A multi-million crop value chain program being undertaken by the World Bank (WB) in Kilifi County is set to change the lives of more than 600 farmers in the region. – Ramadhan Kambi
WB bank through the national and county government has pumped a whooping Sh100 million towards the project which aims at training farmers on crop value chains to support their livelihoods.
In Kilifi the project is implemented through The National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (Narigp)’ in 22 wards out of the 35 wards.
Narigp also funds farmers in different areas of needs driven from their proposals while applying for the grants.
The County is one of the 22 counties in the country that has benefited from the program which aims to empower farmer groups, mostly small holder groups to acquire agricultural skills and knowledge for successful farming ventures.
According to Narigp coordinator in the region Mr Nyiro Chibudu, the initial goal of the program was to identify farmer groups and their areas of needy for funding.
“This project is being funded by the WB and is being implemented through the national and county governments. We sensitize farmers who later formed groups and then choose committees that is in charge of the 22 wards that are under Narigp.
Speaking after visiting farmers in Magarini Sub County, Mr Chibudu said one of the local groups, Neema Local chicken group had proposed a funding for a poultry house, purchase land for the growing of chicken feeds and also vaccination of the birds.
“We also gave them an incubator because in their proposals, they wanted to increase their chicken but could not do that without the hatchery. So by giving them all these incentives, it was actually meant to address their challenges and better their livelihoods,” he said.
Group chairman, Amos Mangi said the assistance from Narigp came in handy after they had launched their project and they have not turned back since then.
“Since we started this project, this organization has been assisting us. They started by giving us iron sheets and cement for the construction of our poultry house. They then gave us 23 chicken for a startup and that coupled with our member contributions we were able to finish the house.
Narigp’s Magarini Community Driven Development Committee secretary Gabriel Angore, thanked the organization for assisting the chicken keepers especially by giving them the incubator.
According to the Narigp document, the project objective is to increase agricultural productivity and profitability of targeted rural communities in the selected counties.
“In Kilifi, this project has prioritized on four value chains which is coconut, local chicken, Dairy cow, Apiculture (Beekeeping). We are implementing this program in 20 wards found in Rabai, Ganze and Kilifi South Sub-Counties,” Mr Chibudu said.
