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: 08 September 2022; Hits: 879

Uganda agripreneur shining light on avocado value addition

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By George Munene

Uganda agripreneur Godfrey Kiberu, is shining a light on the potential for value addition of Africa's abundant avocado harvest which often goes to waste.

“If we can value add the abundant avocados grown in the continent, we can be able to reduce the impact of relying on palm oil imports and create a ready market for our farmers,” he explained.

Across Africa, the price of cooking oil has risen on average by 30 per cent owing to the Ukrainian crisis, export restrictions by palm oil-producing countries, and high demand and low supply of palm oil in the global market.

Kiberu sources the avocadoes from smallholder farmers across Uganda. He extracted oil by processing it using a locally fabricated machine after sun drying the fruit’s flesh.

His pressed oil products are sold through the Lavado Oil brand as cooking oil avocado seed tea and as a cosmetic.

His company was recently the recipient of a Sh6M ($50,000) grant from the World Food Program (WFP) as part of its program pushing for the redesigning of food systems in Africa to reduce shortages occasioned by global crises.

“Currently, we can only produce 100 liters of oil every month as we are using very rudimentary methods, with this grant, we will push this to 1,000 liters,” Kiberu said.

“We are looking to fund African smallholder farmers and agripreneurs with extraordinary ideas that not only make them self-reliant but grow and be sustainable producers of food not only for their households but for their communities and the wider country. This will help build more reliable food systems in the continent,” highlighted WFP’s Uganda Deputy Director.

Once he has the new machinery and is able to ramp up production, Kiberu’s Lavado Natural Oils is expected to hit the local market in a few months.

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: 07 September 2022; Hits: 2008

Farmer leverages social media for mega sales

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A farmer from Naro Moru village in Nyeri County has turned to Facebook to advertise and sell Brachiaria Mulatto II hybrid grass, a move that has enabled him to reach over 2,426 people.

Gibson King’ori opened his Facebook page in January 2016 but only used it for posting social matters until he learnt how the platform could be used as a selling tool during a farmer’s field in the county. While there, they were trained on how to reach more customers on social media.

“I wondered how my Facebook friends could be my potential customers given that most of them I barely knew on a personal level but I decided to give it a try,” said King’ori.

“I started by taking brachiaria grass photos and posting them on my account without including a caption. This brought in engagement as some asked questions while others appreciating the pictures by liking them.”

He went an extra mile to ask friends he knew to share the photos on Facebook in a bid to reach more people. His followers increased and so did the interest in the grass.

“When I realised more people were interested in the grass I started posting prices per split and sent messages of free delivery to those who were within 4-6km radius from my farm,” said King’ori.

He sells a split at Sh10, a bundle of 100 splits at Sh1000 and he can also measure them in kilograms whereby a kilo goes at Sh40.

Most of his customers, are livestock keepers and prefer brachiaria grass because of its high crude proteins at approximately 18 per cent, it is a drought tolerant fodder grass of up to six months, makes excellent silage and boost milk production in dairy cows and goats.

Today King’ori can deliver his seedlings all over the country for customers who order over 100 splits. His means of delivery to people from far places such as Kisumu, Mombasa, Nakuru and Eldoret , is through courier services such as Wells Fargo, buses, or matatu sacco courier services.

“I use other delivery services to reach my customers from far but for those within Central and Nairobi regions I use my car to make the deliveries,” said King’ori.

To entice more buyers during the last festive season from December 1st 2017 to January 2018, he placed an offer: if a customer buys two bundles worth Sh2, 000 they would get another bundle free. This earned him Sh320, 000 as compared to Sh120, 000 he makes within two months on normal occasions.

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: 06 September 2022; Hits: 522

Molo potato farmer capitalises on seed shortage with 20 acre multiplication farm

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Anne Chepng’eno, a farmer from Molo is growing potato crops for seeds in a bid to address the current shortage of the seeds helping farmers from all over the country to access them.

Currently there is potato seed demand of 100,000 tonnes in the country while basic demand by other seed multipliers is 1000 tonnes. Only 5000 tonnes is produced and supplied per year. Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) produce 300 tonnes of potato seeds every year for farmers according to Henry Kemjo, Research and Development officer at National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK).

In her 60 acres farm she grows potatoes and other crops using a rotational model, which she began in 2005. She acquires her seeds from Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) and involves Kenya Plant health inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) in her production system to ensure that her seeds are standard free from diseases.

“I engage experts in every point of my stage of production; from where to plant the seeds, the type of seeds, weeding and harvesting among other agronomical practices,” said Chepng’eno.

“As seed producers and other potato farmers, we are always advised not to plant potatoes on the same spot in the nest planting season to prevent any disease infection and improve soil fertility.”

In a given season she grows potato in 20 acres of her land while the rest are occupied with other crops such as peas, maize, and some fodder crops.

Chepng’eno who used to grow Dutch, Kenya Karibu, Tigoni and Sangi varieties of potato has in the recent years singled on Sangi as this variety has become farmers’ preference due to its desirable qualities.

“Sangi sprouts faster, takes short time to cook and it is also tasty as compared to other potato types raising its market demand making many farmers to grow it,” said Chepng’eno.

She expects to harvest the next bunch of seeds late January next year to catch up with farmers who target the long rains of March-April-May for planting. “By end of January 2018, my seeds will be ready for farmers who will be planting from March onwards,” she said

In a season Chepng’eno harvests between 80 and 110 potato sacks of 50kg. She sells a kilo at Sh100 after approval by KEPHIS earning her approximately Sh500, 000 per season.

“After certification my potato seeds are labeled and can be sold anywhere in Kenya,” she said.

She is currently a renowned potato seed producer in Molo who has undergone trainings by the Ministry of Agriculture and certification by KEPHIS. Last year she registered her company, Singus Company Ltd in a bid to win more seed supply tenders.

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