Nakuru Farmers urged to join Saccos to boost income

Nakuru, Thursday June 8, 2023

KNA by Jane Ngugi

When Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika took oath of office in 2022, she identified revamping of the agriculture sector as one of her grand projects.

Governor Kihika’s administration, which has rolled out several initiatives to strengthen the sector, has now shifted its focus on strengthening cooperative societies as one way of putting more profits in farmers’ pockets.

Over the past few months, the County Government has been working to rejuvenate dormant cooperatives and encouraging farmers to form new ones in a bid to help them tap into market opportunities and boost their income.

At her inauguration Ms Kihika pledged to support cooperative societies with Sh1billion every financial year to boost their economic activities.

Speaking during a visit to the Blessed Mwai Dairy Cooperative in Seguton within Kuresoi North, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives Mr Leonard Bor said Nakuru County administration was supporting all cooperative societies within Nakuru and ensuring they actively contribute to the economic growth of the county.

“The backbone of our economy is agriculture and it is only through supporting cooperative societies that we will increase the productivity of our agricultural commodities. We as a county government recognise the role of cooperative societies in the county. We are supporting the operations of cooperative societies to ensure they all contribute to the growth of the economic activities of Nakuru County,” Mr Bor said.

Joining cooperatives, Mr Bor indicated, will help farmers better tap market opportunities and attract Government investments.

He observed that all the actors along the value chains right from the agro-producers, transporters, agro-processors and distributors should have common interest associations.

According to the CECM, cooperative societies are the best way to protect farmers from exploitation by middlemen and attract government funding.

“Most farmers in crop and dairy farming are not tapping maximum market potential because they are not members of cooperatives. Governor Kihika’s administration and the national government are keen to help farmers organized in cooperatives,” said Mr Bor.

Those targeted by the Nakuru government include dairy farmers, whom the county wants to help tap into value addition for their milk so that they can compete effectively in the market.

Other products targeted are coffee, potatoes and avocados among other crops.

The county government also seeks to help farmers create market linkages to tap into the enormous international market.

It is also seeking to revive pyrethrum farming and inject new life into the troubled, yet lucrative sector.

Mr Bor observed that cooperatives offer small agricultural producers opportunities and a wide range of services, including improved access to markets, natural resources, information, communications, technologies, credit, training and warehouses.

“Most farmers in crop and dairy sectors are in production as individuals, making it hard for them to tap maximum market potential. The Government best assists farmers in organised groups,” said the CECM.

Mr Bor further noted that the county government had operationalised the Nakuru Cooperative Revolving Development Fund, which is crafted to provide low-interest loans to cooperatives towards promoting welfare and economic well being of their members.

“The County now has in place a Cooperative Revolving Development committee to oversee disbursement of funds to registered Cooperative Societies which are compliant with the Cooperative Societies Act and Regulations upon application and fulfillment of loan granting conditions set up by the fund unit.

The Unit supports cooperatives formed by women and youth groups with start-ups and micro businesses to broaden their opportunities and boost their competitiveness that will eventually generate jobs, increase incomes and productivity,” he stated.

He asked the residents undertaking all the value chains including maize, bananas, sweet potatoes, dairy, poultry and horticulture to come up with sector-based cooperatives that will resonate with their needs.

Mr Bor observed that well managed cooperatives had the capacity to address weak market frameworks, shortage of agricultural extension services, and unavailability of certified seed and expansion of storage facilities to mitigate post-harvest losses.

Working in groups among farmers, he affirmed, will increase their bargaining power and order inputs in bulk therefore, lowering their expenditures besides increasing their chances of accessing markets at better prices. 

The CECM encouraged the farmers to explore pyrethrum and avocado farming as alternative sources of income alongside traditional crop farming practices.

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 sub counties are among the county’s main agricultural producers.

Courtesy ; K. N. A