Kisumu: Governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo on Wednesday witnessed the signing of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Vihiga County government and the Cereals Growers Association (CGA), aimed at transforming local agriculture from subsistence to agribusiness.

According to Kenya News Agency, the Growers Association, a national non-profit, member-based organisation, supports farmers through access to information, technology, and market linkages to strengthen farming as an enterprise. Speaking during the event, Dr. Ottichilo noted that the partnership will promote the adoption of modern farming technologies and innovative models to enhance productivity and profitability among farmers.

The governor emphasized that the county is keen on introducing demonstration farms and structured implementation mechanisms to ensure effective execution of the agreement. "Farmers must change the way they practice agriculture by embracing new technologies and business-oriented models that can create jobs and improve livelihoods," he stated. He added that the MoU outlines a clear framework for collaboration, including an implementation mechanism to guide joint activities over the five-year period.

Dr. Ottichilo expressed optimism that the initiative will attract more youth to agriculture by positioning it as a viable business venture. With support from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, CGA is already working with smallholder farmers in Vihiga on sustainable agriculture and inclusive market initiatives.

Farmers are being trained on soil fertility management, post-harvest handling, digital tools, enterprise development, and climate-smart agriculture practices such as crop-livestock integration, water conservation, and resilience to drought and floods. The programme also promotes value chain development by encouraging the cultivation of suitable crops, enhancing access to mechanisation, and linking farmers to reliable markets to reduce post-harvest losses.

The MoU further provides for collaboration in policy support, capacity building, knowledge exchange, youth and women empowerment, mentorship, governance, and resource mobilization to sustainably grow the county agricultural sector.