Introduction
Murang'a County has transformed its agricultural support system from an inefficient cash subsidy program to the comprehensive Inua Mkulima Support Program. This initiative focuses on developing four key value chains: milk, mango, sorghum, and maize.
For maize production, the program registered 57,975 farmers in the KIAMIS database and provided each with 2kg of certified maize seeds, 8kg of planting fertilizer, and 8kg of top-dressing fertilizer. Seeds were sourced from reputable institutions like KALRO and Simlaw Seeds, with varieties carefully selected to match different climatic zones within the County.
The program established strategic partnerships to ensure market access, including an agreement with Joy Millers Limited to purchase maize at KES 3,500 per 90-kg bag and with EABL for sorghum farmers.
A significant innovation is the Inua Mkulima Card, developed in partnership with Cooperative Bank of Kenya, which replaces the previous cash subsidy system. The card allows farmers to access essential goods and services worth KES 2,400 per quarter, including agricultural inputs, food, school fees, and hospital bills. Hospital support began in October 2024 following the July 2024 rollout of the Social Health Insurance Fund.
The card system provides the County Government with valuable real-time expenditure data, enabling more informed decision-making and better planning for future agricultural interventions.
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