Today farmer groups across all the Wards registered as SACCOs, FPO and CDDCs signed four MoUs with the County Government under the NAVCDP project, at the Mama Grace Onyango Social Center in Kisumu.
The MoUs signed were between the County Government and SACCOs, the County Government and Food Producer Organizations (FPOs), the County Government and the Community Driven Development Committee (CDDC) and finally County Government, SACCOs and CDDCs.
While presiding over the official signing of the MoUs, the Chief Officer for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Blue Economy Eng. Daniel Okia called on the farmers to work as a team in ensuring the project is well implemented and its
objectives met.
Taking cognizance of the already existing marketing Cooperatives, the Chief Officer emphasized on the need to strengthen the weak areas so that they pick up and move on.
He urged the farmer groups to read carefully the MoU to understand the specific requirements and do their obligations well.
His counterpart from Trade, Tourism, Cooperatives, Industries and Marketing, Mr. Timothy Kajwang’ expounded on the synergy at the Cooperatives level such that when farmers focus on increasing production, his department focuses on increasing market resources.
The County Project Coordinator ( CPC), Mr. Sylvester Oketch said the NAVCDP project supports farming communities through community institutions to make them sustainable
He added that the signing of the MoUs now makes the County’s engagement with the community official.
The CPC informed the farmer groups that a five day training has been organized for the CDDCs come next week.
He also called on the farmers to mobilize more members into CIGs, FPOs and SACCOs in the next three weeks, Kisumu is currently at 2,430 members whereas the target is 5800 members.
Also gracing the event were Director for Agriculture and Irrigation Mr. Walter Adum, Director Livestock Mr. Charles Kakuku and Director Trade, Marketing and Cooperatives Mr. John Ming’ala who shared their sentiments on the significance of strengthening the institutions, being responsible in measuring up to the project’s expectations and putting into practice the knowledge acquired through trainings to ensure food security in the County and Country at large.
The facilitators included the NAVCDP M&E in charge, Mr. Bernard Kagunza, Dr. Anne Olang’o and CAFO, Lindah Ombiti.
