The Principal Secretary, State Department for Crop Development &Agricultural Research Prof Hamadi Boga this morning flagged off seeds and seedlings to Small Scale Irrigation and Value Addition Project (SIVAP) Counties. SIVAP is operating in 11 counties namely: Makueni, Kajiado, Machakos, Bomet, Tharaka Nithi, Meru, Nyeri, Tana River, Murang’a, Nyandarua and Kitui.

Below is PS Prof Hamadi Boga’s Talking notes:

TALKING NOTES BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, STATE DEPARTMENT FOR CROP DEVELOPMENT & AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, FISHERIES AND COOPERATIVES DURING FLAGGING OFF OF SEEDS AND SEEDLINGS TO SMALL SCALE IRRIGATION AND VALUE ADDITION PROJECT COUNTIES ON 25TH MAY, 2021 AT KILIMO HOUSE
 
SALUTATION,

Introduction

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives through the State Department for Crop Development and Agricultural Research is implementing the Small Scale Irrigation and Value Addition Programme (SIVAP) funded by a loan from Africa Development Bank (AfDB), a grant from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP) and the Government of Kenya

SIVAP is operating in 11 counties namely: Makueni, Kajiado, Machakos, Bomet, Tharaka Nithi, Meru, Nyeri, Tana River, Murang’a, Nyandarua and Kitui. The current on-going SIVAP projects include 12 irrigation schemes, 38 water pans, 17 bore holes, 8 shallow wells and sand dams, 5 grading shades, 4 Livestock Sale Yards and Rehabilitation of 65 KMs of rural roads which are at various stages of completion.

In order to address the need for food and nutrition security as well as income generation the Ministry through the Project Coordinating Unit (PCU) has planned to set up demonstrations plots for Crops, Livestock fodder production and Kitchen Gardens as a COVID – 19 response initiative.
 
Objectives

The objectives are as follows:

1. To carry out clean seeds production demonstrations for High Value Pulses, Cereals, and Fruits Trees.

2. To carry out clean seeds production demonstration for fodder/ Pasture.

3. To provide clean planting materials for establishment of fruit tree orchard demonstrations in the established irrigation schemes.

4. To establish/strengthen nutrition units for communities at the county level through establishment of Home/Kitchen gardens and provide training on good nutrition practices.

Project Achievement so far:

So far the project has reached 106,900 households as beneficiaries which are mainly pastoralists and agro-pastoralist.
In March -May 2020 rains, seeds and seedlings worth Kshs 7.8 million were purchased and distributed to SIVAP counties. The counties have managed to set up 220 demonstrations plots for both crops and livestock fodder.
Through projects’ support the Ministry launched “The One Million Kitchen Garden Initiative” in Makueni County on 26th June 2020.

The Ministry through the project has set aside Kshs 500 million to support the one million kitchen garden initiative through provision of kitchen garden kits (Solar Dryers, shade nets and assorted vegetable seeds) to 213,090 Households in 21 counties.

The Ministry through the project established a demonstration and learning site with 15 kitchen garden technologies at Ministry Headquarters which was launched on 22nd September, 2020

Today we are delighted to flag off additional consignment of seeds, seedlings and other related inputs worth Kshs 12.75 million to be distributed to SIVAP counties.

Finally allow me to flag off these consignments to the various destinations.

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