Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development is expected to steer the County towards an innovative and commercially-oriented agriculture and food secure economy. Though highly populated, Vihiga County has enormous resource endowment ranging from high precipitation, arable land, good road network and close proximity to both local and external markets. These tangible factors give the county the impetus to pull itself together and saddle itself on the development lane with minimal delay.
As earlier mentioned, Vihiga County economy is predominantly agriculture with approximately 85 % of the population living in the county having their livelihood mainly from agricultural activities. Of the 65% of the population estimated to be living below the absolute poverty line, subsistence farmers account for 90%. The County government in its CIDP plans to promote growth in the education ,industrial, I.C.T and infrastructure as well as the agricultural sector towards increasing food security, income generation and employment creation within the ASDP and Vision 2030 framework. Co-operatives will be vital to the attainment of the broad objectives of the agriculture sector in the county, since they can make considerable contribution as a whole to food security by supplying inputs as well as marketing agricultural output. The policy objective of the co-operatives sub-sector will aim to revitalize the co-operative movement in the county which will in turn spur sustainable economic growth and development.
The Kenya Constitution 2010 devolved the following functions and powers to the counties in the Agriculture sector; crop and animal husbandry, livestock sale yards, county abattoirs, plant and disease control and fisheries. Vihiga Department of Agriculture is comprised of 5 sub-sectors namely, Livestock production, Veterinary services, Crop Production, Fisheries and Cooperative. The following are the key roles/mandate of the Department;
- Support the formulation and review of enabling institutions, legal and regulatory framework for the revitalization of agriculture sector in the County, and effective and efficient service delivery.
- 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, and coolers for milk.
- Establish and coordinate agriculture support programmes, e.g. subsidized farm inputs, enhanced credit to farmers and free tea seedlings to support the poor farmers.
- Improve market access for smallholders through better supply chain management.
- Promote value addition to farm/livestock/fisheries products before they reach local, regional and international markets.
Mr. Nicholas Kitungulu Ligayo
County Executive Committee Member
Kamadi Dominic Luvavo
Chief Officer
Mr. Chrysostom Agava
Chief Officer, Cooperatives
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 breeds’ 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.
