Agriculture, Livestock & Fisheries

About

Department of Agriculture, Livestock & Fisheries

The Department is comprised of 4 sub-sectors namely, Crop Production, Livestock production, Veterinary services, and Fisheries Development.

The Vihiga County’s economy is predominantly agriculture with approximately 85 % of the population deriving their livelihood mainly from farming activities whereby subsistence farmers account for 90% of the population.

Though densely populated, Vihiga has a favourable climate and enormous resource endowment ranging from high precipitation, arable land, good road network and close proximity to both local and external markets.

The Department is expected to steer the County towards an innovative, commercially-oriented, regenerative agriculture and a food secure circular economy. To achieve this, the Department is expected to leverage on the enormous resource endowment ranging from high precipitation, arable land, small scale irrigation, aggregation centres and proximity to both local and external markets, focusing mainly on African Leafy Vegetables, Bananas, Avocados, local poultry, traditional foods, Nile Tilapia, African Catfish and value added farm products including Dairy.

Role of the Department in the County’s Development Agenda

Build capacity of farmers through extension services and animal welfare in order to improve agricultural productivity in the county.
In collaboration with the National Government and other stakeholders, coordinate the construction of modern abattoirs, fresh produce markets, greenhouses, fish hatcheries and cold storage plants for fish, vegetables and coolers for milk.
Establish and coordinate agriculture support programmes, e.g. subsidized farm inputs, enhanced credit to farmers and subsidised seedlings to support vulnerable farmers.
Sustainable Land Management and Promote value addition to Crop/livestock/fisheries products before they reach local, regional and international markets.

Mandate of the Department

Formulation and review of enabling policies, for the revitalization of agriculture and efficient service delivery. The Department is establishing an Agricultural Training & Innovation Centre (ATIC), in line with the County Integrated Development Plan (2023-2027), as a premier facility where farmers and stakeholders come to gain practical skills and co-create knowledge in agroecology for dissemination to all value chain actors. This will be embedded in the new Agroecology policy.

Team

Mr. Nicholas Kitungulu Ligayo

County Executive Committee Member

Dr. Betty Alosa Mulianga

Chief Officer

Vision

An innovative, vibrant and leading institution in sustainable management of the Agricultural sector resources for socio economic development and environmental stability of Vihiga County

Mission

To ensure food security and Improve the livelihood of the people of Vihiga by promoting competitive and commercially oriented Crop, Fish and livestock farming through creation of an enabling environment and ensuring sustainable natural resource management.

Farmers Benefit

More than 6000 farmers in Vihiga County have received 43 million shillings to support their farming activities under the National Agriculture and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP). While issuing cheques to 540 farmers from 18 groups in Emabungo ward, Vihiga Governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo encouraged residents to form community groups in order to receive money from the NARIGP grant. So far, 540 groups have received Kshs 193 M out of the 500M from the NARIGP projects which targets to give grants to 800 groups. Department Chief Officer Dominic Luvavo urged farmers to diversify their investments for better returns and that the extension officers will continue giving technical pieces of advice to farmer groups on how to engage in productive ventures. NARIGP project has also supported 11 cooperative societies to a financial tune of Kshs. 11M which was used to recruit new members and capacity building management committees. Sabatia and Vihiga Dairy Cooperative societies received Kshs. 16 M for the purchase of various assets to support their milk handling and marketing activities.

Banana Farming

Vihiga Governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo donated a Banana Crisps Processing machine under the Agricultural Sector Development Support Program (ASDSP) to the 28 members of Jitahidi Banana Cottage Processing Plant from Gamalenga in Tambua ward. Dr. Ottichilo urged other groups to within the County to emulate Jitahidi who have been consistent, persistent and resilient in agribusiness. He also said that His government has created various self-employment opportunities and hence groups should come on board and access the funds for development purposes since he is committed to promoting agribusiness as outlined in his manifesto. Chief Officer Dominic Luvavo said that plans are underway to ensure Jitahidi Banana Cottage Processing Plant is certified by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to enable them sell their products locally and internationally. The group apart from crisps also makes cakes, jam, sweet potato flour and herbal wine among other products from banana. The Governor also opened officially banana aggregation centers at Shamakhokho ward (Hamisi sub-county), Wodanga ward (Sabatia sub-county) and Chango (Vihiga sub-county) to aid in collection, ripening and selling of bananas.

Insemination

Members of Lusubu Dairy Cooperative Society in Ekwanda, Luanda South ward received Artificial Insemination (AI) equipment, 6 motorcycles and an ultrasound machine from Welt Hunger Hilfe, Agricultural Sector Development Support Program (ASDSP) and the County Government. Speaking while handing over the equipment, Governor Ottichilo said that his government will continue collaborating with donors in empowering farmers across the county and further urged the youths to focus more on agricultural practices to evade unemployment challenges. The introduction of Artificial Insemination will greatly improve the cattle breeds resulting from mixing the breedsâ€™ thus improving milk production both in the area and the entire county in general. Chief Officer Dominic Luvavo cited that in addition to what was given, the County Government through the Department of Agriculture had provide farmers with 10 universal pistolets, 100 Artificial Insemination socks, 5 pieces of Artificial Insemination flasks, 50 packets of Artificial Insemination gloves, 5 pieces of dipsticks, Jersey semen, Fresian semen, Aysher semen, Gensey semen and 550 liters of liquid Nitrogen to improve cattle breeding. The County has also issued 64,000 split fodder, Calyadra seeds 20kgs, Desmodium certified 10kgs, 30 tones of farmyard manure and 200kgs of DAP fertilizer to improve fodder production.