Isiolo signs MOU with KCIC on EU funded AgriBiz programme
Isiolo County Governor Dr. Mohammed Abdi Kuti, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC) with the aim of promoting the growth and development of the agribusiness sector in Isiolo through provision of financing and capacity development assistance to youth and women-led Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Following the signing of this MOU the County Government of Isiolo and KCIC will collaborate through AgriBiz to identify and analyse funding gaps, institutional challenges and key impediments in the agribusiness sector in Isiolo and the surrounding counties of Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Samburu. The gaps and challenges identified will be addressed through an incubation programme embedded with the AgriBiz programme. A Business Incubation Hub (BIH) will be established in Isiolo to train and empower the beneficiaries of the agribusiness programme with key skills to grow their own enterprises.
“The signed partnership sets out two key areas of collaboration: it will on one hand ensure ease of access to resources and training by the SMEs and on the other hand open opportunities for unemployed youth and women to venture into agribusiness,” H.E Simon Mordue, the European Union Ambassador to Kenya, said. “The Business Incubation Hub to be established will be geared towards preparing, nurturing and growing businesses to take full advantage of new emerging market frontiers in agriculture, both locally and internationally.”
The signing is in line with both parties’ emphasis on agribusiness and value addition as key ingredients for supporting small-scale farmers and more importantly as an avenue for employment-creation and economic development in the country. The agreement will also be instrumental in promoting blended financing to trigger appetite and demystify concerns for youth and women to embrace farming as a business.
The Danish Ambassador to Kenya, H.E Ole Thonke said, “I am very pleased to see this MOU in place as it paves the way for great synergy for promoting agribusiness. Agribusiness promises a better future for the younger generation and women. However, to get them involved requires the development of innovative models and finding ways of enhancing their enterprises’ capacity to access resources and finances.”
Dr. Mohammed Abdi Kuti, termed the partnership as a pacesetter, hailing it as the much-needed saviour that will reduce the high level of relief food dependency among county residents.
“Our mode of practicing agribusiness is quite different because our region is mainly semi-arid. We will therefore leverage on this partnership to support youth and women who have very innovative agricultural practices to help put this county on the frontline when it comes to contributing to the national food basket,” the Governor said.
Despite the ongoing on-and off-farm efforts to increase climate resilience in Isiolo, farmers’ adaptive capacity remains low and agricultural yields have continued to decrease over the past years. Limited access to water resources, farm inputs, and services, unaffordable productive technologies and decline in the quality and quantity of natural resources (water, pastures) have led to inconsistent and uneven adoption of sustainable agricultural practices in the region.
“We have seen the harsh economic times and the attempts to fight food insecurity making nomadic communities in Isiolo and the surrounding counties shift from herding to crop production and other agricultural practices. We are enthusiastic that this partnership will strengthen and advance such diversity and continue to promote excellence in agribusiness while at the same time maintaining the interests and activities of the societies,” Dr. Edward Mungai, the Chief Executive Officer at KCIC has said.
Learn more about the AgriBiz programme on the AgriBiz Kenya Website
