MEASURES TO MAKE THE BREAD BASKET EVER-FULL ARE UNDERWAY: A CASE STUDY OF UASIN GISHU COUNTY.

 


Uasin Gishu County just like in the rest of the Kenyan counties was faced with short rains early
this year due to the contingent climate change. The County is well known for her bumper growth
and harvest of maize and wheat. Maize the staple food of Kenya specifically does well in the
county though in the recent past this has drastically been affecting local farmers.

Last year the government broke the heart of farmers by buying only a few bags of their harvest
and as if that was not enough, they purchased their produce an at oppressive price. The
justification from the government was that there cereals stores were full. Ironically, the
government through the ministry of agriculture announced to import duty-free maize to stabilize
market demand due to the shortage.

However, the county is focused on making all these a requiem since there are already striking
measures that have been undertaken to protect farmers. President Uhuru Kenyatta had appointed
the Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia Governors to a Task Force Committee that was to research on
the maize crisis of farmers in the two counties. The Governor has in many occasions come to
defense of maize farmers in his speeches from the prices it purchases the produce to the quantity
it also takes.

The County through the department of Cooperatives and Enterprise Development has and
continues to be instrumental in the whole process of cushioning the farmers from these consistent
crises. The Chief Officer Mr. Pius Kigen recently said that there is a key focus to ensure that a
County policy framework where a bill will go through the county assembly to ensure that all
Savings and Credit Co-operatives (Saccos) are all enshrined in a county regulatory policy. This
will ensure ease of coexistence between registrars of Saccos and the individual members.

In the last fiscal year, the Co-operative section within the department was allocated Ksh 200
million that would be given to farmers. It was through this that there was the formation of the
MoiSoy Famers’ Co-operative Union which was to be the linkage of farmers’ sale and marketing.
The union is a merger of the two major maize growing sub-counties, Moiben and Soy The
project head Trusila Cherogony noted that the Co-operative began with the available funds
which was expected to rise to an estimated Ksh 477 million. The Co-operative has since its
inception has focused much on sensitizing the farmers to join it.

The Cooperative urged farmers to join it with an initial registration fee of Ksh 5000. The
Cooperative was selling shares at a minimum value of Ksh 500. The funds that were allocated
were given to the farmers through the cooperative where a total of Ksh 150 million was
disbursed. The amount left would also be given to farmers to farmers which would enable them
purchase farm inputs which would increase their yields.

There is also a move for similar unions to be formed which will empower farmers. This move is
endeavoured to make farmers sell all their produce and preventing situations where they incur
losses because of lack of market. Cherogony said that other measures like sensitizing the farmers
to diversify their agricultural production was in place so that farmers can fully benefit from the
open market that shifted with time and demand.



About the author.
Kilonzo J. Mutie is an attaché at the County government of Uasin Gishu at the department of devolution, administration and public service management (communications and public relations). He also serves as the Secretary General of Maseno University Political Students' Association (MUPOSSA).

For inquiries, email:
kilonzomutie41@yahoo.com

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