Lusaka Launches Ksh 105M NAVCDP Project to Promote Local Farmers

By Cindy Situma 

The Bungoma County Governor Kenneth Lusaka has launched the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) worth 105 million Kenyan Shillings to benefit approximately 227,000 smallholder farmers across 45 wards.

Speaking at Mabanga FTC during the launching event, Governor Lusaka highlighted the county's significant economic achievements by implementing previous agricultural projects such as NARIGP, asserting that NAVCDP will further transform livelihoods.

"As a county government, we have prioritized transforming the agriculture sector to be vibrant and competitive. This is an important building block for wealth, employment creation, and economic growth," he stated.

The five-year project, co-funded by the World Bank and the county government, aims to increase market participation and value chains for smallholder farmers in the dairy, chicken, coffee, banana, and avocado sectors.

"The NAVCDP project will establish 45 ward-based SACCOs to enhance smallholder farmers' access to affordable credit, transitioning them from subsistence to commercial farming. Additionally, it will support 26 farmer marketing cooperatives," Lusaka affirmed.

The project also includes the involvement of 315 youths as agri-preneurs to support extension services, addressing part of the unemployment issue in the county.