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: 16 October 2019; Hits: 7051

Kwale enterprise buying coconut fruits from farmers

coconut oil

Hilwa Kwale Enterprises, a start-up company in Kwale County is seeking to increase the number of out-growers in the county from the current one farmer to over three farmers who can grow and steadily supply it with coconut fruits.

The company which was started in late 2017 and started operations in 2018 extracts coconut oil from the fruits and uses the oil to make end products such as soap, shampoo, body lotions, shower gels, body cream and hair beauty products among other products.

“Producing natural health and beauty products for the community was the main idea which pushed us to start Hilwa and further provide employment opportunities for the youth in the area,” said Tabasam Abdalla Ali, the chairperson of the enterprise.

Currently, the solitary farmer supply the start-up with 400 fruits per month and sometimes the fruits are too small in size forcing the company to use many fruits to meet the oil extraction target.

Tabasam says that they need up to 30 fruits to produce a litre of oil and if the company could have more farmers there would be a steady supply of the fruits.

“The advantage of having many farmers supplying us is that their produce will complement each other in that if one has smaller fruits, the other will supply larger ones that will be mixed up to meet our target,” said Tabasam.

“We hope that if we get more farmers who can supply at least 200 fruits each in a month, we will be better placed to up our production.”

The start-up sells their products from door-to-door, open-air markets in the area and online and phone call orders that are delivered to consumers’ preferred points of pick-ups.

Already the company has 1o employed youths who help in running the business on a daily basis. It has also opened its school section where young people are trained in coconut value addition.

“So far we have three learners whom we are teaching how to make other products such as ornaments, coco peat and home vessels,” said Tabasam.

Tabasam can be reached on +254 707 775273/728 877 483 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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: 14 October 2019; Hits: 7010

Fresh produce marketer looking for farmers to grow runner beans to meet export demand

runner beans

A horticultural produce marketer is looking for farmers to supply him with at least 12 tonnes of runner beans per month for export.

Dennis Mutwiri said the demand for the less cultivated bean is rising because the supply is low as farmers are growing other varieties sold while dry.

At least three tonnes of the beans are required per week.

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The runner beans, which must be fresh, are harvested and sold while green and with the pods intact.

Farmers will earn Sh40 per kilo for grade one beans; grade two produce will fetch Sh30 per kilo.

Mutwiri can be reached on +254724306613

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: 08 October 2019; Hits: 7812

Social enterprise in need of more farmers and honey to meet local demand

mombasa coast beekeepers beehives

Nyuki Hubs Kenya Limited, a social enterprise based in Nairobi is looking for more beekeepers in the country to rear the beneficial insects and supply the firm with honey to meet a monthly 50 tonnes market demand from 28 tonnes which the company is able to achieve currently.

The enterprise which was started last year January is currently working with groups of farmers in Tharaka Nithi County (27 groups), Makueni County (24 groups), Taita Taveta and Narok counties.

“There is an increasing demand for honey in our local markets. In Makueni, for example, the farmer groups at the moment are able to produce 2.2 tonnes per month against 6.8 tonnes of market demand. This is why we need more farmers to work with us to meet the target and grow their income,” said Erastus Munywoki, an officer in charge of Tharaka Nithi Office.

In this, the enterprise is working with a Christian aid organization to reach more farmers and market for their produce which includes honey, wax among others.

According to Munywoki, all a farmer needs is the will to venture into beekeeping and create a conducive environment for the insects before sourcing for beekeeping equipment.

“Because bees love flowers, the environment around their ‘home’ should be of flowering plants where they can find pollen and nectar as food for the entire colony. They are also irritated by chemicals used on most crops while predators scare them away hence farmers must ensure the surrounding is conducive for their (the insects’) stay.”

Nyuki Hubs which buys the entire honeycombs from farmers at Sh300 per kilo also cater to transport. In this case, farmers are supposed to inform or notify the company once the combs are mature for harvest.

According to Munywoki, a bee comb can generate between 700g and 1kg of honey which the company sells to both bulk buyers and individual consumers.

For interested farmers who might not have the financial might to buy beekeeping equipment to start the venture, the firm has a leasing model whereby the equipments are given to farmers on loan which they are expected to repay as per their harvests.

“We enter into agreements with such farmers on how many kilos of honey they will be giving us per season from their total harvests making it easier for them as we do not take everything. The remaining kilos we buy from them depending on the market price at the moment,” said Munywoki.

The company which is now set to open other branches in Samburu and Western Kenya Region also sells beehives at Sh7,000, suit at Sh4,900, smoking gun at Sh4,000, and bee colonies at Sh3,000 per colony among others.

In addition to providing a market for the farmers, the company also trains farmers for free on best beekeeping practices.

Munywoki can be reached on +254703685898

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