Farmers in Kasighau Ward have been urged to embrace a savings culture and join agricultural cooperatives to benefit from government programmes aimed at boosting productivity and household incomes.
Speaking during the launch of the Gaye Rural Sacco, Taita Taveta Deputy Governor Christine Kilalo encouraged residents to register as members and make regular savings. She emphasized that active membership would enable farmers to access affordable credit and benefit from ongoing agricultural interventions under the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP).
According to Kilalo, farmers who organize themselves through Saccos and cooperatives stand a significantly better chance of accessing government support, reducing their dependence on exploitative middlemen, and expanding their agribusiness ventures. She noted that the County Government has partnered with NAVCDP to establish farmer-owned financial institutions designed to strengthen food security while improving access to financial services in rural areas.
The county government has committed KSh3 million in matching grants for each Sacco across all 20 wards, operating on a shilling-for-shilling savings basis.
The Deputy Governor called on farmers to take full advantage of this initiative by saving consistently. Echoing her sentiments, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock, Cooperatives, Irrigation, and the Blue Economy, Katuu Mzenge, urged Sacco members to increase their contributions so the institution can qualify for the maximum KSh3 million matching grant.
Chief Officer for Agriculture Mcharo Mwalugha reminded residents that dual membership in both a Sacco and a cooperative is a mandatory requirement for accessing NAVCDP opportunities, urging them to register without delay.
The newly launched Gaye Rural Sacco is among 14 institutions expected to receive KSh3 million each in matching grants under the programme. So far, six Saccos in the region have already received funding totaling KSh3.8 million.
