-H.E Willy Bett, Cabinet Secretary, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries,
-Honorable Governor of Homa Bay County, Governor Cyprian O. Awiti,
-Homa Bay County leadership,
-H.E. Hamilton Orata, Deputy Governor, Homa Bay County
-Rt. Hon. Raila A. Odinga
-Honorable Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Mabibi na mabwana,

Hamjambo!

Habari zenu!

It is my pleasure to be here today for the opening of the Homa Bay Agricultural Show and Trade Fair 2016. This event provides a platform for farmers to create linkages with various stakeholders in the agricultural industry, including private sector, government and development partners. It also offers a platform to promote agricultural entrepreneurship and trade by showcasing new technologies, opportunities and skills.

The theme of this year’s show “Enhancing Technology in Agriculture and Industry for Food Security and National Growth” is in line with USAID’s strategy for Food Security and Economic Empowerment.

Under President Obama’s Feed the Future initiative, USAID is working in the region to address persistent malnutrition, food security and poverty. This is accomplished through our various activities including the Kenya Innovation Engine, the Financial Inclusion for Rural Microenterprises program, the Kenya Agricultural Value Chain program, and our health programs.

Through the Kenya Innovation Engine, USAID has identified innovative agricultural enterprises that have introduced new technologies in agriculture and is continuously supporting them to ensure their growth and sustainability. Today we have with us six of these innovations. To improve the food security situation and reduce poverty in this region, we plan to expand the reach of these innovations in this region to ensure that more farmers are accessing these technologies and embracing a shift from subsistence farming to agribusiness.

To date, the Kenya Innovation Engine has reached over 73,000 rural households and has recorded sales turnover of over 2.8 billion Kenya shillings, which is roughly U.S. $28 million dollars. This is across 16 value chains including dairy and a number of crops such as bananas, green beans, potatoes, tomatoes and other horticultural crops.

Smallholder farmers have recorded increased revenues of over 670 million Kenya shillings after adoption of these technologies.

USAID has supported the Homa Bay County Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) and Investment Portfolio through the USAID/Financial Inclusion for Rural Microenterprises activity (FIRM). This has in turn increased private-sector investment in Homa Bay County while helping Homa Bay County identify and manage resources.

USAID, through the Kenya Agricultural Value Chain Enterprises program, has also supported the Homa Bay county dairy sector as follows:

• More than 60 acres of land planted with fodder;
• Increased milk yield from 5.5 liters at baseline to 7.8 liters per cow per day as a result of farmer training on animal nutrition;
• Trained 17 artificial insemination service providers;
• Linked farmer groups to improve the quality A.I. service delivery;
• Resulting in 1,500 inseminations with an 89 percent success rate as a way of herd improvement.

The U.S. Government, through our partner agencies, is also helping Homa Bay tackle pressing public health challenges through supporting HIV Testing Services and anti-retroviral treatment. Over 90,524 in the county are currently benefiting from this USAID support. That’s only a snapshot of what we’ve accomplished together with the national and county government and the people of Homa Bay. With this background, and looking towards the future, there’s so much more we can all accomplish if we seize new opportunities to partner with one another.

To the representatives of the private sector here today, I invite you to work with us as development players to find ways to creatively invest in the foundations of economic growth – like health, agriculture, energy and education. This, in the long run, will benefit your companies and the people of Homa Bay. Governor Awiti and your County leadership: let’s continue to be innovative and ambitious and find ways in which financial returns for the private sector can be achieved in concert with development impact to drive economic growth for the people of Homa Bay. It is my sincere hope that this trade fair will translate into concrete investment opportunities within Homa Bay.

We urge the County Government of Homa Bay to continue creating an enabling environment for these entrepreneurs/innovators. With this, USAID is clear that more farmers will excel in agriculture as a business, while enhancing the participation of women and youth. More farmers will embrace and access these technologies and new knowledge that makes farming more efficient, profitable and sustainable. I take this chance to congratulate all innovators and stakeholders here present.

It is my sincere hope that this agricultural trade fair will translate into concrete and viable partnerships that will change the lives of the citizens. We at USAID look forward to working with you build on your achievements and realize new ones.

Pamoja tusonge mbele

Asanteni sana.

Thank you.