Smart farms

: 06 May 2019; Hits: 7045

Forum launched to help farmers evolve and grow their businesses

farmers planting

Forum.ag has officially launched to give farmers and agriculture workers the chance to connect and communicate about real-life issues within the industry. The all-new forum allows users to sign-up for free and to post to the shared community.

This has been prompted by the fact that modern technology has changed the way farmers around the world grow crops and livestock, sell produce, and transport goods from point A to point B. Yet, in Africa farmers haven’t had the chance to connect to other like-minded individuals working in the agricultural industry until now.

Users can post about agricultural subjects that affect them or to simply gain new information on agriculture subjects. Individuals can even join in on discussions to give their expertise or experience on a farming topic. Forum.ag will give those in the agriculture industry a voice and opportunity shape their businesses.

In 2012, Sub Sahara Africa consisted of nine per cent of 561 million farms worldwide, according to the World Bank a study the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations shows. With many new farmers being born since the explosion of computers, cellphones, and other technological innovations, the use of the Internet has become more prevalent in agriculture. Forum.ag continues agriculture’s move into the modern age and expects farmers to follow along.

Farming may be one of the oldest professions in the world, but it doesn’t have to be stuck in the past. The use of computer science in farming has improved produce and livestock yields along with forecasting weather. Forum.ag now connects those in the agricultural industry to bring together knowledge like never before.

“The website is a unique platform to bring together a like-minded community of individuals who grow and produce the world’s food,” a forum.ag spokesperson said. “Agriculture is often ignored by those who do not work in the industry. Our aim is to give farmers and other agriculture focused people a voice and chance to share their knowledge with each other.”

Photo: farmers planting crops. Modern technology has changed the way farmers around the world grow crops and livestock. Photo courtesy.

Write comment (0 Comments)

: 03 May 2019; Hits: 11084

Health benefits and increased demand for chia seeds entice Western Kenya farmers to grow the crop

Packed chia seeds ready for market. According to dealers in the crop, its seeds are in high demand in both local and international markets hence increased need for growers. Photo courtesy.

About 2,000 farmers from Bungoma, Busia and Homabay counties in Western Kenya have ventured into chia crop farming to supplement their income owing to the crop’s high demand sparked by the nutrition value of its seeds. This is besides growing maize and beans which have been the dominant crop in the region.

According to a 2013 research by Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) on Agronomic and Financial Analysis of Maize-Legumes Production in Western Kenya, maize and grain legumes are the dominating crop enterprises in western Kenya and the crops have been in the recent past recording low yields and poor returns for the farmers.

It is because of this reason Momentum Trust, a Danish organisation based in Kenya with its headquarters in Suaya County and working with small-scale farmers in Africa has introduced chia, a crop whose seeds are on demand in both local and international markets to help the farmers get back to their earning ways.

“There is a ready market in Denmark which imports over 1400 tons of organic Chia Seeds annually and we also sell to local companies such as Healthy U. We always harvest between 2-5 tonnes of chia seeds which is not enough for export.” Said Philip Odhiambo, the organisation’s Homabay-Oyugis branch manager.

RELATED ARTICLE: Magic chia seeds earns farmer Sh1500 per kilo

Nutritionists assert that Chia seeds are good for boosting libido and they improve brain health. They are also a good source of Omega-3, essential fatty acids which the body cannot produce. They are also rich in fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals.

To work with the organisation, willing small-scale farmers are encouraged to form groups within their areas in order to meet production demands.

They then get registered with Sh300 per head, before being taken through agronomical training on the crop production.

“Chia is a new crop among many farmers in the country with a potential of doing well and earn them sweet returns. This is way we train our farmers giving them the required knowhow on best production practices to meet both local and international standards.” Said Odhiambo.

From registration, the farmers are given organically certified chia seeds in form of a loan which they pay upon harvesting and selling the produce.

“We ensure that the farmers are not stranded with their produce after harvesting as Momentum Trust buys the seeds at Sh150 per kilogram.”

According to a February 2017 Market Research by Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) on production of different crops and nuts in Busia County, an acre of chia crop can yield up to seven tones of chia seeds under good agronomical practices.

The seeds can fetch a farmer up to Sh1500 per kilogram in the local market and while Momentum Trust offers Sh150 per kilo, there is an intention by the organization to find a better price for their farmers.

“We have been mobilizing the farmers and there is increased interest among them to pick up the venture. However, there is a need for a higher price by the farmers as this will continue motivating them,” said Odhiambo.

“Chia seeds are grown organically without using harmful pesticides and chemicals. It can do well in various soil and climatic conditions. The plant is very hardy and grows in dry areas.”

RELATED ARTICLE: Amaranth: from weed to wonder crop

Chia sprouts after about two weeks and germinates faster when there is good rainfall, taking some three months to mature.

Currently Momentum Trust farmers in various have already started harvesting their crops expecting to realise five tonnes of chia seeds in one month.

Philip Odhiambo can be reached on +254 725 924401

Write comment (0 Comments)

: 03 May 2019; Hits: 12284

Kajiado farmer finds sweet side hustle in cucumber and lettuce production

Mathews lettuce farm Part of Tejeu's lettuce farm at Birika in Kajiado County. He harvests 2,000 pieces of lettuce after every two weeks and 2,000 kilos of cucumbers in every four weeks. Photo courtesy.

A young farmer from Kajiado County is earning up to Sh160,000 a month from cucumbers and lettuces production side hustle, a venture he started in 2014 to supplement his monthly income he pockets from working with a non-governmental Organisation in Nairobi.

Mathew Tejeu, 29, the CEO of Centre for Advocacy Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse, an NGO advocating for a drug-free society has three acres piece of plot which is part of their family’s 10 acres land at Birika between Isinya and Kiserian in Kajiado County where he grows the crops.

Other than his intention to increase his monthly income, Tejeu ventured into horticulture farming as a way to commemorate his mother, who died in 2010 following a short illness and whom he used to help in tomatoes, cabbages, onions, French beans and dairy farming while in high school from 2004 to 2007.

“Between 2007 and 2009 we had a 100x30x8m greenhouse which my mother had installed and where we used to grow the crops alternately. In the same land we also kept 15 dairy cows of which 12 were lactating,” said Tejeu.

When his mother got ill and died in August 2010 there was no one to take care of the farm especially the crops in the greenhouse and the cows which needed much attention.

Tejeu had just enrolled for a Bachelor’s degree in law at Africa Nazarene University in 2009, their father at the time was held up in religious duties at Presbyterian Church, Thika branch and was not able to spend much time at home while his two younger siblings were in boarding school.

“We, therefore, decided to sell all the cows except two which we could still rely on for milk. The money realized was taken by our father to be used for the family expenses that included school fees,” said Tejeu.

In 2011, the father was transferred to Kiserian after he negotiated with the church’s top administration to let him work closer to home which was then left lonely following the demise.

He saw this as an opportunity to embark seriously on farming and decided to hire one farmhand whom he paid Sh2,000 to run the daily activities on the farm. Tejeu then used Sh2,000 to purchase tomato seeds, Sh15,000 on installing drip irrigation, Sh10,000 on fertiliser.

“While in school, I worked as farm produce broker. I would source some tomatoes from farmers in Nyandarua to sell at Marikiti Market in Nairobi. I also connected some sheep and goats farmers from Kajiado who wanted to sell their livestock to prospective buyers and if the deal went through, I earned my commission. From this job, I managed to save Sh50,000 which I used to hire the farmhand and buy the inputs, ” said Tejeu.

With the farm inputs in place in 2013, he decided to start by planting tomatoes in a quarter piece of plot on the family’s 10 acres land. When this was successful, he decided to expand the acreage by an eighth piece of plot each season to incorporate more crops such as capsicum, China cabbages, purple and red cabbages, onions and French beans increasing the area under production from time to time.

He has three acres open field under lettuce and cucumbers which he plants differently to spread his harvesting and the flow of income throughout the year and has employed five farmhands whom he pays between Sh9,000 to Sh13,000 per month depending on the work done.

“I plant 5000 pieces of lettuce every two weeks and cucumbers after every four weeks rotationally and continuously throughout the year. Lettuce takes 40-60 days to mature depending on the weather while cucumbers take 60 days to harvest,” said Tejeu.

He harvests 2,000 pieces of lettuce after every two weeks and 2,000 kilos of cucumbers in every four weeks thanks to Julius Ndwati, his longtime agronomist whom he consults every two weeks through the crops production process.

A piece of lettuce goes at Sh30 at Marikiti Market while a kilo of cucumbers sells at Sh50 at the same market at a maximum price. This translates to Sh160,000 gross income per month before deducting Sh16,000 transport cost per week among other expenses.

One big challenge he faces is the government’s high taxation on pesticides that shoots up the price of the farm input. “If I were to spend Sh10,000 per week on pesticides, for example, with the new VAT regulations, the figure will rise to Sh75,000 increasing the cost of production,” said Tejeu.

Despite the challenges, he is planning to put up a grocery in Birika, which will enable him and other farmers sell their produce directly to consumers and big retail outlets without passing through middlemen, who he says deny farmers their full returns.

Besides his main job and farming, Jejeu has also registered for a Master’s program in Public Policy at Kenyatta University which he is still undergoing and at its final stage expecting to graduate at the end of this year.

Write comment (0 Comments)