15 counties converge in Vihiga for Agribusiness Investment Conference

Fifteen counties under the Lake Victoria Trading Block have converged at Vihiga High School for the annual Agribusiness Investment Conference.

The organisers of the conference have invited President Uhuru Kenyatta, opposition leaders and governors among other high-ranking officials.

Farmers' field visits field day as investment conference for 15 counties start in Vihiga. (PHOTO: ALEX WAKHISI/STANDARD)

Nigerian High Commissioner and representatives from Brazil will attend the conference to highlight market and investment opportunities.

Last year, 15 counties came together to launch the Lake Region Blueprint, which was pegged on seven pillars among them agriculture.

The conference is expected to bring together over 20,000 participants with over 70 exhibitors showcasing their products.

Economic fortunes

Western Agribusiness Investment Platform Chief Executive Officer Barack Gogo said the conference will mainly focus on investment opportunities, agribusiness and inter-trade among the region's counties to boost their economic fortunes.

"The conference aims at helping the counties revive and scale up agribusiness," Mr Gogo said.

"We have invited leaders from Nigeria and Brazil because their countries provide a market for our products and Brazil particularly is known for sugar production," he added.

He said the conference will also help the counties to network and partner with the outside world.

He also noted that the conference will provide solutions to many challenges facing agribusiness in the region.

Access markets

"We will help farmers and locals to access international markets. We will have participants from Nigeria and Brazil who will show participants how to access their markets," he said.

"Already, 15 county governments have confirmed they will be present and we expect each one of them to showcase their products," he said.

Vihiga Agriculture Executive Clara Indiire said the conference will serve as an eye opener for the world to know what the 15 counties are capable of in agribusiness.

She said the conference also aims at attracting investors to the counties to boost agribusiness in the region.

Ms Indiire said the forum would also be used to discuss how to solve challenges facing their bid to address food insecurity.

"Participants will also take part in discussions on how to enhance food security in the region. As Vihiga County, we are privileged to have the conference as it will help farmers from the county learn more on agribusiness and investment opportunities," she said. She observed that the region is an economic powerhouse that can sustain its people without necessarily relying on other regions or countries for food and other imports.

Food security

"It is an investment opportunity for all participants to share information on production and how to market their products. The conference will help farmers in their bid to enhance food security," she said.

The counties that form the region's trading block are: Kakamega, Kisumu, Bungoma, Busia, Kisii, Siaya, Narok, Nyamira, Vihiga, Bomet, Nandi, Trans Nzoia, Migori, Homa Bay and Kericho.