Page 44 - Issue 48_press_efile

FINANCE AND INVESTMENTS
Loan enables farmers SETUP
irrigation system
By Salome Mwatha
Small scale farmers in Makueni County
are targeting to boost production
of French beans following the launch
of an irrigation system, made possible
through lending by the World Council
of Credit Unions (WOCCU) and the
Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Co-
operatives (KUSCCO).
The farmers, who are members of
the Kanoto Horticultural Farmers’ Co-
operative, will benefit from the system
consisting of a borehole and a solar
pump.
Speaking during the launch of the
system, World Council CDP Director
Jean Thiboutot lauded KUSCCO and
WOCCU for the support, enabling the
people of Kanoto to have enough water
to build their community.
“It is always inspiring to see our CDP
projects result in financial products
and services people can easily access
and utilize to improve their quality of
life,” said Thiboutot. “This irrigation
system will enable farmers to grow their Finance Fund Manager Grace Muiruri
businesses and help provide for their
families.”
The Co-operative, with over 90 members,
financed the construction of the
system through ‘Kilimo’ a loan product
42| SACCO Star Magazine
developed by WOCCU in collaboration
with KUSCCO through a USAID Co-
operative Development Program.
KUSCCO Group’s Advocacy Manager
Mercy Njeru, speaking on behalf of the
Managing Director Mr George Ototo,
said KUSCCO will continue working with
Kanoto Farmers to help them venture
into viable programs that will continue
uplifting the community.
“What we have demonstrated with the
little water you have is a great indication pumps as part of a Smart Water product
that you can now do more,” she said.
Njeru said the borehole will benefit
over 2000 members in the community,
urging them to plant trees in order to
promote agribusiness activities.
She added that KUSCCO will train the
farmers to form a SACCO so that they
can benefit more as a SACCO and access
other products offered by the Union.
On her part, KUSCCO Group’s Central
urged members to patronize the Smart
Water products offered by the umbrella
body for SACCOs.
The Fund, through the KILIMO product,
lends to SACCOs, which can then lend to
small farmers.
In addition, the Union also provides
training materials for SACCOs and trains
farmers on value chain, and access to
suppliers and markets.
It also includes loan methodologies
and applications for underwriting
agricultural loans as well as loan
insurance for small, rural producers
to protect against climate, pest and
production issues.
SACCOs can access loans for solar
from KUSCCO.
Muendo Muli, Kanoto Farmers Co-
operatives chairperson urged KUSCCO to
continue training the Society on forming
a Savings and Credit Co-operative.
“We appreciate the good work, unit,
support and training given to the
Society members and we look forward
to our Society being made a centre
of excellence for Makueni County in
Horticultural farming,” he said.
Kanoto Horticultural Farmers Society,
based in Makueni Couny, was started
in the 1990s with a membership of 30
aiming to practice horticultural farming
and find a market for French beans to
avoid brokers.