Written by Mercy Kihugu
Nakuru County is among the pilot counties for the Kenya Rural Transformation Centres Digital Platform (KRTCDP), known as FarmerCoopHub. The platform aims to digitise and strengthen data use in agriculture and value chain linkages for increased productivity and higher farmer incomes.
Through FarmerCoopHub, maize, dairy, and potato farmers in Nakuru will now have access to a one-stop digital centre that connects them with key actors across their value chains, including markets, extension officers, input suppliers, financial institutions, and processors.
Speaking during the commissioning of the platform, Agriculture CECM Leonard Bor noted that in this era of rapid digitisation, agriculture cannot be left behind. He emphasised that the launch of the digital platform comes at a time when farmers need real-time access to markets, financing, inputs, and post-harvest technologies.
The CECM highlighted the benefits the platform will bring to Nakuru’s major value chains. In the dairy sector, it will link farmers to reliable markets and processors, provide digital veterinary and breeding services, and enable e-payment systems for cooperatives.
For potato farmers, the platform will improve access to certified seed, enhance storage solutions, and promote price transparency to protect farmers from exploitation.
In maize production, it will support timely access to quality inputs and weather data, link farmers to warehousing and value addition opportunities, and offer real-time pest alerts to reduce losses.
Beyond enhancing efficiency and transparency, the project is also expected to attract more youth into agriculture through technology, transforming farming from a subsistence activity into a modern, profitable enterprise.
He notes that Nakuru County, under the leadership of H.E. Governor Susan Kihika, remains committed to embracing such innovations that empower farmers, strengthen cooperatives, and boost overall productivity.
Cooperative University of Kenya Vice Chancellor Prof. Kamau Ngamau noted that over 15,000 farmers have been onboarded during the pilot phase, and the university is seeking to ensure the platform is rolled out to other counties and includes additional value chains.
The project was piloted in Nakuru, Nyandarua, Baringo, and Narok Counties by the Co-operative University of Kenya (CUK), funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB)for African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA), and is part of the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS 2019–2029) under the pillar of Research and Innovation.
Also present were Baringo County Agriculture Risper Chepkonga, Narok County Chief Officer Cooperatives Shadrack Sabaya, ICT Chief Officer Dr Charles Koech, Cooperatives Chief Officer Kibet Kuragat, and Director for Cooperatives Josephine Ngandu.