Siaya County Government has reiterated its commitment to transforming agriculture into a productive, profitable, resilient and inclusive economic sector through strategic investments in farmer institutions, irrigation development, value addition, and youth engagement in agribusiness.
Speaking during the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) Day held in Siaya County, Governor H.E. James Orengo presided over the issuance of cheques to Cooperative Societies, SACCOs and Farmer Producer Organizations.
He also flagged off personal protective equipment destined for markets across the county, aimed at enhancing safety and strengthening agricultural support systems at the grassroots level.
The event further featured the swearing-in of 150 Young Agripreneurs, who will be deployed to support extension services and strengthen farmer outreach in various wards.
Governor Orengo emphasized that agriculture remains the pillar of Siaya’s economy, contributing close to 60 percent of the Gross County Product, estimated at about KSh 9.2 billion annually.
He stressed the need for a shift in mindset, noting that agriculture must be viewed not as a subsistence activity but as a strategic enterprise capable of driving broad-based economic transformation.
“This is a moment for reflection on whether agriculture can truly become the foundation of inclusive economic transformation. My view is that it can, but only if we treat it as a sector driven by productivity, enterprise, resilience and strong market systems,” he said.
The Governor noted that Siaya County is capitalizing on its fertile soils, consistent rainfall, Lake Victoria resources and active farming communities to boost production through improved organization, investment and value addition.
He further highlighted that the county has established Community Driven Development Committees in all 30 wards and integrated 30 SACCOs alongside 13 Farmer Producer Organizations to enhance institutional coordination and market access.
Through inclusion grants exceeding KSh 25 million, the county has strengthened SACCO governance structures, expanded financial inclusion, and improved farmers’ access to affordable credit.
Governor Orengo also pointed to major NAVCDP-supported projects, including the Siriwo Rice Mill paddy curing and storage facility valued at over KSh 40 million and the Kogonga–Kayundi Irrigation Project valued at more than KSh 29 million, as key drivers of agricultural modernization.
“These are not isolated projects. They represent a coordinated strategy to build a resilient and commercially viable agricultural economy,” he said.
Siaya County Chief Officer for Agriculture, Elizabeth Adongo, said the county is undertaking soil intelligence mapping through the collection of approximately 2,600 soil samples across all wards to guide fertilizer use, improve crop suitability and enhance productivity.
She noted that sustainable agricultural growth must integrate production with markets, financing, value addition and strong institutional systems.
“Without markets, production is vulnerable. Without value addition, incomes remain low. We must therefore focus on enterprise development, organization and market linkages,” she said.
The county government reaffirmed its commitment to working with the national government, development partners, private sector actors and farmer institutions to expand irrigation, strengthen agro-processing, improve market systems and promote greater participation of youth and women in agribusiness.
