The County Government of Nakuru has disbursed Sh37.38 million to equip 50 Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs) with digital equipment and office furniture to strengthen farmer organisations and improve agricultural services.
The initiative, implemented under the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), seeks to improve the operational efficiency of farmer-led institutions, enhance financial transparency and expand access to agricultural information and services.
Speaking during the distribution exercise at the Agriculture Training Centre (ATC) in Soilo, Deputy Governor David Kones said the investment would strengthen the capacity of SACCOs to manage their operations and serve smallholder farmers more effectively.
Kones said the ICT equipment would enable the societies to digitise records, streamline financial transactions, improve communication with members and strengthen the collection and management of agricultural data.
He added that digital systems would help farmers access timely agricultural information and make informed decisions on production and marketing.
The Deputy Governor said all 50 SACCOs targeted under the programme had received support, with a total of Sh37,381,000 disbursed in Inclusion Grant funding.
The grants are intended to address initial operational challenges facing farmer cooperatives. They cover expenses such as office rent, furniture, ICT equipment and member mobilisation activities.
Kones said the investment went beyond providing office infrastructure, noting that it was aimed at establishing strong, accountable and sustainable farmer institutions.
He urged SACCO officials to manage the funds prudently, maintain accurate financial records and embrace technology to strengthen accountability and build members’ confidence.
“We expect these institutions to become more efficient, transparent and responsive to the needs of their members. They must ensure that every farmer, regardless of the size of their enterprise, can access reliable agricultural information, financial services and market opportunities through well-managed cooperative structures,” he said.
He added that the county government, under Governor Susan Kihika, remained committed to strengthening farmer organisations and helping smallholder farmers move from subsistence production to commercial agriculture.
Kones noted that functional SACCOs would help link farmers to affordable credit, agricultural extension services, input suppliers and reliable markets, thereby improving household incomes and supporting food security.
County Chief Officer for Cooperatives and Entrepreneurship Kibet Kurgat said providing the equipment was an important step towards improving the institutional and operational capacity of farmer SACCOs.
He noted that many cooperatives needed adequate infrastructure and digital systems to manage growing membership and financial activities effectively.
According to Kurgat, the ICT investment would reduce inefficiencies associated with manual record-keeping, improve the accuracy of financial information and enable SACCOs to maintain updated member databases.
The systems will also help cooperative officials monitor transactions, prepare reliable reports and strengthen internal controls.
Kurgat urged SACCO leaders to embrace the technology, maintain the equipment properly and ensure that the resources are used for their intended purposes.
He said strong SACCOs were central to agricultural transformation because they provide farmers with institutions through which they can mobilise savings, access affordable financing and participate collectively in markets.
The Chief Officer added that digitisation would improve the societies’ ability to track membership, monitor savings and loan transactions, strengthen reporting and deliver services promptly.
He said the county government would continue supporting cooperatives to improve governance, strengthen service delivery and establish sustainable business models that support agricultural commercialisation.
The digital equipment and office furniture are expected to address operational challenges facing farmer cooperatives, including inadequate infrastructure, inefficient record management and limited access to digital agricultural information.
Modern ICT systems can help SACCOs improve member registration, financial reporting, communication and information sharing.
They also provide a more reliable way to monitor membership, savings, loans and other financial transactions, helping cooperative officials make informed management decisions.
For farmers, stronger digital systems are expected to improve access to agricultural extension information, including modern farming practices, climate-smart technologies, market opportunities and financial services.
The investment is also expected to support the integration of farmers into digital agricultural platforms, making it easier for them to access services, connect with markets and participate in organised agricultural value chains.
The National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project is a five-year Government of Kenya initiative implemented through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development with financing from the World Bank.
The project builds on the work of the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) and the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP).
Its broader objective is to transform smallholder agriculture from subsistence production into commercially oriented and climate-resilient farming.
The programme seeks to increase market participation and value addition among targeted smallholder farmers by strengthening farmer organisations, improving access to affordable financing, promoting climate-smart agricultural technologies and establishing stronger links between producers, cooperatives and markets.
Author: Andrew Walyaula
Andrew Walyaula is a seasoned multimedia journalist. Email: [email protected]
