NCCK Empowering Pyrethrum Farmers on Grievances Loop
The National Council of Churches of Kenya(NCCK) has sensitized 164 Pyrethrum farmers in Nyandarua County on how to voice their concerns, and curb exploitation by middlemen.
During trainings held in Engineer, Njambini and Kipipiri in Nyandarua County, NCCK raised awareness among the farmers on the importance of asserting their rights, and the appropriate avenues for lodging grievances and receiving feedback.
The farmers were provided with contacts for airing their grievances and feedback.
In the grievances and feedback loop, one reaches out to the field officers, with the option of escalating to higher levels if the issue is not attended to. The higher levels are the Ward Agricultural Officers, then the Sub-County Agricultural Officers, then the Deputy Director of Agriculture, then the County Director of Agriculture, then the County Executive Committee (CEC) member responsible for agriculture, and eventually the Agricultural Food Authority.
The training of the farmers in Nyandarua, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot and Nakuru counties is part of an ambitious project by NCCK in partnership with Dan Church Aid (DCA) and an off-taker to revive pyrethrum farming and value chain in the country.
Dubbed the “Daisy Project”, the initiative is aimed at empowering farmers to contribute to a more inclusive, equitable, and responsive pyrethrum value chain. This is being achieved by bolstering pyrethrum farmer groups and sub county Pyrethrum Growers Forums, and creation of strong caucuses in the counties.
