Agriculture

May 31, 2024

Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua and her Trade counterpart Dr. Sonia Nzilani share moments with Makueni agripreneurs after they completed their induction training in Bungoma.

The Makueni team is part of a larger cohort of over 2,500 agripreneurs who will be officially launched by President William Ruto during the Madaraka Day celebrations tomorrow.

For the next 18 months, they will work through NAVCDP to guide farmers on best agricultural practices, pest management, and irrigation techniques. They will also connect farmers with suppliers for quality inputs and link them to markets to secure fair prices.

The agripreneurs will assist farmers in accessing financial services, support loan applications, and connect them with providers of farm and mechanization services.

The agriprenuer model will regularly track progress, provide feedback for improvement, and maintain accurate records to inform decision-making and planning.

May 30, 2024

A group of 126 agripreneurs from Makueni have kicked off 2-day induction training at Kibabii University in Bungoma, in preparation for their official deployment by President William Ruto during the upcoming Madaraka Day Celebrations.

The agripreneurs were competitively selected from 20 wards implementing the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) in Makueni County. They are part of a broader cohort of 6,600 agripreneurs drawn from 33 counties participating in the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP).

For the next 18 months, they will work through NAVCDP to guide farmers on best agricultural practices, pest management, and irrigation techniques. They will also connect farmers with suppliers for quality inputs and link them to markets to secure fair prices. 

The agripreneurs will assist farmers in accessing financial services, support loan applications, and connect them with providers of farm and mechanization services.

The agriprenuer model will  regularly track progress, provide feedback for improvement, and maintain accurate records to inform decision-making and planning.

May 28, 2024

Kwakyai Rural Sacco Limited from Kikumbulyu South is among the over 300 exhibitors showcasing their agricultural technologies at the ongoing Pre-Madaraka Food Security Exhibition at Kibabii University in Bungoma County.

Kwakyai was registered as a Sacco in 2002 with the aim of producing, aggregating, and marketing fruits and vegetables. 

However, they faced significant post-harvest losses due to market instability, prompting them to explore value addition. They decided to focus on drying tomatoes.

In 2017, 110 farmers signed a contract with Ketchup, a  Netherlands based company , to supply 10 tons of produce per week. The farmers received a grant of Ksh. 6 million from the Makueni County NARIGP to upgrade their pack house to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards, enabling compliance with export market standards.

This contract has provided the farmers with stable market prices and increased incomes. In 2023, they achieved gross sales of Ksh. 2.7 million from exported tomatoes.

As the Pre-Madaraka Food Security Exhibition continues, various agricultural stakeholders are advocating for a paradigm shift from traditional agriculture to agribusiness and commercialization. Today’s discussions focus on interventions to enhance agricultural production, productivity, and value addition.

May 27, 2024

Makueni County is participating in the Pre-Madaraka Day Food Security Exhibition, which began today, 27th May, and will continue until 31st May, 2024, in Bungoma County. This exhibition precedes this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations, themed “Agriculture and Food Security.”

The exhibition, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, aims to bring together key players in the sector to engage in in-depth discussions, analysis, and exhibitions of strategies and achievements in Kenya’s food security.

Agriculture PS Rono officially launched the exhibition. The theme for Day 1 is “Interventions to Enhance Access and Utilization of Agricultural Sector Inputs.”

#BETAKilimo

Farmers in Makueni are set to benefit from insurance project designed to cushion their livestock against drought risks, enhance financial inclusion, and better connect them to markets, says Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua.

The project allows farmers to insure upto 5 topical livestock units. To be eligible to benefit from financial bonus, farmers must insure at least three tropical livestock units, which is equivalent to three heads of cattle or 30 sheep or goats, at an approximate cost of Sh. 800 per unit. The project will pay 80% of the insurance premiums for the first year while the farmer pays 20 %. Such farmers will receive a one-time savings bonus of Sh. 6000.

The project, named De-Risking, Inclusion, and Value Enhancement (DRIVE), is funded by the World Bank and global risk financing facility and will also focus on promoting key livestock value chains. These include fodder and livestock feed production, livestock trading, commercial off-takes and feed-lotting, livestock transport, extension services, and infrastructure development for value addition such as abotoirs, milk and ghee, tanneries among others.

Registration of animals to be insured will be done in July, paving the way for the project to start in Makueni in October 2024.

 It will target five specific insurance units, validated by key stakeholders last week. These units are:

Athi zone: Covering Mtito-Andei, Masongaleni, Kikumbulyu North and South, parts of Makindu, Nguu-Masumba, and Emali-Mulala wards,

Thwake zone: Covering Kithuki-Kitise, Nzaui-Kilili-Kalamba, Muvau-Kikumini, Kathonzweni, Mavindini and Wote-Nziu wards,

Kalako area: Covering Kalawa and Kako-Waia wards,

Chyullu zone: Covering Ivingoni-Nzambani, Thange, Nguumo, and parts of Makindu wards, and

Konza zone: Covering lower Mbitini, lower Kasikeu, and Kiima-Kiu-Kalanzoni wards.

Makueni Assembly Sensitized on National Value Chain Development Project for Seamless Implementation

Machakos: May 16, 2024

Makueni Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua on Thursday officially inaugurated a 3-day workshop that convened all members of the Makueni County Assembly .

The workshop seeks to introduce the assembly members to the new agriculture project, the National Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP).

Mutua emphasized the crucial role of the County Assembly as a major stakeholder in ensuring the successful implementation of the project, especially considering its implementation at the ward levels.

NAVCDP, a five-year initiative, aims to boost market participation and value addition within the mango, dairy, poultry, tomato, and apiculture value chains across all 30 wards in the county.

Representing the County Speaker Mbilu Douglas , Hon. Jonathan Muthoka, the Member of County Assembly for Ilima Ward, expressed steadfast commitment and support to guarantee the project’s benefits reach all farmers in Makueni.

The workshop is being spearheaded by the Department’s leadership in collaboration with the County Project Coordination Unit.

Notable attendee include representative from the Presidential Economic Transformation Secretariat (PETS), Food Security Advisor Dr. Menjo.

Makindu: May 13, 2024

Wonder Farm, nestled in Makindu ward, stands out as an inspiration of agricultural innovation and sustainability. At its wheel is Phoebe Mwangangi, a dedicated mixed crop-livestock farmer whose commitment to embracing climate-smart agriculture sets her apart.

Mwangangi stands out as an early adopter of innovative farming methods, thanks to her participation in the Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) training program. This initiative has empowered her with the knowledge and tools to thrive amidst the challenges of climate change.

On Monday, she played host to a prominent delegation comprising members from AICCRA and the County Government of Makueni, alongside hundreds of fellow farmers from the region. Their visit to the model farm served as a testament to her remarkable achievements and served to inspire others to follow suit.

Key to Mwangangi’s success is her adoption of conservation agriculture techniques, including minimum tillage, intercropping of legumes and cereals, efficient weed management, and mulching. These practices not only enhance soil fertility but also promote water conservation and resilience to drought.