Siaya County Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building a productive, profitable, resilient and inclusive agricultural economy through targeted investments in farmer institutions, irrigation infrastructure, value addition, and youth-led agribusiness initiatives.
Speaking during the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) Day 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 for all Siaya markets, aimed at strengthening farmer support systems and improving safety standards across the county’s agricultural value chains.
The event also featured the swearing-in of 150 Young Agripreneurs who will support agricultural extension services and enhance farmer outreach at the grassroots level.
Governor Orengo noted that agriculture remains the backbone of Siaya’s economy, contributing nearly 60 percent of the county’s Gross County Product, estimated at approximately KSh 9.2 billion annually.
“It is an important moment for reflection on whether agriculture can truly become the foundation of broad-based economic transformation in our county. My answer is yes, but only if we move from viewing agriculture as a subsistence activity to recognizing it as a strategic economic sector driven by productivity, enterprise, resilience and markets,” he said.
He added that Siaya County is leveraging its fertile soils, reliable rainfall patterns, Lake Victoria resources and hardworking farming communities to unlock higher productivity through structured investment, stronger farmer organizations and value addition.
The Governor highlighted that the county has established Community Driven Development Committees across all 30 wards and onboarded 30 SACCOs alongside 13 Farmer Producer Organizations to strengthen institutional coordination and improve access to markets.
Support to SACCOs through inclusion grants exceeding KSh 25 million has enhanced governance structures, expanded financial inclusion, and improved access to affordable credit for farmers.
Governor Orengo further pointed to key NAVCDP-backed investments, including the construction of the Siriwo Rice Mill paddy curing and storage facility valued at over KSh 40 million, as well as the Kogonga–Kayundi Irrigation Project valued at more than KSh 29 million.
“These investments are not isolated interventions. They are part of a deliberate strategy to build a modern, resilient and commercially viable agricultural economy,” he said.
Siaya County Chief Officer for Agriculture, Elizabeth Adongo, said the county is also implementing soil intelligence mapping through the collection of approximately 2,600 soil samples across all wards. The initiative is expected to improve fertilizer efficiency, crop suitability and overall productivity.
Adongo emphasized that agriculture must evolve beyond production to include markets, financing, value addition and strong institutional frameworks.
“Production without markets creates vulnerability. Production without value addition limits income. That is why we must emphasize organization, enterprise and market systems,” she said.
The county government reiterated its commitment to working closely with the national government, development partners, the private sector and farmer institutions to expand irrigation, strengthen market systems, promote agro-processing and enhance participation of youth and women in agribusiness.
