Empowering farming communities through cooperatives

By Simon Munyeki and Bob Aston

Although Laikipia County is an arid area, this has not stopped its residents from taking farming seriously, as it is their main source of income. To make this enterprise profitable farmers from the region have formed Laikipia Produce and Marketing Cooperative Society.

Located at Gikomba Hills Complex in Sipili Township, Ol-Moran Ward in Laikipia West Sub County, the cooperative 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).

Some members of the cooperative being trained on good agricultural practices

The cooperatives mandate is to aggregate the farming communities by pooling them together and empowering them to take control of their farm’s enterprises thus enhancing their bargaining power and profit margins.

The cooperative has partnered with stakeholders like ALIN, SNV- Netherlands Development Organization, Kenya Seed Company Ltd, MEA Ltd, Kilimo Biashara Promoters, Eastern African Grain Council (EAGC), Agricultural Sector Development Support Programme (ASDSP), Norbrook Kenya Ltd, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock has enabled the cooperative to undertake a lot of activities on behalf of the members.

Through collaboration with various stakeholders, the members have been able to benefit through various capacity-building trainings aimed at improving their agricultural enterprises.

Members share their cooperative experiences

Mrs. Naomi Ngonyo joined the cooperative in 2013 with the belief that access to subsidized government fertilizer will no longer be a problem for her as an individual farmer. 

In early March, she received an SMS from the cooperative management informing members to register for subsidized government fertilizer.

Although she was skeptical at first that the initiative would not succeed, she went ahead and registered for ten bags of subsidized government fertilizer. 

The same month she received an sms from the cooperative informing her that the subsidized fertilizer was available and she should visit the cooperative store to collect the fertilizer.

“The notion that most cooperatives are always mismanaged is not true. This year I managed to buy the subsidized government fertilizer through the cooperative. I saved a lot of money and time going to Nyahururu to look for the subsidized,” said Naomi Ngonyo

The cooperative stand during 2015 Laikipia County Agribusiness trade fairs

On his part, Mr. James Mathenge joined the cooperative in February 2014, when he was passing by the cooperative store and he saw a van unloading bags of certified hybrid maize seeds.  LRV documented the story titled “curiosity leads a farmer to joining a cooperative.”

Issue of certified hybrid seeds, advisory services and buying subsidized government fertilizer from the Co-operative are some of the things that encouraged him to join the Co-operative.

Since joining the cooperative, he has been buying certified hybrid seeds and subsidized government fertilizer without any problem. He is happy that for two season he has not had any problem with fake seeds as the cooperative has been selling genuine seeds directly from Kenya Seed Company Ltd and Pioneer Hi-Bred Ltd.

“This year I received five bags of subsidized government fertilizer from the cooperative. Getting the subsidized government fertilizer used to be a big problem but this year it was not an issue,” said Mr Mathenge.

High storage cost for cereals has always been a challenge for Mr. Simon Hehu. He feared that quality of his cereals would deteriorate after some time and fear of aflatoxin accumulation in storage usually makes him spend a lot of money in buying pesticides.

In August this year he was informed that the cooperative had entered into a distributorship deal with Bell Industries Ltd to supply Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags. After hearing the various benefits of the bag such as minimizing cost of storage and reduced post-harvest-grain losses, he realized that the bags would address his main challenges during storage.

The good news has made him plan to buy more bags for storing his grains once they dry. He said that he would no longer buy insecticides for storing grains as he has confirmed that the bags are effective.

Subsidized government fertilizer being offloaded to the cooperative store

Mrs. Jane Ndiritu a member of the cooperative was among the first farmers to benefit through an initiative of ALIN, Laikipia Produce and Marketing Cooperative Society, Kenya Seed Company Ltd, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and MEA Ltd.

The cooperative forwarded her name as one of the farmers to host a demonstration plot. 

Since then she has gained a lot of knowledge from several trainings organized at the demonstration plot and other trainings organized for members of Laikipia Produce and Marketing Cooperative Society.

This year marked the second year when she has bought certified hybrid seeds from the cooperative. She noted that it is safer to buy seeds from the cooperative due to guaranteed germination and lower prices.

“Access to certified hybrid seeds used to be a problem in Sipili. We used to buy fake seeds but now that is no longer a problem. The cooperative has enabled smallholder farmers like us to stop worrying about seeds,” said Mrs. Nderitu.

Despite cooperatives playing a major role in resource mobilization, agro-processing and marketing of agricultural produce, most smallholder farmers particularly in rural areas are always reluctant to join cooperatives but this is not the case with Laikipia Produce and Marketing Cooperative Society, as more farmers are enjoying the benefit of being members.

'Humanitarian history' made in Uganda as forecast-based financing is launched

By Climate Centre, BRACED

In a ground-breaking humanitarian action triggered by a scientific forecast of flood risk, the Uganda Red Cross (URC) Friday distributed just under 5,000 preparedness items to flood-prone communities in Kapelebyong sub-county, some 300 km north-east of the capital, Kampala.

The action was based on a forecast of rising water-levels in the Teso area – especially in Amemia parish.

The non-food items (NFI) were procured under ‘forecast-based financing’ with the support of the German government through the German Red Cross, who have established a special mini-site.

The URC mobilized the supplies as soon as a predetermined threshold of forecast risk was crossed on Thursday. It was the first full humanitarian use of forecast-based financing, which had only been piloted. 

Dysentery

“One of the disaster effects we were targeting is waterborne disease,” said Irene Amuron, URC Disaster Risk Reduction Manager, who led the operation.

Local Acting Chief Administration Officer Paul Edotu had indicated that dysentery existed in the area, and the authorities were anxious to prevent it.

A resident of Kapelebyong sub-county gets humanitarian supplies.Photo: Denis Onyodi

“The teams distributed two jerrycans, two bars of soap, and a month’s supply of water purification tablets to 370 households in the villages of Okoboi, Omatai, Apedu and Akulonyo,” Amuron added.

After receiving his distribution card, Local Council II Chairman, Francis Olum, explained that people had been preparing for possible effects of El Niño, according to a URC press release.

“In 2007, we were taken unawares by the flooding,” he said, “but this time we are happy the Red Cross is coming in earlier.”

Global flood model

The Red Cross trucked the NFI from a warehouse in Kampala; they arrived at the URC Soroti branch office on Friday and were distributed the same morning to the Kapelebyong communities.

The URC will continue to support residents to prepare for possibly worsening rainfall, although the forecast indicated risk above a particular level – not certainty of disaster.

“The Uganda Red Cross are immediate responders in times of disaster,” URC Secretary General Robert Kwesiga said.

“By using forecasts in this innovative project, we are now intervening even earlier, before receiving reports of disasters.

“With such a timely disbursal, we hope to avoid potential catastrophe before it even happens, supporting people to continue working and going to school.”

The forecast used in Uganda was based on the European Commission’s Global Flood Awareness System and verified with the Uganda National Meteorological Agency, the Uganda Hydrological Department, and the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts.

Read the full story at Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters (BRACED).

Improving reporting on El-nino as a climate change phenomenon

By Bob Aston

The Low Emission and Climate Resilient Development (LECRD) Project being implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Regional Development Authorities (MENRRDA),  held a training workshop for journalists on reporting on El-Nino and its related disasters as a climate change phenomenon. The two-day workshop was held on November 14-15, 2015 at Lake Naivasha County Club in Nakuru County.

A total of 40 journalists drawn from disaster prone areas and hot spots as well as environmental journalists from across national media houses, learned different strategies on reporting on El-Nino, related preparedness and risk reduction. They gained skills on creating awareness on how El-Nino related disasters may affect communities and coverage of such stories.

Ms. Sheila Mbiru addressing the journalists.PHOTO by Philip Dinga

Speaking during the opening of the workshop, Knowledge Management and Capacity Building Officer for the LECRD Project Ms. Sheila Mbiru noted that they aim to support Kenya’s efforts to pursue long-term, transformative development as well as accelerate sustainable climate resilient economic growth, while slowing the growth of greenhouse gas emissions.

“We are currently developing a disaster information portal that will facilitate disaster data and information sharing. The portal will enable stakeholders and members of the public to get accurate information related to climate change disaster,” said Ms. Mbiru.

She said that the outcomes of the LECRD Project include enhanced national climate change coordination process, enhanced access to clean and efficient energy systems, creation of a sustainable greenhouse gas (GHG) emission system, enhanced national and County Government decision making on climate change intervention, contributing towards minimizing the impacts of extreme climate change and capacity building on climate knowledge management.

During the workshop, journalists noted that the media are a powerful instrument for disaster communication. By having the media appreciate El-nino and its associated disasters, the media can play a huge role in educating the public as well as helping in preventing disasters by playing an active role in disseminating information about mitigation, preparedness, relief, and recovery.

Mr. James Muhindi from the Kenya Meteorological Department noted that enhancing how journalists report on El-nino would not only improve their objectivity but also their knowledge on climate change and the El-Nino phenomenon itself.

He said that most journalists have sometimes erred on how they report on El-nino, since some of the information disseminated through the media is not factual. He noted that effective reporting on the effects of El-nino and La-nina phenomena and the early warning systems in Kenya could save many lives during such disasters.

Some of the journalists during group discussions. Photo by Philip Dinga

 Mr. Muhindi said that increase in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global average sea level is a clear indication that the media needs to give climate change coverage more prominence.

“Journalists are critical stakeholders in the mobilization of disaster response. It is important to avoid the use of weather and climate only in post-mortem analyses of disasters but instead focus more on mitigation and preparedness,” said Mr. Muhindi.

He added that climate change signals are quite apparent in Kenya through rise in temperature, decreasing rainfall trends, reduced mountain glaciers, frequent flooding, and prolonged droughts.

Among the areas covered during the training included: Media as agents of change in the development process; disaster management cycle; climate change and climate related phenomena with a focus on El-Nino.

Other areas included coordination of disaster risk management in Kenya; effective disaster reporting on El Nino; how journalists can use new media to report on disasters; ethics and sensitivity in disaster reporting; and safety and security of journalists in disaster reporting.

The training not only reinforced capacity building of the climate knowledge management system in Kenya but also highlighted the important role played by journalists in reporting on El-nino as a climate change phenomenon including the related disasters.

The MENRRDA and the Media Council of Kenya jointly organized the training. Implementation of LECRD Project is by the MENRRDA with funding support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Wangwachi farmers share knowledge during field day

By Bob Aston

The Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) through Ng’arua Maarifa Centre in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MOALF), held a farmer field day at Peter Chege’s farm at Wangwachi area of Ol-Moran Ward in Laikipia West Sub County on November 12, 2015.

The 103 farmers at the field day were able to interact with agricultural sector stakeholders and share knowledge on new farming technologies and ideas. The field day also enabled the farmers to enhance their production skills, and deliberate on how they can play an active role in the tomato value chain.

Farmer learning about Household Economic Empowerment Programme

Some of the exhibitors included the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Eastern African Grain Council (EAGC), Laikipia Produce and Marketing Co-operative Society, Ng'arua Community Development Initiative Forum, the International Small Group Tree Planting Program (TIST), Sipili Water Resource Users Association (WRUA), Twiga Chemicals Ltd, Red Cross Kenya, Bio Medica, Syngenta Kenya, Home Business Sacco, and Household Economic Empowerment Programme (HEEP).

The field day enabled farmers to learn good agronomics practices, value addition, production practices, agribusiness, soil management, marketing, integrated pests and disease management, value addition, Farm Records Management Information System (FARMIS), SOKO+ sms platform and harvesting and post-harvest management.

Mr. James Kamau, Ol-Moran Ward Agriculture officer noted that value addition of smallholder farmer’s tomatoes is essential in increasing their productivity, quality, and earnings. He urged farmers to practice agribusiness in order to ensure they benefit from their agricultural enterprises.

He said that sharing knowledge during farmer field days is important, as farmers are able to see what others are doing. He urged farmers to increase the shelf life of tomatoes through value addition, as this will minimize the qualitative and quantitative deterioration of tomatoes after harvest.

“It is important to put into practice whatever you learn during field days. Knowledge gained during such forums can immensely benefit farmers when put into use,” said Mr. Kamau.

Farmers learning how to prepare tomato nursery

Some of the exhibited products included tomato juice, tomato jam, tomato sauce, pickles, moisture meter, hermetic bags, certified hybrid seeds, castor oil cooker, honey and bees products, dehydrated farm produce, fruits, and various chemical products.

The star attraction during the field day was the tomato value addition stand. Mrs. Elcy Kigano, Ol-Moran Ward Agribusiness officer was at the exhibition stand showing farmers how to make tomato sauce, juice, jam, and pickles.

Wangwachi, Marura, Ol-Mutuny, Ndaragwiti, Monica, and Karungubii are main tomato producing areas in the ward due to availability of dams in the areas. Ol-Moran ward produces close to 100 tonnes of tomato per season with around 40 acres under tomato cultivation. 

ALIN seeks to address constraints during production, marketing, processing, and consumption of tomato. The organization has been involved in improving communities’ access to knowledge and skills for quite some time, using platforms like field days. These experiences have helped farmers to access knowledge and information, which have helped to empower many farmers in arid areas.

Kenyan youths renounce crime to protect forests

By Kagondu Njagi, BRACED

THARAKA NITHI, Kenya - Groups of reformed youths who once sold drugs and stole from their neighbours are helping protect trees in rural central Kenya from illegal loggers.

The young adults, whose previous activities were a source of community tension, now report suspicious logging to village authorities. They are also contributing to an effort to boost Kenya's forest cover from 7 percent to 10 percent by 2030.

It has been illegal to cut down trees in Kenya's forests since 1999, but a new constitution in 2010 extended the ban to rural farms unless the feller has an official permit.

Murithi Ntaru, a member of the Muiru Youth Reform Group from the parched village of Weru in the lowlands of Tharaka Nithi County, finds his new calling more fulfilling than his former life dealing drugs.

"This is better than when I would hide from the authorities for days as a drug peddler," said Ntaru, 34, who has a friend in prison for narcotics-related offences. "I now use the skills I learned when I was doing bad things to outsmart the timber cartels." Added Ntaru.

He and other young people resorted to crime to support themselves after the ban on cutting down public forests put a stop to the lucrative local trade of transporting logs for sale, which many had quit school to do.

Now their knowledge of the timber trade is being put to good use. Group members select a specific ringtone on their cell phones to notify each other when they are alerted to tree-felling activities.

"The community tells us when a timber broker is seen in the village or when a neighbour is planning to meet the broker. When we report, the chief sends scouts to monitor the suspects' movements," said Ntaru. "I feel safe because all I have to do is send a text message to the chief."

In exchange for information about illegal logging, the group is given the opportunity to sell seedlings in new reforestation areas.

For the past three years, the Muiru youth have run a tree nursery on the banks of the River Naka at the behest of the county government, which identified an opportunity to protect forests and channel young people's energy away from delinquency.

The Muiru group is one of a growing number of youth-led projects that cultivate seedlings for reforestation drives in the area.

Conmen

On a good day, Ntaru's group can supply seedlings worth up to 20,000 Kenyan shillings (around $200), sharing the profit among its 10 members.

Their vigilance pleases Doreen Cianjoka, a widow in Weru who lost all the trees on her farm to conmen. Well-dressed strangers came to her home and convinced her they could find a ready market for her wood, she said.

After a few days, the brokers came back with a team wielding chainsaws who cut down the trees and split them for timber, but she never received any payment.

"The last I saw of them was as they said goodbye from the lorry that came to carry away my trees," she recalled. "I am hoping our young men and the chief will help me track these bad people one day."

Whether or not her hopes are met, other residents are unhappy about the stepped-up enforcement of logging bans, which they blame for a shortage of timber. 

Read the full story at Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters (BRACED).