Nakuru Farmers Receive Sh26.8 Million Boost To Expand Credit Access, Productivity

By Suleiman Mbatiah

Thousands of farmers in Nakuru are eyeing improved earnings following the rollout of multi-million shilling grants designed to expand access to credit, strengthen cooperatives, and enhance agricultural productivity.

The funding, issued under the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project, targets over 210,000 smallholder farmers through structured linkages with 50 SACCOs and 17 farmer producer organizations across the county.

A total of Sh26,819,700 has been disbursed to 53 cooperatives, including Sh11,819,700 to 17 farmer organizations, Sh10,235,000 to 30 SACCOs, and Sh4,000,000 in matching grants to six SACCOs.

Governor Susan Kihika said the programme marks a strategic effort to transform agriculture into a profitable and dignified enterprise, focusing on value addition, improved market access, and higher farmer incomes.

“These grants are not just financial support, they are an investment in our farmers, our cooperatives, and the systems that connect them to markets,” Kihika said during the issuance ceremony at ATC Soilo.

The inclusion grants are expected to strengthen cooperatives by supporting member recruitment, office establishment, acquisition of operational tools such as weighing scales and lactometers, automation, branding, and improved aggregation capacity.

Matching grants will boost SACCO liquidity, enabling farmers to access affordable credit at lower interest rates, supporting investment in quality inputs, expansion of production, and greater participation in structured markets.

“With this support comes responsibility, and the funds must be used prudently, properly accounted for, and translated into tangible growth, better services, and increased farmer incomes,” she said.

Since 2022, the county has recorded steady agricultural growth, with the dairy herd increasing from 465,020 to 492,390 animals by 2025, while milk production is now valued at Sh15.9 billion annually.

Farmer earnings from milk have risen significantly from between Sh25 and Sh30 per litre to between Sh45 and Sh50, supported by the strengthening of over 27 dairy cooperatives unified under a county dairy union.

The county has also supported more than 5,000 farmers through subsidized artificial insemination, reducing costs from Sh1,500 to about Sh800 and improving livestock genetics and productivity.

Livestock health interventions have seen over 620,000 animals vaccinated, benefiting more than 10,000 farmers and reducing disease outbreaks, mortality rates, and losses while improving market value.

Feed security initiatives include planting over 65,000 fodder trees, establishing more than 3,000 acres of legumes, and supporting conservation of 13,000 tons of silage and 2.3 million hay bales annually.

In poultry farming, over 39,000 improved kienyeji chicks have been distributed to more than 5,000 households, boosting egg and meat production, improving nutrition, and creating additional income streams.

The county’s avocado programme has delivered 290,000 seedlings to 17,000 farmers, generating Sh82.9 million in sales and opening opportunities for youth employment and export market access.

Pyrethrum farming has also been revived, with 4,744 acres under production and earnings exceeding Sh289 million, while 600,000 subsidized fertilizer bags have been distributed to 70,000 farmers.

In fisheries, more than 500,000 fingerlings have been stocked alongside provision of boats and equipment, while over 15,000 acres have been put under sunflower and canola farming by more than 10,000 farmers.

“These efforts are building a resilient, inclusive, and market-driven agricultural economy that rewards farmers and sustains livelihoods across Nakuru County,” Kihika said.

Policy reforms have also advanced, including the adoption of the Agroecology Policy 2025, national recognition of CASSCOM, and progress on several agricultural bills to strengthen institutional coordination and sustainability.

Kihika called on cooperatives to uphold transparency and efficiency, urging farmers to embrace innovation and collective action to fully benefit from the expanding opportunities within the county’s agricultural sector.