Our Mandate Agriculture, crop and animal husbandry;Livestock sale yards; County abattoirs; plant and animal disease control; Fisheries, Veterinary services (excluding regulation of the profession), Storm water management systems inbuilt-up areas; water and sanitation services. Animal control and welfare, including—licensing of dogs; and facilities for the accommodation, care and burial of animals..

Mandate

• Agriculture, crop and animal husbandry;
• Livestock sale yards
• County abattoirs; plant and animal disease control
• Fisheries
• Veterinary services (excluding regulation of the profession)
• Storm water management systems inbuilt-up areas; water and sanitation services.
• Animal control and welfare, including—licensing of dogs; and facilities for the accommodation, care and burial of animals.

Agriculture and food security

This pillar is meant to improve livelihoods of Migori county community through promotion of competitive and sustainable agriculture sub-sectors, growth of a viable, equitable distribution and sustainable management of natural resources.

Future Aquaculture plans

• Support existing farmers to produce 5 million quality fingerlings in the near future.

Planned activities in aquaculture

• Support fish farmers to construct 1500 new fish ponds by the year 2017.
• Support fish Farmers in Rongo and Uriri with simple feed pelletizing machines to produce 40 tonnes of fish feeds per year by 2017.
• Construction of a Fisheries (Aquaculture) research and training centre in the County
• Enhance farmed fish production to sustainably supply the mini fish processing plant at Rongo
• Construct a Fish Hatchery in the County for sustainable supply of quality fingerlings

Future Plans in Capture Fisheries

• Construction of 10 modern fish landing sites to reduce post-harvest losses
• Construction a cold store/ice making machine sites to reduce post-harvest losses
• Construction of 3 modern open fish markets in the County.
• Completion of a Fish Auction centre at Mauro-Bay

Expected Output

From the input supplies of 802,000 fingerlings and 1535 bags of fish feeds, it is expected that the production of fish will increase by 16.04 tonnes this financial year (2014-15)

Public private partnership in the sector

• SOYA BEANS: Office of Deputy President provided 16 Tons of seeds and Agriculture directorate implemented the initiative.
• CASSAVA: Ministry of Agriculture (National Government-Kilimo HQ) funded (KSh.1.6M) proposal by directorate to bulk 255 acres (5 acres at Miyare ATC and 250 acres with farmers. Each farmer planted a quarter acre of cassava cuttings
• Lower Kuja Irrigation Project: National Irrigation Board and Directorate of Agriculture partner in Nyatike Sub-County
• GREEN HOUSE TECHNOLOGY: AMIRAN provide demonstration kits for the directorate.

Rice sustainability

• FIAP each beneficiary pays a commitment fee of KSh. 1,000 to discourage a handout mentality and improve ownership.
• Cereal bank strategy: farmers preserve their harvest in order to sell at peak price periods thereby earning more income.
• Rice farmers are organized to form associations or cooperatives to bulk their own seed
• To promote upland rice the County has bought and installed three rice mills
• Water pans: Committees are nominated and trained on water pan management and use. These committees organize their communities to contribute small amounts of money to maintain the pans.

Soya Sustainability

• Sustainability in Soya: Farmers are contracted by FRESHCO who supply quality seed to farmers while Equatorial Nut Processors buy the produce from farmers. More market is enhanced through training on local consumption.

Tissue Culture Bananas Sustainability

• Tissue Culture bananas are given only to farmers who have prepared right planting holes for the suckers to ensure proper survival of the seedlings. Once planted these seedlings have to be well maintained and passed on to other farmers for faster spread within the community.

Subsidized tractor hire services

Tractor Hire Services are subsidized to farmers to such a level that ensures the tractors are self-maintained.

Future project sustainability

The future plans to ensure sustainability is ensured through developed County Integrated Development Plan, stakeholder involvements and lobbying for investors in the sector

Innovativeness

• Ownership of projects and programmes: Farmer contribution of KSh. 1000 for Farm Input Access Programme, Payment of KSh 50 for Fruit seedlings at County Fruit tree nursery.
• Bulking of cassava among farmers for proper maintenance and faster spread at reduced expense.
• Raising vegetable seedlings in pots to evade harsh soil and weather conditions and be ready at onset of rains.