Laikipia Maize value chain groups trained on by laws development

By Bob Aston

The Agricultural Sector Development Support Programme (ASDSP) organized three different trainings for maize value chain groups (VCG) in Laikipia County. The trainings which ended on May 13, 2015 at Agricultural Mechanical Services (AMS) Hall in Nyahururu saw 43 maize value chain groups trained on by-laws development, group dynamics and leadership among others.

Participants during the Sipili training

The first training was held at Sipili Catholic Church Hall in Ol-Moran Ward while the other two trainings were held at AMS Hall in Nyahururu. The trainings also provided the Maize ASDSP Project Management Team (PMT) members with an opportunity to highlight the progress made in the implementation of the maize concept note titled “Formation, Legalization and Training Maize Value Chain Groups on Post-harvest Management.”

Speaking during one of the training, Peris Mutua, ASDSP Value Chain Development Officer said that ASDSP used a participatory approach to come up with 43 VCGs of 20 farmers or more in Laikipia West and East Sub Counties.

She noted that Laikipia County farmers lose up to 30 percent of maize harvest due to pests, diseases and rotting. Maize value chain in the county also lacks adequate and effective co-ordination due to lack of organizations to champion the collective interests of the value chain players leading to ineffective post-harvest management strategies.

The maize concept note seeks to address the high post-harvest maize losses in the county by reducing it to less than 15 percent.

Mr. Joseph Chege, Sub County Cooperative Officer noted that by laws are rules or law established by an organization, institution or a community to regulate itself. He said that checks and balances should be established in a group to ensure funds are not misappropriated.

Mrs. Peris Mutua addressing participants during one of the trainings

He said that it is important for roles of Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and the other members of management committee to be clearly defined to avoid conflict. He noted that when making the by-laws groups should ensure that membership is not open to people of unsound mind as they are not contractual.

“Bad leadership always comes up when the Chairperson abdicates himself/herself the role of treasurer, Chairman and secretary. It is wrong for group chairperson to be the ones to handle cash as this role is meant for treasurers,” said Mr. Chege.

To register as a self-help, groups are required to submit a copy of their minutes, by laws and a list of members. Performance of groups can be measured through good records, good leadership qualities, sharing of dividends, transparency and accountability and whether set goals are achieved.

Sources of conflicts in groups include; poor leadership; misuse of group funds; lack of vision. Conflicts can be managed through negotiation, mediation, arbitration and legal redress.

The Value chain groups were also trained on group circle stage that include; forming, storming, norming, performing, adjoining and consolidating stage.

ALIN and Laikipia cooperative re-strategizes on foresight of the cooperative

By Bob Aston

The Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) organized a two days planning workshop on May 5-6, 2015 at Ng’arua Maarifa Centre in Sipili town, Ol-Moran Ward to re-strategize and strengthen its partnership with Laikipia Produce and Marketing Co-operative Society. Speaking during the workshop Mr. Anthony Mugo, ALIN Deputy Director said that ALIN will continue capacity building the cooperative members in order to improve their livelihood.

Mr. Mugo addressing the cooperative committee members

Mr. Mugo said that through support from Ford Foundation, the cooperative will be capacity built particularly on how to enhance member’s capacity to harness tomato, tree tomato and maize value chains.

The capacity building trainings will aim to improve the agricultural value chain for members as a way of improving production, enhancing post-harvest care of their produce as well as its quality.

“The members will be capacity build in management, business plan, resource mobilization, how to make use of Sokopepe and see how to take advantage of the market. The cooperative will also be assisted in establishment of three aggregation centers and membership recruitment, “said Mr. Mugo.

The workshop was attended by the cooperative committee members, ALIN, Kilimo Biashara Profilers (KBP) and a cooperative officer.

Mr. Mugo informed the cooperative committee members that the SOKO+ platform will be upgraded and the cooperative members will be trained on SOKO+ SMS platform. This will enable farmers to access commodity prices from major markets as well as farming tips.

Mr. Anthony Githuku, Cooperative officer addressing the cooperative commitee members

The net effect of using SOKO+ is that farmers can reduce their transaction costs, and through commodity aggregation they can have more power for negotiation for better prices, bulk discounting of inputs and further reach into desirable markets.

On his part, Mr. Noah Lusaka, ALIN Project Manager urged all members of the cooperative to join Farm Records Management Information System (FARMIS). He said that use of FARMIS will enable individual cooperative members to identify productivity trends and profitability of different farm enterprises which they can use in decision making.

“Proper record keeping is important as it will help you to know whether you are making a profit or loss. When you keep your records well it will be easier to monitor your farming activities. This will enable you as a farmer to practice agribusiness,” said Mr. Lusaka.

At the end of the two days’ workshop the committee members were able to develop a one year work plan which will guide the operations of the cooperative for the rest of the year.

The Laikipia Produce and Marketing cooperative society emerged from the work undertaken by ALIN through Ng’arua Maarifa Centre with the support of the Ford Foundation’s Expanding Livelihoods for Poor Households Initiative (ELOPHI). It is a vehicle for bulking, marketing and trading in farm commodities and other products and services.

Village aggregation Centre in Sipili to reduce post-harvest losses

By Bob Aston

The Laikipia Produce and Marketing Co-operative Society is in the process of receiving village aggregation Centre certification from the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC). The certification is part of the support provided by EAGC towards ensuring that the cooperative succeeds as a Grain Business Hub (GBH) which is being supported by SNV- Netherlands Development Organization.

A GBH is a business characterized by amalgamation of supportive businesses/services linked to grain business that enables an organization to trade in grains efficiently, effectively and sustainably; and ensures grain suppliers (farmers) access goods and services through check-off system.

It functions as a collective of supportive businesses and services that help the production activities of member farmers. It does this through managing the collection, distribution, and marketing of food products, mainly grains, from farmers and, also, other non-members.

Speaking while touring the cooperative store on May 4, 2015, Mr. Fred Simon Otieno, Program Officer, EAGC Structured Trading Systems noted that the GBH has brought together different partners in the grain value chain.

Maize being sun dried

He said that they are currently on a profiling and ranking exercise to help determine the marketing potential of the cooperative and identify gaps that can be supported by the different development partners engaged with the cooperative. He said that EAGC will train the cooperative on Warehouse Receipting System (WRS), post-harvest handling and value addition of grains.

The certified village aggregation Centre will work under the GBH. It will enable the cooperative to buy cereals in bulk from members and then distribute and sell them to schools and other structured markets.

“As a certified village aggregation Centre the cooperative will be able to store grains to a standard required by most structured markets,” said Mr. Otieno.

The Procurement Governance for Home Grown School Feeding (PG-HGSF) which SNV has been implementing has been developing and expanding the GBH model, an initiative that further strengthens the linkages and capacities smallholder farmers have to school feeding.

 “EAGC has been supporting grain aggregation, information sharing and market linkages. We will support the cooperative as a grain business hub as we have seen that you have a huge potential,” said Mr. Otieno.

He urged the cooperative to safeguard their assets through insurance and also to ensure that basic post-harvest handling equipment’s are procured.

EAGC is a membership organization of the grain stakeholders in Eastern Africa. The stakeholders represent the three main sectors of the grain value chain including traders, farmers and processors.

The Laikipia Produce and Marketing cooperative society emerged from the work undertaken by Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) through Ng’arua Maarifa Centre with the support of the Ford Foundation’s Expanding Livelihoods for Poor Households Initiative (ELOPHI). It is a vehicle for bulking, marketing and trading in farm commodities and other products and services.

Laikipia Cooperative takes stock of its activities during AGM

By Moses Ndung’u

The Laikipia Produce and Marketing co-operative society on April 28, 2015 held its third annual general meeting (AGM) at Sipili Catholic Church Hall, Ol-Moran Ward in Laikipia West Sub County. The AGM which was supported by Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) was also attended by Kilimo Biashara Profilers (KBP), cooperative officer and auditor.

The AGM provided members with an opportunity to discuss issues that included: minutes of previous AGM; cooperative elections; audited financial reports for 2013 and 2014; cooperative progress report.

Mr. Waweru Kanja, Chairman Laikipia Produce and Marketing Cooperative Society noted that as a result of engagement with other partners like ALIN, SNV, Eastern African Grain Council (EAGC), MEA Ltd, Kilimo Biashara Profilers, Kenya Seed Company Ltd and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock the cooperative has been able to reach out to its members with a variety of services and also has increased its membership, sales and community good will.

Some of the cooperative members during the AGM

“We intend to bring services closer to the people of Laikipia West Sub County. We will start by bringing agencies of various financial institutions to the doorstep of the wananchi by offering the services at a reasonable cost. It is time we developed our status, let us join hands and improve the living standards of smallholder farmers,” said Mr. Kanja.

According to the auditor, Mr. Karani, the cooperative has shown an excellent performance over a short time and could operate and expand comfortably within the next twelve months. He also advised on the need to plough back profits into the cooperative for the benefit of the members.

The Laikipia Produce and Marketing cooperative society has shown commendable performance and goal realization. On June 2013 when the cooperative was registered, membership was a bit low but within a period of one year the membership has grown to three hundred and eleven (311).

At the meeting, the realization of several objectives of the cooperative over a short span was outlined. This included a total summarized outcome surplus-profit-of Ksh 128,000 during the last fiscal year.

Mr. Anthony Githuku from the Department of Cooperative in Laikipia County commended the cooperative for ensuring farmers particularly from Sipili are able to access certified seeds and fertilizer at reasonable prices. He urged the cooperative to continue adhering to the cooperative principles in order to succeed.

As for elections, the member re-elected all the nine (9) members of the management committee. A new supervisory committee composed of three members was also set up to act as a watchdog.

The Laikipia Produce and Marketing cooperative society emerged from the work undertaken by ALIN through Ng’arua Maarifa Centre with the support of the Ford Foundation’s Expanding Livelihoods for Poor Households Initiative (ELOPHI). It is a vehicle for bulking, marketing and trading in farm commodities and other products and services.

CBA9 courting the needs of the vulnerable through Climate Change Adaptation

By Milcah Rajula and Bob Aston

The 9th International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation (CBA9): Measuring and enhancing effective adaptation which took place at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya in April 27th- 30th, 2015 called on world leaders to address the needs of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people in this year’s key environment and development summits.

With the convergence of more than 400 participants drawn from diverse professional sectors globally: governments, civil society, scientific community, international and non- governmental organizations, they came together to discuss and share best practices on how to measure and enhance effective adaptation to climate variability and change for the poorest and most vulnerable communities.

Fatuma Hussein, Board member addressing participants. Photo by Adaptation Fund

 

The core participation and hosting of the event was done in collaboration with the Government of Kenya, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) and African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS).

The conference included a myriad of activities: high-level speaker panels; twenty four sessions; Participatory analysis of films; fun adaptation finance night; learning through games; interactive workshops. Pre-conference field trips had also been pre-organized to allow delegates to explore at first-hand issues related to CBA.

The CBA9 conference ended with lessons learned and the Nairobi Declaration being presented. The declaration stated the importance of addressing the needs and interests of the poorest and most vulnerable in international agreements on sustainable development, development finance and climate change.

CBA9 noted that it is the responsibility of developed countries to support the adaptation efforts of poor and vulnerable groups. To this end, there is need for governments to promote approaches to climate change adaptation that build the capacity of local actors. The engagement of vulnerable groups should be included in the process of developing goals, strategies for implementation, indicators and evaluative frameworks for adaptation.

Photo by Cgiarclimate_EA

CBA9 also reiterated the importance of securing additional, adequate and transparent adaptation financing, especially for community-level adaptation efforts. Global agreements should make an effort in increasing and accelerating finance for adaptation in poor and vulnerable communities and establish transparent mechanisms for monitoring adaptation finance.

Governments should prioritize the needs and interests of the poorest and most vulnerable in their national adaptation planning processes and provide clear, timely and accurate reporting on the extent to which adaptation finance reaches vulnerable groups.

World leaders will meet this year to draft agreements on Sustainable Development Goals, Financing for Development and Climate Change under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

CBA9 urged leaders to ensure that these agreements reflect the needs, feasibility and interests of the poorest and most vulnerable. Local, regional and national governments will need to incorporate the principles of inclusiveness, community leadership and environmental sustainability into their entire plans hence effective climate change adaptation vis à vis long term financial commitment and accountability.  

IIED and partners: BCAS, created the CBA conferences to highlight that effective adaptation to climate change starts with the local actors being at the community level. Past CBA conferences have focused on scaling up best practices, ensuring a scientific basis to action, communicating and mainstreaming CBA and ensuring adaptation funding trickles to community level.

After the many days of engrossing deliberations and participatory sessions, the conference ended on a good note with set resolutions being that the national and local actors have to play a major roles in ensuring that the different targets are active participators: private sector to engage in co-investment mechanisms; the youth; poor and vulnerable; and community levels being engaged fully for maximum climate adaptation outcomes.

CBA10 shall be held in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, next year.

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Ng’arua Maarifa proving vital to students reviewing courses

By Moses Ndung’u

The 2014 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates started an online course revision of degree and diploma programmes for the 2015/2016 placement on April 20, 2015 in an exercise that will end on May 4, 2015.

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has it that all applicants will have to submit their applications online. This is in the digitization trend undertaken by the government that is set and armed to steer the country towards a fully digitized patch of the globe.

Now, for those aspiring to join the institution of higher learning, either on a regular-government sponsorship- or on a parallel basis, the work load towards achieving their dreams has been brought at a de-marginalizing distance, no intimidation no fear of the large bureaucratic arm, only the student and the KUCCPS body.

Thought this is a good turn of events, most students who qualify will have to delve deep into their pockets to try to make out the money required for the application fee and also online fee paid at cyber café.

“Though KUCCPS are charging ksh 1500 the cyber people have found a gold mine by charging us a shilling per minute to access internet. This is difficult for some of us who have to spend as much as three days for a comprehensive revision,” said Nderitu Mwangi, a successful student aspiring to join the campus.

Fortunately, the presence of Ng’arua Maarifa Center in Sipili has helped many students to access online services at no cost at all.

“I have been at the Maarifa Centre almost the whole week. I am glad that it has been possible to access internet free of charge at the Maarifa. Ng’arua Maarifa Center is a blessing to us and words can’t say how much we appreciate,” said Mwangi.

According to Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi, 61,000 candidates will have the coveted opportunity of pursuing their higher education through the government sponsored regular programs. The cut-off for male students was fixed at a grade B of 60 points and a B- of 58 points for female students.

In addition all KCSE candidates with a minimum overall grade of C- (Minus) and above and who have not benefited from government sponsorship in the past will be eligible to apply for Diploma courses.

Sipili farmers now able to access subsidized fertilizer through cooperative

By Moses Ndung’u

Access to subsidized government fertilizer has always been a challenge to smallholder farmers. Most farmers are usually forced to travel long distances to look for subsidized fertilizer at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB). In most cases they are forced to wait for long duration before receiving fertilizer.

Farmers who are lucky to get the subsidized government also have to contend with high transport costs. These has always demoralized most farmers who end up growing impatient and thus decide to buy fertilizer from other businessmen who sell to them at exorbitant prices.

Subsidized government fertilizer being offloaded from a trailer

The problems experienced by smallholder farmers in accessing the subsidized fertilizer in Sipili area of Ol-Moran Ward, Laikipia West Sub County has partly been addressed by Sipili Cereal Bank and Laikipia Produce and Marketing Co-operative Society.

Laikipia Produce and Marketing Cooperative Society has so far disbursed 750 bags of subsidized government fertilizer worth Ksh 1,350,000.  Most farmers have been spending as much as Ksh 3,200 to buy fertilizer from traders but now they are able to get the subsidized fertilizer.

Most farmers who had gone through the painful ordeal of haggling with the middlemen are usually spotted leaving the cooperative store, a sign of relief clearly showing on their faces as they tuck their fertilizer onto motorbikes and vehicles.

 “I went to Nyahururu to get my fertilizer but got none, for three days I travelled back and forth to no avail. I have now managed to get the fertilizer through the cooperative,” said Mr. Mbogo, a member of Laikipia Produce and Marketing Cooperative Society.

It is now evident that the cooperative is a blessing to both the cooperative members and non-members, this was poked into the bigger picture when the non-members received the fertilizers and other inputs at the society with zero hindrance. For Sipili and the huge Ng’arua extension, the cooperative is a blessing to the society and a new power for the community.

Subsidized government fertilizer being offloaded

As the rains fall and the environment is green again, the farmers have now a reason to smile and be grateful in reminiscence of last year’s crippling drought that almost derailed farmers’ hopes.

“This year I managed to buy the subsidized government fertilizer through the cooperative. I managed to save a lot of money and time going to Nyahururu to look for the subsidized fertilizer but thanks to the cooperative I was able to avoid the extra cost,” said Naomi Ngonyo, member of Laikipia Produce and Marketing Cooperative Society.

The government has reduced prices of subsidized fertilizer to spur productivity and close the cycle of food shortages. The Laikipia County government provided transport to Laikipia Produce and Marketing Co-operative Society from Nanyuki to Sipili town.

The Laikipia Produce and Marketing cooperative society emerged from the work undertaken by Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) through Ng’arua Maarifa Centre with the support of the Ford Foundation’s Expanding Livelihoods for Poor Households Initiative (ELOPHI).

Scaling up best practices during CBA9

By Milcah Rajula and Bob Aston
As the final day of the 9th International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation (CBA9) is happening at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, many participants’ core business and sessions of the day is focusing on measuring effectiveness of CBA.

Mr. Adrian Fitzgerald, Irish Aid and Atiq Rahman, Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) will argue their case on why we need to measure effectiveness and who monitoring and evaluation activities should ultimately serve.

CBA9 participants at the IIED exhibition stand

The more than 400 participants from 90 countries will then discuss emerging issues during CBA9 and plans for CBA10 in 2016. The results of the ‘pervasive’ game played throughout CBA9, addressing drinking water for communities and demonstrating self-organized Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) will then be explained.

The Government of Kenya is collaborating with International Institute of Environment and Development (IIED), Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) and African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) to ensure that this conference attains maximum and measurable solutions. This is in retrospect to policy makers demonstrating the effectiveness of EBA in improving the capacity of communities to adapt to the impact of climate change.

Some of today’s key note speakers include: William Samoei arap Ruto, Deputy President of KenyaProf. Judy Wakhungu, Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Pa Ousman Jarju, Environment Minister and Climate Envoy of the Gambia,Fatuma Mohamed Hussein, National Climate Change Secretariat, Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources Kenya, Youssef Nassef, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Adaptation Programme Coordinator among others.

Participants are reporting on the latest research and their project work from across different sectors and countries, highlighting the fact that there are different ways of measuring the success of community-based adaptation.

Consequently, they are able to choose from two sessions which include: debate and next steps; conference closing.

Participants will later on in the afternoon be hosted by the United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) at the UN complex in Gigiri. The visit will include a tour of the complex and an opportunity to learn more about UNEP projects.

IIED and partners: BCAS, created the CBA conferences to highlight that effective adaptation to climate change takes place at community level. Past CBA conferences have focused on scaling up best practices, ensuring a scientific basis to action, communicating and mainstreaming CBA and ensuring adaptation funding reaches community level.

Visit International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)