Kajiado: The Kajiado County Government has disbursed Sh29 million under the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) Inclusion and Matching Grants, bringing the total amount released under the current phase to Sh47.3 million. Speaking during the launch, Governor Joseph Ole Lenku stated that the funds, which include an earlier disbursement of Sh18.3 million, will benefit 25 farmers’ SACCOs and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO) across the county.
According to Kenya News Agency, the grants are aimed at empowering women, youth, vulnerable households, and organised farmer groups by promoting modern, productive, and climate-smart agriculture. The initiative supports the county’s Modulated Pastoralism Agenda, which focuses on sustainable livestock production, fodder development, value addition, and building resilience against climate change.
Governor Lenku highlighted key milestones achieved through NAVCDP, including the vaccination of more than 32,000 livestock against Foot and Mouth Disease, profiling of over 115,000 farmers for targeted support, and deployment of more than 220 agripreneurs to strengthen agricultural extension services. He expressed confidence that the interventions will enhance food security, increase household incomes, and position agriculture as a major driver of economic growth in Kajiado County.
NAVCDP County Project Coordinator Phillip Koitelel revealed that the project is focusing on five value chains in Kajiado, namely dairy, chicken, apiculture, tomatoes, and red meat. He remarked that agripreneurs have been deployed to the 220 sublocations within the county to support last-mile extension services to pastoralists, farmers, and agro-pastoralists.
