The State Department for Livestock Director Elmi Bishar on Wednesday led a team of officers from the Ministry of Livestock, IFAD, and KeLCoP for a two-day visit to Elgeyo Marakwet to discuss progress in the implementation of the Kenya Livestock Commercialization program (KelCOP) Project.
The team paid a courtesy call to the Governor’s office and was hosted by the County Secretary Paul Chemmuttut, the livestock executive Dr. Joseph Kiyeng, Chief Officer Dr. Benson Kibore, and staff from Livestock Department.
The project is one of the blueprints of vision 2030, aimed at contributing to the Government’s agriculture transformation Agenda of increasing rural small-scale farmers’ incomes, food, and nutrition security through the providence of extension services, market infrastructure, capacity development, and building inclusive value Chains.
The project which will run for six years is expected to increase the incomes of 110,000 poor livestock and pastoralist households, especially the youth, women, and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in selected project areas of the 10 participating counties, Elgeyo Market being one of them.
The project seeks to commercialize several value chains including Small stock, Indigenous Poultry, Bee Keeping, and Rabbit keeping.
At the end of the project, it is expected: that there will be enhanced poor rural people’s production capacities; Strengthened environmental sustainability and climate resilience of poor rural people’s economic activities; and Enhanced poor rural people’s benefit from market participation.
The Ksh9.4 billion six-year project is funded by the Government of Kenya (GOK), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Heifer International, Participating Financial Institutions (PFI), and Beneficiary communities.
Elmi Bishar was in the company of IFAD desk officer – Mr. Abraham Biwott, KeLCoP Ag. Coordinator – Dr. Michael Kibiego among and other staff from the implementing ministry
