Two Turkana poultry societies have received a Sh10.9 million grant from the World Bank.
The money was received by the Katilu Irrigation Farmers Cooperative Society Limited and the Nateleng Poultry Farmers Cooperative Society Limited.
The grant is part of the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Project (NARIGP). The project is funded by the World Bank and is being implemented in 21 counties, including Turkana.
The aim is to increase agricultural productivity and profitability of selected value chains by smallholder farmers.
NARIGP county coordinator Joseph Ekalale said the Katilu Irrigation cooperative received Sh5,499,560 for land mechanisation; the Nateleng Cooperative received Sh5, 499,580 for a hatchery and transport facility.
The Nateleng group will also receive two incubators holding 2,112 eggs each, 1,000 improved kienyeji chicks, 30 bags of chick mash, 80 bags of growers' mash and 100 bags of kienyeji feed, a Probox car, ICT equipment, office furniture, capacity building for the staff and management committee,” Ekalale said.
He said NARIGP is supporting the Katilu farmers by procuring a New Holland 75HP 4WD, a tractor and disc plough, parking shade and provide capacity building.
Turkana chief officer for livestock services Abdulahi Yusuf urged members to use the equipment properly and not to argue over it.
He warned that wrangles over running of the cooperative risked destroying it, despite heavy investment by the government and World Bank to the cooperatives.
Yusuf said the grant's long-term objectives are increased productivity and profitability, improved household income and nutrition through eggs and chicken He was presiding over the handing over of the equipment to th Natelong group.
Samuel Etiang, chairman for the Nateleng farmers cooperative, said the donated hatchery and transport equipment will help the 194 registered members of the group.
The donation will increase productivity, reduce mortality and promote modern hatching technologies.
The project will provide access to structured markets for one-day-old chicks.
The NARIGP project targets 10 producer organisations and several value chains. They are sorghum and cowpeas intercropping, poultry, goat and sheep apiculture (bee farming).
So far the project has disbursed Sh57 million to producer organisations for development and value chain upgrading.
(Edited by V. Graham)
