What’s in for farmers as counties form economic blocs?

Counties in North Rift are just from holding one of the most high profile meetings where everything from agriculture to trade was discussed at length.

Under the ambitious North Rift Economic Bloc (Noreb), eight counties have agreed to work together in an effort to spur economic growth in the region. The eight counties are Turkana, West Pokot, Baringo, Trans Nzoia, Samburu, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet and Nandi.

Investments aside, what is in it for farmers from in this mega arrangement? Noreb interim chairman and Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago says the deal presents huge benefits for farmers.

“This is great news for farmers. It means access to a wider and unlimited market. For instance, a maize farmer in Uasin Gishu will now have an opportunity to sell their produce not just in Eldoret and its environs but they can explore other markets,” says Mandago.

North Rift region is classified as the country’s food basket and the eight counties hope to boost small scale farmers.

Value addition

“Under Noreb, we intend to pull our resources and put up processing facilities to add value to products in respective counties. This will boost small scale farmers in marketing,” says Mandago.

He says respective counties have unique competitive advantage which they can use under the bloc.

Mandago says the joint economic block intends to establish fruit processing plants in Kerio Valley, a region where mango, pawpaw and banana production thrives.

He says value addition plants for passion fruits will also be set up in Uasin Gishu County.

On his part, Turkana governor Josephat Nanok who is the interim vice-chair says this of the deal: “Noreb is the answer to an accelerated economic development in the region. Small-scale and large-scale farmers all stand to benefit from the arrangement.”

Elgeyo Marakwet governor Alex Tolgos says this is an ideal time for people to invest in farming.

He says, Elgeyo Marakwet County has investment opportunities in value addition especially for horticultural produce. Tolgos says fresh produce farmers should expect improved earnings through enhanced market for processed goods after establishment of processing plants.

“I have been marketing produce to middlemen who buy our passion fruits and later sell them to processing plants in other regions. We hope such will be addressed with the bloc,” says Joshua Rono, a passion fruit farmer from the area.

Tolgos says passion fruit producers will generate better income and minimise losses incurred during transport once processing plants are established.

Milling plants

Trans Nzoia and Uasin Gishu lead in maize production and Noreb intends to establish milling plants in the two regions to add value to produce.

Maize producing counties in North Rift produce over 10 million bags of maize annually. Each bag of maize weighs 90 kgs.

According to the County Director of Agriculture Edward Osanya, Trans Nzoia alone produces an average of 5 million bags of maize per year.

Mr Joseph Cheboi, the Uasin Gishu County Director of Agriculture says the region produces 4.5 million bags of maize annually and over 500,000 bags of wheat.

With Noreb, there are plans to build several milling plants which will also process animal feeds which will be marketed locally and internationally.

Turkana County has high investment opportunities in irrigation, livestock, hide and skin tannery and cottage industry.

Under Noreb, Nanok says abattoirs will be established to enable livestock farmers market processed beef products.

Farmers‘ take

Baringo County has potential investment opportunities in cotton, sisal, pyrethrum farming and processing, honey processing and marketing, horticulture value addition.

Samburu has potential in meat processing, honey processing and sale of hides and skins.

Symon Chesang, the chairman of Irong Natural bee products in Marigat, Baringo County looks forward to the establishment of honey processing plants.

“It will be easy for the economic bloc to brand our products and establish local and international markets for honey products. We will also utilise the Eldoret International Airport in exporting produce,” says Chesang.

Tea farmers especially from Nandi County which is big on tea, are also expectant.

County statistics show that Nandi County produces an average of over 270 million kilos of green leaf tea for processing every year.

“Nandi is one of the leading tea producing regions and with the formation of Noreb, we will push for better prices and wider markets,” says Mr Wilson Tuwei, the chairman of small scale tea growers in Nandi Hills.

Tuwei says about 95 per cent of locally produced tea goes to international market while a paltry 7 to 10 per cent is consumed locally. Nandi County is also big on dairy farming.

According to Nandi County governor Dr Cleophas Lagat, the county has a milk production capacity of between an average of 80 million to 120 million litres annually.

Lagat however says the production level can still be high since much of the produce is hawked in the informal market. Produce from Nandi, the governor says, is sold by middle men in neighbouring Uasin Gishu, Kakamega, Vihiga, Kisumu and Nakuru counties.

“With Noreb, Nandi County can focus on value addition to process and package ghee, cheese, yoghurt, powder milk and other by-products for local consumption and export. This will uplift the living standards of millions of residents and create jobs,” says Lagat.

Peter Chirchir, a livestock farmer from Nandi County says farmers have a role to play in making the deal a reality.

“Noreb deal has been sealed and signed and with it comes myriad of opportunities for farmers. As farmers, the challenge is on us to produce the expected yields to satisfy market needs. We must up our game in terms of our production capacity and the quality of yield because we are targeting a wider market,” he says.

Mr Telengech Taptengelei, a farmer from Nandi County says Noreb will promote exchange of technology and resources.

“With the exchange of ideas and technologies, farmers will enjoy better returns through value addition and also better prices,” explains Taptengelei.

He goes on: “Some cargo planes that land in Eldoret International Airport are usually idle yet they can be used to transport horticultural produce to foreign markets. As a joint economic bloc, we will stand strong as North Rift counties and make meaningful negotiations with the national government and push our economic agenda.”

Thomas Korkoren, a cereal farmer from Soy in Uasin Gishu County hopes the recommendations from the high profile investment conference will be implemented to the letter.

“As farmers we feel cheated when investment conferences such as this are held then everything is forgotten after a short while. We hope everything will be implemented,” he avers.

North Rift Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) chairman Kipkorir Menjo says though Noreb is a noble idea, challenges affecting farming should have been discussed at length.

“Under this ambitious project, farmers should be allowed to run the show so that they can benefit 100 per cent from the deal,” he observes.

Even as farmers express their fears, hopes and expectations, the eight county chiefs are optimistic that Noreb will transform the region and turn it into an economic powerhouse.

How ideal was mooted

The idea was mooted early this year when a few governors met in Eldoret for an informal meeting.

Coming from the same region, the governors from North Rift reckoned that they would be a stronger economic force if they worked as a bloc.

The idea to work as a bloc was also necessitated by the fact that the counties face common challenges including border conflicts, cattle rusting, among others, that often scare away investors.

They also noted that farmers in the region experience perennial challenges in production and marketing of their produce.

An agreement was arrived at for the formation of North Rift Economic Bloc (Noreb) that was signed by the governors during a breakfast meeting in Nairobi, October this year.

The governors agreed to come up with inter-county tariffs that would make it conducive to partner in trade and investment. The Noreb conference held a few weeks ago in Eldoret was the culmination of the whole deal. The conference attracted local and international investors who expolred investment opportunities.