[Photo: FarmGRO Africa]
The World Bank has approved a 250 million dollar International Development Association credit for a new Agricultural Value Chain Development Project in Kenya.
The project seeks to increase market participation and value addition for 500,000 small scale farmers in Kenya.
The farmers are engaged in nine value chains across 26 counties which are; Kilifi, Taita Taveta, Kwale, Tana River, Kakamega, Busia, Kisii, Migori, Homa Bay, Nakuru, Narok, Bomet, Kericho, Nyandarua, Trans-Nzoia, Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Machakos, Makueni, Kitui, Meru, Murang’a, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Embu and Nyeri.
The value chains are dairy, poultry, fruits, vegetables, coffee, cotton, cashew nut, apiculture, and pyrethrum.
The project will build on the foundation set by two existing World Bank funded projects which are; the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project and the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project.
It will deepen investments in existing interventions around productivity enhancement, community led farmer extension, water management and data driven value chain services.
It will also introduce intensified investments into the select value chains, scale up value addition and market linkages with agribusiness off-takers and small and medium enterprises, support Farmer-led Irrigation Development, enhance access to credit and support the rollout of urban food system pilots in select clusters.
World Bank Country Director for Kenya Keith Hansen says, the project will unlock new opportunities for maximizing finance and private sector investments in the nine value chains through a range of value chain investments.
“It will enable initiatives such as improved subsidy targeting through e-vouchers and operationalizing warehouse receipt financing. It will also engage intensively with the private sector value chains to crowd in investments in agri-business opportunities such as input supply, access to finance for farmers and small and medium enterprises.”
A newsmaker, reporter and anchor at Pearl Radio, Ndalilah Sharon is witty and savvy.
She is also a firm believer of Christ.