Nakuru County Government is in an ambitious plan that is banking on cooperative societies to put more profits in farmers’ pockets in a bid to revamp the agriculture sector. Governor Kihika’s administration has been working to revitalize cooperatives and encouraging farmers to form new ones in bid to help them tap into market opportunities and boost their income.
According to the county government, cooperative societies are the best way to protect farmers from exploitation by middlemen and attract government funding.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock CECM Mr. Leonard Bor expressed concern that most farmers in crop and dairy farming are not tapping maximum market potential because they are not members of cooperatives adding that Governor Kihika’s administration and the national government were keen to help farmers who are organised in cooperatives.
Speaking during a meeting with officials of Nakuru County Potato Union (NCPU) Mr. Bor indicated that the union has been pivotal in promoting the potato value chain in the devolved unit particularly in promoting the use of certified seeds to improve productivity among small holder farmers.
“The County Government is dedicated to promote growth of the cooperative movement as these entities are essential in ensuring farmers have access to resources and financial support that can help them scale up their activities and increase productivity,”
stated the CECM.
The CECM who was flanked by County Agriculture Chief Officer Mr Newton Mwaura and Director for Agriculture Mr Charles Githiri hailed NCPU for supporting farmers through provision of mechanization services, certified seeds, and marketing of the produce.
He added,
“We are in talks with the national government and development partners to help farmers avoid post-harvest losses through establishment of, for instance, cold rooms for produce like potatoes and carrots and value addition factories.
Mr. Bor stated that the principle behind forming cooperatives lies in their capacity to enhance bargaining power, reduce costs, secure otherwise unavailable products or services, expand markets, improve quality and ultimately increase income.
For farmers, the CECM pointed out that cooperatives provide access to high quality inputs, negotiate on their behalf, offer transportation services and market their produce. He added that cooperatives serve as a mechanism for pooling resources and raising capital for development.
“In Nakuru Governor Kihika’s administration has embraced cooperatives as the driving force behind agricultural and entrepreneurial growth,” noted the CECM.
According to official records from the County Government, Nakuru boasts of 506 cooperatives spread across its 11 Sub-Counties, categorized into farmer cooperatives (101), Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (333) and Housing and Investment Cooperatives (72).
County Agriculture Chief Officer Mwaura said towards supporting cooperatives and small-scale entrepreneurs the devolved unit had established the County Cooperative Revolving Fund and the County Enterprise Fund, each with a kitty of Kshs50 million for affordable credit.
Mr. Mwaura indicated that the county government through cooperatives seeks to help farmers create market linkages to tap into the insatiable international market.
Nakuru, regarded as a key food basket in the Rift Valley region, is an agriculturally rich county and a leading producer of potatoes, carrots, milk, vegetables and pyrethrum among other crops.
Molo, Kuresoi South and North, Subukia, Njoro and Bahati are among the county’s main agricultural producers.
Mr. Mwaura challenged farmers to move from subsistence farming and penetrate the high-value export market, besides joining cooperatives to help access services and market their produce.
The Chief Officer stated that they have been holding sensitization forums across Nakuru to encourage farmers to join cooperatives.