The County Government of Siaya is making strides to strengthen the Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) School Feeding Programme by sourcing food directly from local farmers.
Today, the Department of Agriculture, Food Security, Livestock and Blue Economy held a joint meeting with the Department of Education, Gender, Youth Affairs and Social Services to discuss plans to promote agribusiness in the county. The two departments aim to support small-scale farmers by buying locally grown sorghum, millet, rice, and soya to supply ECDE centres across all wards in Siaya.
The county is looking to purchase 200 tonnes of sorghum, 30 tonnes of millet, as well as substantial amounts of rice and soya. Farmers will be paid competitive prices, with sorghum going for Ksh 45 per kilogram, millet at Ksh 50, soya at Ksh 50, and broken rice also at Ksh 50.
To ease the collection and ensure smooth supply, aggregation sites will be set up in every ward. These centres will serve as drop-off points where farmers can deliver their harvests without travelling long distances. This move is expected to boost the income of small-scale farmers while ensuring a steady supply of nutritious food for young learners.
The county government hopes that by linking local food production to the school feeding programme, it will not only enhance nutrition for ECDE learners but also open new market opportunities for farmers, promote food security, and support economic growth within the communities.