Agriculture

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.

GOVERNOR MUTULA WOOS INVESTORS TO MAKUENI WITH FAVORABLE LAND LEASE OFFERS.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has urged investors to consider Makueni County as a prime location for industrial ventures, saying his government is ready to provide land.

Mutula emphasized that such ventures would not only create employment opportunities for local residents but also bolster the national economy.

The governor spoke on Wednesday when he issued a land lease title deed to ENI Kenya Managing Director Enrico Tavolini, marking a tangible commitment by the administration to facilitate the flourishing of industries within the county.

Eni Kenya, the country’s first agri-hub that produces vegetable oil and related bio-products, has already established a factory in Makueni County.

The Kshs. 2 billion plant has over 200 workers, mostly young people from the county.

ENI Kenya has pledged to contribute to community welfare by establishing a maternity facility at Kambi Mawe and providing neo-natal equipment to the Makueni Referral Hospital in Wote as part of its corporate social responsibility.

MAKUENI TO SET UP CROP PROTECTION UNIT

Wote: April 24, 2024

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr receives a consignment of assorted agricultural chemicals and equipment from the Ministry of Agriculture, in Wote, for pests management and control of crop diseases.

Governor Mutula has directed the Department of Agriculture to set up a rapid response crop protection unit to help farmers manage pests and control crop diseases for enhanced food security.

He was accompanied by Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua.

MESPT DELEGATION APPLAUDS MAKUENI AGRICULTURE SCHOOL FOR INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES

April 23, 2024

MESPT Delegation Applauds Makueni Agriculture School for Innovative Technologies

A high-powered delegation from the Micro Enterprises Programme Trust (MESPT) visited Makueni to assess the Agriculture TVET at Kwa-Kathoka and engage with students on field attachment, as part of their oversight roles for co-funded projects.

These students, sponsored by the County Government of Makueni, ADSE, and MESPT, are part of the inaugural cohort undergoing agricultural courses at the school, expressing hope for a bright future and aspirations to establish their own enterprises.

The 60 trainees are gaining valuable insights from leading agriprenuer enterprises in the county, such as BEFA Feeds, Iviani Farm, RipeGrow Enterprises, Kwa Malika Farm, and Makueni Chicken Queen Enterprise.

The county government, collaborating with like-minded partners, aims to expand the Agricultural school at ATC Kwa-Kathoka to equip more youth with green skills to boost their employability and ensure food security in the region.

THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF CRAFTING AN AGROECOLOGY POLICY AIMED AT TACKLING ISSUES SURROUNDING FOOD SAFETY AND SECURITY THROUGH THE INTEGRATION OF AGROECOLOGY-FRIENDLY PRACTICES.

The Department of Agriculture and Livestock is currently in the process of crafting an agroecology policy aimed at tackling issues surrounding food safety and security through the integration of agroecology-friendly practices.

The department is collaborating closely with pivotal partners in the sector, including the Cereal Growers Association( CGA), Bio Vision, and ICRAF.

Following a two-day workshop which closes on Thursday, the team concluded the development of a detailed work plan.

The policy’s completion is anticipated by the end of the year.

GOVERNOR MUTULA MEETS PRESIDENTIAL TEAM FOR MAKUENI’S FRUIT VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr on Thursday met a delegation of the Presidential Economic Transformation Secretariat led by the head, Augustine Cheruiyot, that paid him a courtesy call in Wote.

Discussions centered on strategies to make Makueni a centre of excellence for fruits production. Development of the mango value chain for both local and export markets was addressed in detail.

Talks with the Agriculture and Food Authority, through Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD), are at an advanced stage for establishment of a fruits hot water treatment facility in Makueni to curb the menace of fruitfly.

The team also explored key areas of livestock production in the county.

NARIGP NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE LAUDS MAKUENI FOR SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF WORLD BANK FUNDED PROJECT.

A delegation from the National Technical Advisory Committee for National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) has lauded Makueni for Successful Implementation of the project, saying that the county is ready to transition to the new project, National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project(NAVCDP).

NAVCDP is a Government of Kenya project with co-funding from the World Bank and the National Government. The project will be implemented in 32 counties, Makueni among them, targeting to increase market participation and value addition for farmers in select value chains.

James Muturi who led the team said that NAVCDP will build on the strong foundation laid by NARIGP emphasizing the importance of the assessment.

Muturi was wowed by some of the interventions to farmers which have led to improved livelihoods and agricultural productivity.

The team, hosted by Makueni Agriculture and Livestock Joyce Mutua on Tuesday visited Kilombo dam in Kiima-Kiu Kalanzoni Ward, Kwa Nguni Watershed Sustainable Land Management project in Kako-Waia Ward and Kilome Farmers Sacco.

MAKUENI ROLLS OUT A CAMPAIGN TO ELIMINATE RABIES.

The Department of Agriculture and Livestock has launched a campaign to completely eliminate rabies in Makueni.

The campaign targets to vaccinate 40,000 dogs across 17 wards in the county.

The launch was officiated by Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili on Friday at Kyangoma in Mbooni Sub- County.

She was accompanied by Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua, Livestock Chief Officer Japheth Kiminza and Mbooni Ward Member of County Assembly Alexander Mulemba

FARMERS’ FIELD SCHOOLS ENHANCE PRODUCTIVITY AND INCOME

Thange: March 22, 2024

Farmers’ Field Schools Enhance Productivity and Income

Numerous farmers have participated in the Farmer Field day events held at Thange and Mbitini wards.

The initiatives serve as a platform for acquiring knowledge from successful Farmers’ Field schools (FFS) teams, which received support from the National Agricultural Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP).

These groups demonstrated exemplary agricultural practices in tomato, Mango, green grams, and poultry value chains that have resulted in increased production and profitability.

Beneficiaries hailed FFS as an innovative approach that has positively impacted their behavior towards adopting improved skills and knowledge while exposing them to practical learning by doing techniques.

Makueni County NARIGP Coordinator Paul Musyimi graced the event on Friday in Thange, where he disclosed that over Sh 13 million had been invested to support 50 value chain groups in Thange Ward.

Additionally, he encouraged farmers to join saccos so they could access affordable credits through the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), a new program aimed at commercialization.