- The NARIGP project is under the World Bank and is being implemented in 21 counties, Kisii is one of the beneficiaries.
- He asked the people of Kisii county to choose a governor, who is a competent manager to negotiate better deals with investors
Farmers in Kisii have received Sh261.5 million since the launch of the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project, Governor James Ongwae has said.
The money has come through their Common Interest Groups (CIG).
Ongwae made the revelation on Wednesday at the Agricultural Training Centre in Kisii where CIGs received Sh59.7 million from the county and NARIGP.
A total of 215 CIGs from the 20 NARIGP have already obtained 100 per cent of the money in their accounts, said Ongwae.
The NARIGP project is under the World Bank and is being implemented in 21 counties, Kisii is one of the beneficiaries.
“The project aims at increasing productivity and profitability of rural targeted communities in selected counties and in the event of an eligible crisis,” Ongwae said.
He was accompanied by Agriculture CEC Ezman Onsarigo.
Ongwae hailed the World Bank for supporting community-driven development.
“I am glad to note that the project uses a value chain approach and in Kisii, four value chains namely, banana, dairy cow, chicken, and vegetables are being supported,”Ongwae said.
The main principle of NARIGP is the importance of linking rural smallholder farmers, CIGs and vulnerable and marginalized groups along selected priority value chains.
“My officers have done capacity building for these community-level institutions on various fronts through Subcounty Technical Teams which involve a technical team of agricultural experts." Ongwae said.
"SCTTs are the ones in charge of the overall NARIGP extension services within the supported wards for all the funded and non-funded CIGs/VMGs and POs."
Ongwae further noted that the project has also trained a number of Community-Based Facilitators, SCTTs and Supervisors on the farmer field school methodology.
“We have enrolled CBF in each of the NARIGP-supported wards to facilitate learning for farmers on how to improve their livelihoods through practicing smart farming," Ongwae said.
He said the county benefited from a number of NARIGP projects including the newly constructed Nyamache banana market and motor vehicles and motorcycles to help in field extension services.
“Recently, I successfully negotiated with the World Bank-funded project to have two fresh vegetable markets at Magena and Marani constructed to help our mothers and sisters selling fresh produce,” he said.
He asked the people of Kisii county to choose a governor, who is a competent manager to negotiate better deals with investors and development partners.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)