Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago has urged co-operative societies to venture into agro-manufacturing and value addition.
We should now begin venturing into agro-processing and value addition like MoiSoy Co-operative Union has done”, Mandago said. He also urged co-operative societies to pay up their loans in order to help other groups benefit from the revolving fund.
Speaking at the county headquarters during the launch the 98th International Co-operatives Day, the county boss said that his administration has revamped Agricultural Machinery Services (AMS), given it a fresh mandate to help farmers and co-operative societies venture into value addition
This year’s “Ushirika Day” usually celebrated by thousands of co-operative society members drawn from the counties 370 movements; was marked differently due to COVID -19 regulations.
A group of leaders representing the county’s co-operative society fraternity drew Kshs 1 million from their savings kitty and donated to Uasin Gishu County COVID-19 Response Committee.
AMS is now known as Agricultural Machinery and Value Addition Corporation. In future, this shall be a county government corporation charged with establishing factories and processing plants which shall then be sold to co-operative societies and unions” Mandago revealed.
Deputy Governor Daniel Chemno also present thanked co-operative society members for taking diversification. He noted that the recently distributed promotional crops seedlings were distributed to farmers most of whom are members of co-operative societies.
Speaking during the function County Executive Member Esther Mutai (Co-operative & Enterprise Development) said that her department has audited over half of the 370 co-operative societies in the county.
Also present during the event were CECM Education Joseph Kurgat, MCA Edwin Maraswo (Chair Co-operative & Enterprise Committee), Hon Jeruto Barbengi, Samora Machel , Chief Officers Pius Kigen, Joseph Maritim ( Youth) ,Simeon Kemei ( environment), and Julius Rotich ( Agriculture)
Later on, the team led by Governor Mandago visited Eldoret Rescue Centre where they planted 350 tree seedlings and donated foodstuff to the children at the facility.
