Nakuru County Agriculture CEC Dr. Immaculate Maina has lauded the support given by stakeholders to the Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) saying is impacting the center greatly.
Speaking during the official opening of the refurbished training facility by Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT) CEO Rebecca Amukhoye and the Royal Danish Embassy, Dr. Maina said that accreditation of the center as an Agriculture Technical Vocational Education and Training institution (ATVET) is a game-changer in offering practical skills to farmers.
The center has been offering training on relevant skill-based agricultural technologies on farming and value addition among others. It will soon offer courses on dairy, aquaculture, horticulture, poultry production, Agri-preneurship and extension services. Rebecca Amukhoye, the CEO MESPT, said that through the refurbished training facility, learning will be upgraded by bringing skill-based training capabilities to farmers, and through the demo sites farmers can now apply technology to their farming activities and improve production. It is among 13 others receiving support from the AgriFi program.
The County, through the AgriFi program and other partners has also come up with a food safety bill to sensitize consumers on food safety. The County is also working on a Nakuru County ATC and Mechanization Fund Regulation to support the center with funding for sustainability. The ATC has also received additional support from partners like Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). They donated ICT equipment adding to the ones donated by MESPT to ease farmer learning and incorporate the use of ICT in agriculture.
Accompanying the CEO was Mr. Charles Wasike the Programme Officer at the Royal Danish Embassy, Chief Officer Mr. Kibet Maina and NFCC coordinator Shelmith Mucoki.
