Today, the CECM for Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock and Fisheries Hon. Kenn Onyango presided over the handing over of farm Equipment to the Nyando Farmers Cooperative Society .
The farm equipment which include two motorbikes, three oil pressing machines and cotton gene will go along way in boosting trade, transport and business courtesy of the Agriculture Sector Development Support Program (ASDSP) .
While addressing the farmers during the event, the CECM said he is pleased that the cooperatives were on course, however, he challenged them to work tirelessly to improve on cotton production having been endowed with vast land and effective rainfall patterns.
He reiterated that in the coming weeks mapping out to identify suitable areas for cash crops will be done in order to diversify crop production within the County. Besides recruitment of farmers will also be done to ascertain Cotton farmers and the acreage of land set for cotton production.
Hon. Kenn Onyango promised to employ 100 extension officers who would be deployed to assist farmers in the community.
The CECM revealed to the farmers that in this financial year, the World Bank will fund the National Value Chain Development program to atune of Ksh 250million that will support five value chains namely:cotton, dairy, rice, tomatoes and poultry.
He further stated that during the recently held Kisumu Regional Show, the Prime CS revealed that the Government is prioritizing cotton production and edible oils in the Kisumu region.
The Chief Officer, Mr. Erick Omondi Okal expressed optimism that the plans the department has for cotton and rice will be well supported by the works already covered on the ground by the ASDSP.
He said cotton is a cash crop with so many value chain nodes that can give high profit margin to farmers if well explored.
The Chief Officer implored on the farmers to consider farming as a cooperative and not as individual since the cooperative will help them with marketing of their produce.
Noting that bailing is a challenge, he promised to assist them over the same going forward.
The project Coordinator Mr. Isaac Dawo said the program that was scheduled for two Phases should have come to an end but due to elections the funds were delayed to date hence the period was extended.
He said phase two that is currently on has two key programs:capacity and actors value chain which comprises input, production, trade and marketing nodes and secondly the value chain organisations which include the cooperatives.
The Project Coordinator urged the farmers to push cotton production to another level using the two main cooperatives that is Kisumu County Cotton Union and the New Kisumu District Union.
On his part the Nyando Cooperative Society Chairperson Mr.Morris Ochieng expressed their gratitude for the machinery received from the County department of Agriculture saying it has created employment for some of the members.
He acknowledged that they have been trained and that River Tex has also walked with them by providing them with seeds and extension services, also the Cooperative bank has allocated them a delegate who works closely with them hence he affirmed sustainability of the project. Sentiments shared by the Cooperative Secretary, Mr. Francis Ong’ondo.