The government has reiterated its commitment to driving transformative agricultural reforms that respond directly to the needs of rural communities.

Agriculture Principal Secretary Kipronoh Ronoh welcomed the $126.8 million (about Sh16.48 billion) concessional loan from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to implement Integrated Natural Resources Management Programmer (INReMP).

“The goal of the INReMP is to contribute to improving the food, nutrition and income security of rural households within a sustainable and resilient ecosystem,” he explained.

The PS spoke during the ceremony undertaken by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and Sara Mbago-Bhunu, IFAD Regional Director for East and Southern Africa in Nairobi.

The eight-year project to be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development further focuses to uplift rural communities through climate-smart sustainable agriculture.

Ronoh announced that the programme will initially be rolled out across ten counties: Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Kakamega, Kericho, Kisumu, Homa Bay, and Migori.

He noted that this targeted implementation aims to empower rural communities by strengthening their resilience through integrated natural resource management and sustainable economic opportunities.

“This investment reflects our commitment to inclusive growth and responsible stewardship of our environment. We deeply appreciate the support of IFAD and other partners, and we pledge to ensure the programme’s timely and impactful implementation,” said Ronoh.

He said the investment aligns with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and underscores its determination to empower rural communities through integrated natural resource management.