Nairobi: The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the Financial Inclusion for Youth and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Agriculture (FIYMA) have joined forces with the County Government of Nakuru to promote technological adoption among smallholder farmers. This initiative aims to increase productivity and address challenges posed by climate shocks.
According to Kenya News Agency, County Chief Officer for Livestock, Dr. Michael Cheruiyot, emphasized the crucial role of innovation in enhancing farming practices, improving household incomes, and increasing harvest yields. He announced that ILRI and FIYMA have been officially integrated into the County Agriculture Sector Steering Committee (CASSCOM) to facilitate technology transfer. Dr. Cheruiyot expressed concerns about the rising climatic shocks both locally and globally, stressing the importance of learning and adapting to new technologies as a solution.
Highlighting the significance of technology in driving agricultural growth, Dr. Cheruiyot underscored the potential for increasing farmer incomes and fostering business opportunities. He advocated for global innovative agricultural solutions, especially in light of population growth, climate change, and environmental challenges. He mentioned digital technologies such as precision farming and market information systems as tools that empower farmers with data-driven insights, leading to increased yields and improved livelihoods.
Governor Susan Kihika’s administration is committed to strengthening partnerships, expanding inclusive agricultural financing, and promoting climate-smart farming. The strategy aims to maximize productivity through innovation, modern technologies, and collaboration, ensuring that women, youth, and persons with disabilities play a central role in the county’s agricultural transformation.
The announcement was made during a County Agriculture Sector Steering Committee (CASSCOM) meeting in Nakuru, where stakeholders reviewed strategies for accelerating agricultural growth through coordinated action. The forum included government agencies, research institutions, development partners, and farmer organizations exploring practical solutions for increasing productivity and creating sustainable livelihoods across the devolved unit.
Dr. Cheruiyot expressed confidence that ILRI’s and FIYMA’s expertise, research capacity, and strategic partnerships will enhance innovation, strengthen agricultural extension services, and expand farmer support programs across Nakuru’s eleven sub-counties. FIYMA, backed by the Mastercard Foundation, targets 28 Kenyan counties to create 250,000 work opportunities for 100,000 disadvantaged youth, focusing on women, people with disabilities, and refugees.
The initiative aims to contribute to Kenya’s development agenda by promoting research-led innovations impacting communities and enhancing agricultural value chains. Dr. Cheruiyot highlighted the necessity of platforms for sharing knowledge on scaling up science and technology innovations in agriculture.
Chief Officer for Agriculture, Engineer Margaret Kinyanjui, affirmed the county government’s commitment to prioritizing research, innovation, and strategic partnerships for agricultural transformation and economic growth across its 55 wards. She urged farmers and youth to embrace climate-smart farming and emerging technologies to unlock new opportunities in the sector.
Chief Officer for Cooperatives, Mr. Kibet Kurgat, emphasized the importance of organized groups among farmers to tap maximum market potential and advised cooperatives’ leaderships to embrace transformative practices. He stated that SACCOs and cooperatives are integral to achieving development goals and highlighted the county’s focus on building an inclusive and competitive agricultural sector.
The meeting further explored broadening access to affordable financing for women, youth, and PWDs to invest in agriculture and agribusiness. Deliberations emphasized strengthening value chains, improving access to quality inputs, and promoting sustainable production practices that increase yields while efficiently using existing farmland.
Participants underscored the importance of knowledge sharing, research-driven innovations, and stronger institutional collaboration in addressing challenges such as climate change, declining soil fertility, and market access.
