UNIVERSITY OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES THE KENYA RURAL TRANSFORMATION DIGITAL CENTERS PLATFORM (KRTDCP) PROJECT IN NAKURU COUNTY – MAY 2023

The Co-operative University has officially launched the Kenya Rural Transformation Centres Digital Platform (KRTCDP) project which aims at putting farmers at the centre of a single electronic “ecosystem” and connecting them with all the sectors in the agricultural value chain. Speaking at the official launching ceremony on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Nakuru County, the Agricultural Secretary, State Department of Crop Development Mr. Josphat Muhunyu noted that the government is keen on ensuring that farmers are able to gain maximum returns from their produce. He lauded the University for mooting and getting funding for this great project noting that  “The university through this project is keen on developing African Solutions for African challenges.”

The Co-operative University has officially launched the Kenya Rural Transformation Centres Digital Platform (KRTCDP) project which aims at putting farmers at the centre of a single electronic “ecosystem” and connecting them with all the sectors in the agricultural value chain. Speaking at the official launching ceremony on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Nakuru County, the Agricultural Secretary, State Department of Crop Development Mr. Josphat Muhunyu noted that the government is keen on ensuring that farmers are able to gain maximum returns from their produce. He lauded the University for mooting and getting funding for this great project noting that  “The university through this project is keen on developing African Solutions for African challenges.”

The Co-operative University has officially launched the Kenya Rural Transformation Centres Digital Platform (KRTCDP) project which aims at putting farmers at the centre of a single electronic “ecosystem” and connecting them with all the sectors in the agricultural value chain. Speaking at the official launching ceremony on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Nakuru County, the Agricultural Secretary, State Department of Crop Development Mr. Josphat Muhunyu noted that the government is keen on ensuring that farmers are able to gain maximum returns from their produce. He lauded the University for mooting and getting funding for this great project noting that  “The university through this project is keen on developing African Solutions for African challenges.”

The KRTCDP project which is to be implemented by The Co-operative University of Kenya has been supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) through the Fund for Africa Private Sector Assistance (FAPA). The pilot phase of the project will be implemented in Nakuru, Baringo, and Narok counties, with an initial focus on maize, Irish potatoes, and dairy.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof Kamau Ngamau, in his opening remarks, commended the team from the university for the initiative and progress made by the project noting that it fits in very well with the government’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) that is aimed at transforming the lives from the bottom. “I am delighted that we are launching the KRTCDP project that is designed to enable smallholder farmers to connect to all critical players in the agricultural forward and backward value chains. Through the shared digital platform, farmers will be able to easily engage input suppliers, agro-dealers, financiers, insurance agencies, marketers, and buyers, among other service providers, on a mobile phone platform.”

Prof Isaac Nyamongo, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Co-operative Development, Research and Innovation (DVC-ACDRI), in his remarks, reiterated that the KRTCDP projects goal is that of increasing productivity, profitability, and sustainability of agricultural cooperatives and consequently impacting the entire agriculture/food trade value chain and spurring holistic growth across the agricultural sector. He further appreciated the African Development Bank for funding the project and the consultants who have been selected to develop the platform.

The project is expected to be completed in 3 years and will culminate in the official launch of the complete digital platform.