ACT program officer-Kenya (Peter Kuria), Mr. Mwailu (CEO-Mwailu enterprises), Agricultural extension officers (Mr. Muchangi and Mr. Ondimu) and I had the pleasure of meeting with farmers in laikipia East and Central Sub-counties. Six meetings which started on 17th and ended on 24th may 2014 were held primarily to train farmers on CA principles and practices, address the problem of produce marketing and inputs access. This activity falls under (CA4FS) project which is being implemented by ACT and funded by AGRA.
On Day 1 (Sat 17th May 2014) I and Peter Kuria backstopped 3 demonstration plots in Matanya Location in Laikipia Central Sub-County to see their performance and later attended an annually held community celebration meeting during which Mr. Peter Kuria showcased CA equipment’s , gave out ACT calendars, bronchures and Case studies to the community leaders. Laikipia county Women representative (Hon. Apollo) was present in this meeting and thanked ACT for its continued effort to improve food security in the area through CA technology.
Inadequate produce market was cited as one of the major challenges many smallholder farmers in Laikipia county face. This is a huddle that ACT is working hard to help farmers in Laikipia County, Kenya overcome. The problem is many-fold: Poor infrastructure and barriers in penetrating the market caused by their limited resource base, lack of information, lack of/inadequate support institutions and poor policies among other factors.
Speaking during one of the meeting held in Mwireri Village in Laikipia East, Peter kuria,Programme officer, Kenya informed the farmers that this challenge is set to be addressed once and for all. He added that this will be done through the introduction of contractual farming system between the farmer organizations’ and Mwailu enterprise which is set to roll out today. Mwailu enterprise is a bulk produce buying limited company. Mainly it deals with sorghum, Dolicos Lablab and Maize.
The main speaker in these meetings was the produce buyer, Mr. Mwailu. The farmers came in good volumes as a sign of high interest in wanting to learn CA and securing output markets. Mr Mwailu urged the farmers to practice CA based on its low labor cost and improved yields. He also advised them to go “commercial farming” so as to improve their living standards and shun dependence on relief food from NGO’s and the government of Kenya.
“I thank ACT for linking me to you” Mwailu told farmers. “Contractual agreements will enable you to enjoy various benefits such as: improved household incomes; enhanced access to credit facilities; access to cheap inputs and access to relevant farming tips” Mwailu added.Mr. Mwailu promised to be buying Gadam variety sorghum, Dolicos Lablab and maize from the farmers.
I got an opportunity to train the farmers on CA principles and practices. During the training, farmers took an active role by asking many questions. At one time while training on cover crops I would ask in Swahili “ Nani ako na sehemu ya shamba kwake ambayo imekosa rotuba ya kutosha?” (tra-“who has a piece of land which doesn’t bear anything? ”). All the farmers would raise their hand as a sign of degraded soils in the area. After learning that cover crops such will help replenish their soils they requested to be given small quantity of the cover crop seeds to try in their farms. We gave them 5 seeds of cannavalia and mucuna so that they can plant and produce more seeds to cover their entire farms and that of their neighbors. After the training some farmers expressed their willingness to buy CA equipment's such as Jab planters and weed scrappers in readiness for use in the coming planting season.
In two of our meetings, the farmers visited CA baby demonstration plots after the theoretical training where they observed and compared the CA and the conventional treatments. Crops in the CA treatment looked more vigor with minimal water stress while those in conventional treatment looked less vigor and highly stressed.
The following were the cumulative action plan after the meetings;
ü That Mwailu enterprise (The produce buyer) set a date for a meeting with farmers that will culminate into contract signing with the farmers
ü That the Farmers who attended and have never practiced CA in their farms to do so in the coming season and follow-up is done by the extension officers and the ACT field officer.
ü That ACT technical team will help the farmers access the CA equipment’s through linkage with the manufacturers and local fabricators.
Mr. Peter Kuria (left) giving 2014 ACT calendar to the Laikipa county Women representative Hon. Apollo (right).
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CA4FS lead farmer training farmers who attended the meeting at Nturukuma location in Laikipia East
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Peter Kuria conducting M&E mission for the demonstration plots in Matanya location in Laikipia Central
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| Mr. Mwailu (CEO-Mwailu enterprises) training the farmers on Contractual agreements |
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| Mr. Mwailu displays produce document form which the farmers are expected to be signing after produce delivery |
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| Boniface explaining to farmers how to use ACT calendar as a tool of trade to create awareness in CA |
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| Farmers filling the market survey questionnaire |
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| Farmers receiving Cannavallia and Mucuna cover crop seeds after the meeting |
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| Boniface training the farmers at the demonstration plots in Wiyumiririe location in Laikipia Central |
Peter Kuria demonstrating how to use a Jab planter
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| Peter Kuria (Program officer-Kenya) sensitizing the farmers on contractual agreements. |
Field Office,
African Conservation Tillage Network (ACT),
Laikipia County, Kenya.
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