Uasin Gishu County Agriculture and Livestock minister Cyril Cheruiyot has urged farmers to join co-operative societies to benefit from money meant for co-operatives.
Speaking in his office on Wednesday, Cheruiyot said co-operatives are vehicles that mobilise resources and offer loans to farmers at subsidised rates.
"In this financial year, Sh70 million has been allocated to revive and strengthen co-operatives in Uasin Gishu County,” he said.
He said they have started disbursing the funds to registered co-operative societies in an effort to create wealth, jobs and improve farmers’ livelihoods.
"We have also started training farmers on how to put the monies into good use to improve production and market-base," he said.
He said the training also aims to prevent misuse since they will have to pay back the funds.
"I urge farmers if they want to get inputs at subsidised rates, loans at five per cent, improved methods of farming, then co-operative societies is the way to go," he said.
He challenged farmers to use the county co-operatives officers to ask them on what to do when faced with difficulties and get advice in running their societies.
"Farmers should take advantage and apply for the funds which will reduce their cost of production and increase productivity,” he said.