FARMERS ENCOURAGED TO EMBRACE SACCOS FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

The Department of Agriculture and Livestock, through NARIGP has launched a campaign to raise awareness among farmers in the county about the benefits of joining SACCOs.

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

The County Project Coordinator, Paul Musyimi is spearheading the sensitization efforts, which commenced on Thursday in Mtito-Andei and Kiima Kiu Kalanzoni Wards.

This campaign serves as a precursor to the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), which will collaborate with SACCOs, a departure from NARIGP’s focus on CIGs.

NAVCDP envisions each SACCO having a minimum membership of 600 and a capital threshold of Kshs. 500,000 to qualify for an inclusion grant of Kshs. 1 million, aimed at facilitating office setup.

Musyimi is actively urging all farmers in Makueni to join respective ward-based SACCOs.