The County Government of Uasin Gishu, through the Department of Agriculture, commenced a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation exercise on Wednesday to assess the high-value seedlings distributed to farmers throughout the County.

The initiative aims to ensure that the farmers are effectively utilizing the seedlings and to evaluate their overall progress in high-value crops.

On the first day of the monitoring activity, officials visited several beneficiary groups in Kesses Sub-County, Cheptiret/Kipchamo, Tulwet/Chuiyat, and Tarakwa Wards.

The County’s commitment to enhancing agricultural productivity and improving farmers’ livelihoods was evident as the teams engaged directly with the farmers to collect feedback about their experiences with the coffee seedlings.

Director Agribusiness, Mr. Joel Rutto, led the monitoring teams in Cheptiret/Kipchamo and Tulwet/Chuiyat Wards, assessing the growth and health of the coffee plants, offered technical support and provided crucial insights into best practices for coffee cultivation.

“We are here to ensure that the farmers are supported and to monitor the progress of the coffee seedlings we distributed. Our goal is to enhance the quality and yield of coffee production in the county,” Mr. Rutto stated during the visit.

Simultaneously, Coffee Officer Mr. Nicholas Maritim led a separate team to Tarakwa Ward, where he similarly examined the coffee plants and engaged with farmers about their challenges and successes.

“Our role is to ensure that farmers have the necessary resources and knowledge to maximize the benefits of farming. Through this monitoring exercise, we can identify the areas where farmers may need additional support,” he explained.

The monitoring activity is part of a broader strategy by the Uasin Gishu County Government to boost agricultural productivity and diversify farming practices.

High-value crop farming has been identified as a key economic driver that can significantly contribute to the livelihoods of local farmers and the county’s economy.

Feedback collected from the farmers during these visits will be analyzed to inform future agricultural programs and interventions. According to Ruto, Initiatives like these are critical in laying the groundwork for sustainable growth and development in the farming sector.

Titus Tirop Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and Lilian Marus Agriculture HR among present during the exercise.