The ASDSP National Programme team led by Dr. Maren Amoko in the company of Mr. Walter Obuya visited Kisumu for two days to carry out monitoring and evaluation to the ASDSP implementing Counties of which Kisumu is part.
The phase II project funded by the Government of Sweden, European Union and Kenyan Governments for the last six years came to a close on the 29th February, 2024.
Prior to the field visit, the duo from the head office Nairobi, paid a courtesy call to the office of the CECM for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Hon. Kenneth Onyango. The CECM appreciated the work by the ASDSP that has impacted lives of farmers and traders in Kisumu.
On his part, Hon. Onyango said they are cognizant of the need to expedite disbursement of funds once they hit the CRF account and that Kisumu County has been compliant in disbursing counterpart funding for ASDSP programme, hence the County has no outstanding balance.
In Kisumu, the ASDSP II focused on interventions along three value chains namely: fish, poultry and cotton.
The objective for carrying out the monitoring and evaluation exercise aimed at:
Ascertaining the status of the program implementation, including capacity building concepts/ projects.
Checking the status of ASDSP II assets for handing over to Counties to implement on the new project KABDP.
Assessing progress towards achievement of program objectives.
Identifying key challenges that affected the program implementation.
Following up on the financial and audit issues
Charting the way forward.
The delegation visited the Kisumu Municipal Market where chicken is aggregated and sold. The ASDSP had supported the traders with crates to transport the birds.
The chairperson for the bird traders expressed his gratitude for the support saying they can now transport birds to or from different markets with ease and without losing any bird in terms of death.
However, he stated the issue of high taxation and lack of enough space for the birds within the market as the challenges they grapple with.
The team also visited fish market in Obunga, where value addition is done on Nile perch and Jubilee market for fresh fish.
In Obunga, ASDSP capacity built traders on value addition of Nile perch hence they now make fish samosas, kebabs, chicken feeds, leather among others.
Madam Sypriane Adhiambo, the Assistant chair lady of the Obunga Women group trading on Nile perch said the training on value addition has improved their skills hence they have had more customers and their income has increased.
In Jubilee, ASDSP II supported the fresh fish traders with a scaling facility fitted with tap water, sink and electricity. The chairperson, Mr. Bernard Odhung’o said the new facility has decongested the older one, fish scalers are no longer affected by the harsh vagaries of weather and that they no longer have issues with the public health officers since the work environment is clean.
The team further visited the solar supported fingerlings production in Ahero. ASDSP supported them with a hybrid solar panel system, consisting of 8 panels producing 565 watts, street lights for security, power storage kit and brooders for fish.
The beneficiaries attested to the fact that the solar system has reduced the cost of production between 5-8 thousand shillings per month, it. Has speeded up operations and they aspire to triple their productions moving forward.
The team was later shown the aggregated 800Kgs of BT cotton seed given to the County by the National Government. The farmers are currently preparing the farms to plant the seeds in the coming long rain season.
Dr. Amoko commended the County and specifically the department of Agriculture, livestock and Fisheries for the good work done. However she encouraged more collaborations with partners as they work on the projects sustainability even as phase II of the project comes to a close.
