By Ben Oroko.
Small-holder Dairy farmers in Gusii region are a happy lot following Wakenya Pamoja Sacco Society’s dairy value chain loan project that targets farmers in organized groups.
The Sacco’s Agri-business Manager, Fred Miruka explained that the project aims at assisting small-holder farmers to shift from subsistence farming to agri-business through modern farming technologies. He clarified that applicants for the dairy farming loan must belong to a registered group with a minimum of five farmers and a maximum of 20.
“The group must at least be two years old for the farmers to qualify for the loan,” Miruka told Sacco Review at Eremo village, Keumbu Division, Kisii County during a recent visit to a farmers’ self- help group who are beneficiaries of the Sacco’s dairy loans product.
He said the farmers guaranteed one another loans on group collateral basis, with each receiving a minimum loan of Sh17,500 and a maximum of Sh51,000 for three dairy cows.
Miruka disclosed that dairy value chain loans have seen dairy farmers improve on their breeds through Artificial Insemination (AI) services financed by the Sacco loans.
