In line with implementation of the various value chains in crop, livestock production and other sectors aimed at improving agriculture, the Department of Agriculture has today hosted macadamia farmers from across Meru County to a Macadamia Stakeholders Forum. This comes after fora for banana and potato stakeholders were recently held through the ongoing implementation of National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP).

At the forum, farmers were introduced to the NARIGP Program and the various projects available through a joint funding of the project by the World Bank and the County Government of Meru to improve macadamia production. The programs will be implemented through community based and driven organized groups to make agriculture a profitable venture in the County.

"We want the Macadamia farmers to reap the benefits of their sweat and change the situation from what has been happening where the farmer, after doing most of the hard labor and toiling in the farming process, earns the least or nothing in the end. This is well in line with our Governor, H. E. Kiraitu Murungi’s promise to Make the Meru farmer Great," said Agriculture CEC member Caroline Mutiga who officially opened the forum.

Agriculture Chief Officer Dionesia M’Iruaki, speaking at the forum said that the core function of the County Government will be to organize the Macadamia farmers in the same manner as was done for potato and banana farmers, into cooperatives.

"We already know that macadamia buyers have their own structure and organization through the Nuts Processors Association of Kenya(NatPAK) and therefore we shall facilitate our farmers to organize themselves into strong cooperatives, which will give them bargaining power in the market," said Mrs. Eruaki.

By the end of the forum, the macadamia farmers will have elected officials and representatives of Community Driven Development Committees (CDDCs) and Social Accountability and Integrity Committees (SAICs) who will be the ground implementors and oversight of he NARIGP programs at the Ward Level.

#MacadamiaFarming
#MakingAgricultureGreat
#MakingMeruGreat