NAKURU, Kenya, Feb 5 – Farmers have been advised to join cooperatives to help them access more market opportunities and attract available Government resources.
Nakuru County Chief Officer for Cooperatives and Entrepreneurship Martin Kagai observed that all the actors along the value chains right from the agro-producers, transporters, agro-processors and distributors should have common interest associations.
Speaking during a training of cooperative officials that was jointly organized by the County Government, the Directorate of Cooperatives and Strathmore University’s Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) Kagai said both the national government and devolved units had means to assist farmers but lack of proper structure delayed such processes.
He added that the groups would be advantageous in the sense that it would be easy for them to access credit as financial institutions prefer to lend to groups rather than to individuals.
“Cooperatives offer small agricultural producers opportunities and a wide range of services, including improved access to markets, natural resources, information, communications, technologies, credit, training and warehouses.
Most farmers in crop and dairy sectors are in production as individuals, making it hard for them to tap maximum market potential. The Government best assists farmers in organized groups,” noted the Chief Officer.
The Unit supports cooperatives formed by women and youth groups with start-ups and micro businesses to broaden their opportunities and boost their competitiveness that will eventually generate jobs, increase incomes and productivity,” stated the Chief Officer.
He asked residents undertaking all the value chains including maize, bananas, sweet potatoes, dairy, poultry and horticulture to come up with cooperatives.
Kagai observed that well managed cooperatives had the capacity to address weak market frameworks, shortage of agricultural extension services, and unavailability of certified seeds and expansion of storage facilities to mitigate post-harvest losses.
Working in groups among farmers, he affirmed, will increase their bargaining power and order inputs in bulk therefore, lowering their expenditures besides increasing their chances of accessing markets at better prices.
