambassadorial roles, audit, AI services, mechanization, data collection analysis and management, input and output resource mobilization, alternative conflict resolution framework, and they are part of the stakeholder platform in county dairy projects.

Chesumei Sub County Cooperative Officer,Ms. Joy Jemutai.

Agriculture being the largest regional economy in Nandi, small-holder farmers are encouraged to join co-operatives and grow the productivity and profitability of their ventures through the shared risk, networking, subsidization, and expanded resource mobilization, the cooperative model offers. #Winchit