Sacco rolls out Sh25 million project to empower farmers

By Robert Nyasato

Wakenya Pamoja Sacco society has set aside Sh25 million for an inaugural value chain financing plan targeting dairy and banana farming.

The general manager of the society in Kisii, Mr Richard Maranga, said the programme is expected to start operations in the next six months and will first be piloted in Keumbu, Borabu and Oyugis before rolling it out to other regions.

"We are going to transfer success of our micro finance programme to value chain financing," Maranga said in an interview yesterday.

He said dairy farmers would be financed to a tune of Sh15 million in the first year while banana growers will get Sh10 million to invest in tissue culture.

Mr Maranga said the Sacco had identified bananas that do well in Kisii, and noted that the crop could enhance food security in the region if grown using modern technologies. "We are focused in supporting farmers to be economically empowered, and to increase our market share by bringing in new members," he said.

Loans to groups

Maranga said the farmers would get loans, but should form groups as security.

He said the society had already hired value chain experts from the locality who are currently undergoing training in order to acquire relevant skills.

The Sacco also opened a branch in Oyugis due to the large interest from the dairy and tissue culture banana farmers.

But Maranga said the sacco would not aid farmers involved in hawking green leaf tea unless they desist from the illegal business.

He said many farmers had left from the society due to the illegal activity.