Siaya County Government has reaffirmed its drive to build a productive, profitable, resilient and inclusive agricultural economy through sustained investments in farmer institutions, irrigation infrastructure, value addition, and youth participation in agribusiness.
Speaking during the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) Day in Siaya County, Governor H.E. James Orengo presided over the issuance of cheques to Cooperative Societies, SACCOs and Farmer Producer Organizations.
He also flagged off personal protective equipment for distribution across all Siaya markets, aimed at strengthening safety standards and improving agricultural support systems.
The occasion also saw the swearing-in of 150 Young Agripreneurs who will support agricultural extension services and enhance farmer engagement at the grassroots level.
Governor Orengo said agriculture remains the cornerstone of Siaya’s economy, accounting for nearly 60 percent of the Gross County Product, estimated at about KSh 9.2 billion annually.
He emphasized the need to reposition agriculture as a strategic economic sector rather than a subsistence activity, noting that productivity, enterprise development, resilience and market access must drive the sector’s transformation.
“We must ask ourselves whether agriculture can be the true foundation of economic transformation. It can, but only if we treat it as a business sector anchored on productivity, enterprise, resilience and markets,” he said.
The Governor noted that Siaya County is leveraging its fertile soils, reliable rainfall, Lake Victoria resources and strong farming communities to expand production through structured investment, institutional coordination and value addition.
He further highlighted that the county has established Community Driven Development Committees across all 30 wards and integrated 30 SACCOs alongside 13 Farmer Producer Organizations to improve coordination and market linkages within the agricultural value chain.
Support to SACCOs through inclusion grants exceeding KSh 25 million has strengthened governance systems, broadened financial inclusion, and improved access to affordable credit for farmers.
Governor Orengo also cited key NAVCDP-backed investments, including the Siriwo Rice Mill paddy curing and storage facility valued at over KSh 40 million and the Kogonga–Kayundi Irrigation Project valued at more than KSh 29 million, as part of a broader strategy to modernize agriculture.
“These investments form part of a deliberate plan to transition Siaya into a modern and commercially viable agricultural economy,” he said.
Siaya County Chief Officer for Agriculture, Elizabeth Adongo, said the county is undertaking soil intelligence mapping through the collection of approximately 2,600 soil samples across all wards to improve fertilizer use efficiency, crop suitability and productivity outcomes.
She noted that sustainable agricultural growth requires strong linkages between production, markets, financing, value addition and institutional support.
“Production alone is not enough. Without markets and value addition, farmers remain vulnerable. We must therefore strengthen enterprise systems and market structures,” she said.
The county government reiterated its commitment to collaborating with the national government, development partners, private sector players and farmer institutions to expand irrigation, strengthen agro-processing, improve market systems and enhance youth and women participation in agribusiness.
