Over 100 Rice Farmers in Siaya County Receive FFLoCA Funding

The famers whose Sh 5.2 million proposal was approved by County FLLoCA teams have resorted to invest the resources on rice project.

The funds will facilitate the procurement on rice seeds, fertilizers, chemicals and mechanisation services.

“Too much rains on the upstream has cost devastating effects on the lives of residents at the lower stream that’s why people whose farms are close to river gets affected with floods. So the idea to expand lands under rice production it’s the better option interms of floods control.

According to said some 18 acres of land in the 93 acres earmaked for the project needs levelling that’s why we requests for the funds to be availed to support such initiatives.

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Already we are done with drainage that allows water to flow freely in the famers and National Irrigation Authority (NIA) has agreed to let water in our farms so we only awaits for the inputs.

The area is suitable for the project.

According to Alfred Oduor, a member of Siriwo rice cooperative society, we had Uhembo, Nyadheho and Huingi but we chose Nyamburi for it’s ready infrastructure.

“The project will support 53 women and 40 youths who are offering direct and indirect services

Oduor spoke on Thursday when they were visited by one of the donors(KfW) funding FLLoCA program and County FLLOCA coordinators.

According to chair of Tatro fish and fingerlings production Caleb Buyu, the project hosted in Tatro Primary school in Yala Township ward started in 2015 and it was funded by Jica.

“The aquaculture project was done by school and it helped feed the school and it stalled during the era of COVID 19 that’s why we did a proposal of KES 5.2 million to revive it.

“We want to take approach of business so that it get sustained. The fish project will involves 20 ponds,” said Buyu.

He added that when project thrives, it will be sold and resources shall be ploughed back to sustain it.

“We shall restock the fingerlings for cut fish and tilapia. On top of the fish ponds, will have paultry project and the droppings if the chicken will help fertilize the ponds for plantons to grow so that it gets fed on by the fish,” said Buyu.

“We shall prepare a business plan. Will sell the harvests and put resources in bank then later, will do books of the accounts and decide on what to plough back to the project.

The Kfw-German Development Bank Represantative Armin Fleisher and his Kenyans Counterpart Priscilla Kinyari lauded the projects prioritized by Siaya saying they are impactful.

“We are happy that the 22 projects prioritized in Siaya has met the guard lines for FLLoCA.

Project manager Abraham Barsosio expressed optism that Siaya will be part of the performing counties on FLLoCA.

“We are here in Usonga to establish weather the projects came from the grounds and it’s owned by the people,” said

“We are also here to establish if women and youths are part of the FLLOCA programe.

“Should you spend the money prudently and projects yield impactful results, then be sure of getting more money. We released Sh 168 million and it’s a result oriented fund. 

“We don’t want to rely on theories on FLLoCA that’s why we came on the ground,”

The rice and aquaculture project are two of the 22 projects being funded by Sh 168 million remitted to the accounts of County government of Siaya under FLLoCA.

“The vetting and screening of the projects are done and right now, we are concluding tendering of the projects,” said Water and Environment executive Prof. Jacqueline Oduol.

Prof Oduol said environment impact assessment and screening of the project safeguards were done.

Environment Chief officer Michael Oliech and Director Environment Gabriel Oduong’ were part of the teams that joined donor in the project trips.