This archive report was first published on 16 September 2019.
On September 16, 2019, the World Bank announced that 824 farming self-help groups in 21 counties would begin receiving grants from the World Bank funded National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Project to expand their practice.
The project, which is part of a 22.6 billion shillings World Bank program, aims to make agricultural development an inclusive pathway to sustainable economic empowerment. The program, co-driven by 21 County Governments, was rolled out in December 2018 and is set to run for four years.
Speaking in Nakuru, County Project Director Jenifer Bett said that already 152 micro business proposals targeting apiculture, dairy, Irish potato, and poultry to the tune of 87 million shillings have been approved. The proposals are expected to help micro agribusiness ventures expand, upgrade, and modernize their equipment, thereby improving productivity and strengthening integration of smallholders into the agricultural value chain.
Beneficiaries will also receive extension services for a year to cut post-harvest losses, improve value addition, and mechanize farming to enhance income. Currently, 217 proposals from Nakuru County are being evaluated to qualify for funding.
