By Fredrick Odiero
Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o has outlined his commitment towards strengthening the cooperative movement in the area.
Speaking in Kisumu recently, the governor said a number of investments in the county were geared towards strengthening the cooperative movements as key drivers of production and marketing.
Prof. Nyong’o said they started off by constructing the 10,000-litre Osiepe Milk Cooling Plant in Muhoroni, which was built in partnership with International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), to support the 3000-member Osiepe Practical Action Cooperative Society.
He said it was followed by a 4000-litre cooling plant given to Seke Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society in Kisumu West, and two 3000-litre cooling plants awarded Ahero Dairy Cooperative and Seme Farmers’ Cooperative Societies. They are based in Nyando and Seme Sub-counties respectively.
‘We have also finished the construction of the flagship Dairy Multiplication Centre in Nyangore in Chemelil,” he said.
Nyong’o said his administration must focus more in producing enough food for sustainable livelihoods, noting that the journey to tenable food security was on course.
Nyong’o added that some of the strategies include the development of the rice sub-sector through rehabilitation of the irrigation infrastructure.
He said other measures include provision of inputs to farmers and capacity building as well as expanding land under irrigation.
‘The measures have realized tremendous growth in production that has steadily risen from 15 bags per acre three years ago to 35 bags per acre today,” he said.
Nyong’o said the steady growth of the rice sub-sector over the last four years led to last year’s cumulative production of 280,000 bags (16,000 metric tonnes) from 8,000 acres of land, which has earned some 2,285 farmers 560 million shillings.
The Governor said it translateed to about 530% growth from 2016 when they realized a production of 52,500 bags from 3500 acres of land worth Sh.105 million, noting that the growth in productivity comes with demand for improved market access.
He lauded the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) for financing the installation of a modern rice mill in Katito town.
The governor added that his government had also purchased a 30 million-shilling rice mill to be installed in Ahero town.
“We have invested Shs.160 million in irrigation infrastructural development that has brought 2,025 acres of land under production in Kobura, Awach, Kano, Gem Rae, and Siany CC3 Irrigation Schemes. We have also concluded the rehabilitation of Gem Rae Irrigation Scheme at a cost of 32 million shillings,” the governor said.
He outlined the dairy sub-sector’s growth over the last four years, saying strategies had been developed to distribute superior and resilient breeds to farmers. This investment in the dairy food chain had seen milk production grow from 26 million litres in 2017 to 37.9 million valued at 1.9 billion shillings in the last financial year, he said.
Kisumu County Govt works to strengthen Co-op societies
Fredrick Odiero
Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o has outlined his commitment towards strengthening the cooperative movement in the area.
Speaking in Kisumu recently, the governor said a number of investments in the county were geared towards strengthening the cooperative movements as key drivers of production and marketing.
Prof. Nyong’o said they started off by constructing the 10,000-litre Osiepe Milk Cooling Plant in Muhoroni, which was built in partnership with International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), to support the 3000-member Osiepe Practical Action Cooperative Society.
He said it was followed by a 4000-litre cooling plant given to Seke Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society in Kisumu West, and two 3000-litre cooling plants awarded Ahero Dairy Cooperative and Seme Farmers’ Cooperative Societies. They are based in Nyando and Seme Sub-counties respectively.
‘We have also finished the construction of the flagship Dairy Multiplication Centre in Nyangore in Chemelil,” he said.
Nyong’o said his administration must focus more in producing enough food for sustainable livelihoods, noting that the journey to tenable food security was on course.
Nyong’o added that some of the strategies include the development of the rice sub-sector through rehabilitation of the irrigation infrastructure.
He said other measures include provision of inputs to farmers and capacity building as well as expanding land under irrigation.
‘The measures have realized tremendous growth in production that has steadily risen from 15 bags per acre three years ago to 35 bags per acre today,” he said.
Nyong’o said the steady growth of the rice sub-sector over the last four years led to last year’s cumulative production of 280,000 bags (16,000 metric tonnes) from 8,000 acres of land, which has earned some 2,285 farmers 560 million shillings.
The Governor said it translateed to about 530% growth from 2016 when they realized a production of 52,500 bags from 3500 acres of land worth Sh.105 million, noting that the growth in productivity comes with demand for improved market access.
He lauded the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) for financing the installation of a modern rice mill in Katito town.
The governor added that his government had also purchased a 30 million-shilling rice mill to be installed in Ahero town.
“We have invested Shs.160 million in irrigation infrastructural development that has brought 2,025 acres of land under production in Kobura, Awach, Kano, Gem Rae, and Siany CC3 Irrigation Schemes. We have also concluded the rehabilitation of Gem Rae Irrigation Scheme at a cost of 32 million shillings,” the governor said.
He outlined the dairy sub-sector’s growth over the last four years, saying strategies had been developed to distribute superior and resilient breeds to farmers. This investment in the dairy food chain had seen milk production grow from 26 million litres in 2017 to 37.9 million valued at 1.9 billion shillings in the last financial year, he said.
