A total of 21,907 farmers have benefited from the World Bank’s National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) in Bungoma. Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka noted that approved micro-projects were funded to the tune of Sh.267,221,190 and have since been implemented to completion.
He further noted that the four main value chains implemented under the project were chicken, dairy, banana and beans. “All the beneficiaries have adopted at least one technology innovation and management practice resulting in efficient land use practices hence increase in productivity in the four value chains promoted,” Lusaka said. Lusaka spoke when he hosted a World Bank team that inspected achievements made in the agricultural sector through NARIGP.
The governor said that 46 per cent of the funding went directly to the communities through the common interest groups and the farmer producer organization (cooperatives) and Sh.131,077,129.97 was spent on multi-community investments. “This being an inclusive project, the vulnerable and marginalized groups such as the youth, women, widows, people abled differently and the indigenous persons were also supported with various ventures such as dairy goats, beekeeping, marketing of produce and ICT/M-pesa services. This has enabled them to improve their food security and income sources,” Lusaka added.
He noted that Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) were supported with investments worth Sh.116,882,489. “The project has supported eight producer organizations by providing great opportunities for farmers, traders, marketing agents, stockist and other service providers to exchange valuable technologies, and information, and establish business linkages,” he stated.
He said his administration has embarked on the formation and reviving of farmer-producer organizations in other value chains to enhance collective marketing to fetch competitive prices.
By Lean Simatwa