Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO) and Saccos sensitized on implementation of the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP).

Written by Mercy Kihugu

Nakuru County Government held sensitization meetings for Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO) and Saccos in preparation for the implementation of the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP).

Twenty-eight farmer-producer organizations leadership was urged to ensure more farmers join the organization to ensure more farmers benefit from the project and access affordable credit.

This will be achieved through farmer capacity-building investments and e-voucher support, FPO-level investments, and improvement of creditworthiness and bankability.

On the other hand forty-seven SACCOs leadership was sensitized on financial management, proper bookkeeping, inclusion, and protection of the environment in the implementation of their programs.

The SACCOs will bring together smallholder farmers and Common Interest Groups (CIGs) enabling them to access affordable credit for adopting advanced technologies, innovations, and management practices.

The county is committed to collaborating with FPOs and SACCOs since it will increase the number of farmers receiving support from the project.

NAVCDP envisions each FPO and SACCO having a minimum membership of 600 who will support the smallholder farmers in ensuring productivity and marketing of the produce from the five priority value chains.

NAVCDP is a Community Driven Development Project that seeks to increase market participation and value addition for targeted small-scale farmers in Poultry, Pyrethrum, Dairy, Apiculture, and Irish potato value chains

Present during the sensitization were Agriculture CECM Leonard Bor, accompanied by Agriculture Chief Officer Newton Mwaura and Chief Officer for Cooperatives Kibet Kurgat, Director for Agriculture Charles Githiri, and officials from NAVCDP.