By Bob Aston
Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN)
through Ng’arua Maarifa Centre, with support from the Ford Foundation,
initiated the formation of the Co-operative to help farmers bulk produce,
particularly maize.
The co-operative has formed strategic
alliances with organizations in public and private sector including; ALIN,
Netherlands Development Organization (SNV), Kenya Seed Company Ltd, MEA Ltd,
EAGC, Kilimo Biashara, Department of Co-operative in the Ministry of
Industrialization and Enterprise Development, Ministry of Agriculture,
Livestock and Fisheries, Co-operative Bank and Agriculture Sector Support
Program (ASDSP).
Bett Kipsang who was instrumental in
the formation of the co-operative said that initially most farmers did not know
whether to form a self help group, community based organization or
co-operative. They had to do a series of meetings with the provincial
administration and church leaders in order to come up with the co-operative.
He urged the co-operative officials
to now look at sustainability of the business. He said that more farm inputs
should be provided by the co-operative as seeds and fertilizers are seasonal
hence need to increase other inputs.
Laikipia Produce and Marketing
Cooperative Society which was started in 2013 by farmers in Sipili Division,
Laikipia West is set to commemorate one year since it was formed next month.
The co-operative currently has 286 members with males being 178 while females
are 108.
The co-operative has already supplied
60 tonnes of fertilizer worth Ksh 3,300,000 and 23.456 tonnes of seeds worth
Ksh 3,166,560 to farmers in Sipili.
ALIN Deputy Director addressing co-op members during a past function |
ALIN is currently offering advisory
support services, capacity building, information access and empowerment to the
members of the Co-operative.
Kanja Waweru, Chairman Laikipia
Produce and Marketing Co-operative Society said that they have made great
strides in addressing problems facing farmers like sale of fake seeds, fake
fertilizer and lack of market.
Kanja said that the co-operative has
been registered as agents of Kenya Seed Company Ltd. This he said has enabled
them to buy seeds directly from the company.
He said that they are now in the
process of receiving warehouse Receipt System certification from Eastern Africa
Grain Council (EAGC). This he said will reduce uncertainty and enhance
efficiency in cereal marketing.
“We established the cooperative in
order to address the problem of exploitation by middlemen who buy our maize
cheaply when we harvest it, only to sell it at a much higher price a few months
later,” said Kanja.
Kanja said that the co-operative has
partnered with ALIN, MEA Ltd, Kenya Seed Company Ltd and Ministry of
Agriculture to set up five (5) demonstration plots which are now being used to
train farmers on best farming practices.
Kanja said that they are now seeking
to source for better markets for their members as well as provision of inputs,
value addition, training and capacity building for producer groups, establishment
of financing and welfare and agency banking.
Sam Mwangi from ALIN addressing members during a past function |
“Lack of market has significantly been
addressed by Sokopepe Ltd. Most of the members have been connected to buyers
through SOKO+ and they have also been able to access commodity prices from
major markets from the same platform,” said Kanja.
Kanja said that all the members of
the co-operative are now having their farm records automated through Farm
Record Management Information System (FARMIS-Kenya). This he said will help the
members have access to various reports which highlight husbandry practices,
market trends, weather conditions and on farm challenges.
Some of the objectives of the
co-operative include; To improve economic welfare of members, to link farmers
to markets and other business opportunities, to train and build capacities of
farmers to adopt good agricultural practices, to increase access of quality,
quantity and timely farm input supplies to farmers, to maximize profits by
adding value to produce and to improve financial base of the cooperative and
services to farmers.
Kanja addressing the co-operative members during a past function |
“We explained to the community the
need to form a co-operative until they agreed to join. It was not a simple
process as it took a long time to mobilize the community,” said Bett.
Bett said that the history of co-operative
movement in Kenya has not been good as the sector has always been riddled with
scandals. He said this discouraged most farmers from joining co-operatives.
“We had to convince the community
that the co-operative will be different from others as they will be transparent
and all members will be involved in decision making,” said Bett.
Bett said that the co-operative
should be alive to the fact that members expect a lot from them thus they
should strive to ensure that they sustain the confidence of the members.
Noah Koinett, officer in charge of
Agribusiness, Ministry of Agriculture, Sipili Division said that the Ministry
is proud of what the co-operative has achieved within a year. Noah said that
most of the issues that led to the formation of the co-operative have been
addressed or are in the process of being addressed.
Some of the members carrying certified hybrid seeds |
“The management should try to ensure
members continue buying shares as this is the backbone of the co-operative,”
said Noah.
Tabitha Wanjiru, a member of the
co-operative said that this year she has managed to get certified seeds as well
as fertilizer from the co-operative. Tabitha is proud of the achievements of
the co-operative as she said that they have achieved a lot within a short time.
“Various trainings have been
organized for us by ALIN through the co-operative. The trainings have really
empowered us as we are implementing what we were taught in our farms,” said
Tabitha.
Tabitha has given a quarter of an
acre for a demonstration plot. She expects to be able to practice Kilimo
Biashara after learning through the various trainings that will be conducted at
the demo plot.
“Bulk producing is helping us as a
co-operative as we are now able to reap maximum benefits from maize farming.
Soon all the members will be able to improve their livelihood,” said Tabitha.
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