market

: 15 January 2019; Hits: 13447

Foods company buying cabbages, oranges, pawpaw, carrots, onions, potatoes, pineapples, passion fruits and tomatoes e.t.c. from all-comers

Horticulture farmers can now sell their produce to Twiga Foods, a company that provides a supply chain for a variety of products such as cabbages, oranges, pawpaw, tomatoes, onions, carrots, passion fruits and carrots among other fresh produce crops.

The company has so far linked 8,370 farmers to markets in a move aimed at bridging gaps in food and market security through an organized platform for an efficient, fair, transparent and formal marketplace that includes farming advice.

In 2017, Kenyan farmers lost 1.9m tonnes of food worth Sh150bn as they struggled to find markets according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.

To supply the produce a farmer has to sign up on join Twiga online by visiting https://twiga.ke/. Twiga then visits and assesses the farmer’s farm then adds him/her onto the system. The company then issues a purchase order to book the produce and indicates the date of harvest.

Once the produce is ready, Twiga harvests and weighs the farmer’s produce and issues the seller with a receipt. Farmers receive payment within 24 hours.

Telegram group connects over 22,000 onion, tomato, watermelon, cabbage, chili and capsicum farmers to markets

Organization helps Kenyan, Ugandan, Tanzanian, Rwandese, Malawian, and Ethiopian farmers’ access local and international markets

twiga

The price of each product depends on the existing market prices which may vary from time to time determined by the law of demand and supply.

In the North Rift region, Twiga has farmer collection centers in Baringo (Equator, Mogotio), Uasin Gishu (Burnt Forest, Timboroa).

In the South Rift region, there are collection centers in Bomet County (Longisa, Silibwet), Narok (Olkurto, Wafoo, Ole Tipis, Maera) Kisii and Nyamira.

The Central highlands have Molo (Turi, Molo, Muchorwe), Laikipia (Rumuruti), Nakuru (Subukia, Ndonduri), Nyandarua (Njabini and Engineer).

In the Eastern region Twiga Foods has farmer collection centers in Makueni (Masina, Nziu, Sultan Hamud), Kitui and Machakos.

In Embu there are Kivwe, Kathageri and Kiritiri, Tharaka Nithi (Itugururu and Kiangondu)

Taveta: Kajiado (Ilasit, Kimana), Taveta (Timbila, Mkuyuni, El-Doro)

Meru: Meru (Githongo, Mitunguu, Mujwa, Egoji, Maua, Mikinduri, Timau), Isiolo (Maili Nane)

Kirinyaga: Kirinyaga (Baricho, Kagio, Kutus), Muranga (Kihumbuini, Maragwa)

Of the total food wasted last year due to inadequate markets, maize, Kenya’s staple food was the most affected with the country losing Sh29.6bn worth of the crop yet it imported another bunch worth Sh42bn.

Green bananas were the second most affected crop as farmers lost Sh24bn worth of the produce.

Other produce that went to waste due to poor storage and handling, transport, and fungi attack, according to data contained in the 2018 Economic Survey released in April, includes Irish potatoes (Sh19.7bn), milk (Sh12.4bn), beans (Sh11.5bn), ripe yellow bananas (Sh5.6bn),

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: 11 January 2019; Hits: 8366

Government to buy two million bags of maize from farmers

Maize farmers can now sell their produce to the National Cereals and Produce Board following a directive issued on 10^th January by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to the Cabinet Secretary, Agriculture at State House, Mombasa.

The president authorized the opening of buying centers and stores across the country. Initially, some farmers were selling to millers at an average price of Sh2100 per 90 kg bag, while some had hoarded the produce waiting for the cereal board to purchase.

Kenyan farmers have been experiencing a hard time in the last one year trying to sell their produce due to a failure by the ministry to release funds. Some farmers have not received payment for the whole of 2018, this has affected their income and some have switched to horticulture farming, which is the fastest growing sub-sector of Agriculture in Kenya.

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maize packing

“I used to plant maize but late payments by NCPB made me changed my mind. After delivering 120 90kg bags of maize in 2017 I stayed for nearly eight months before being paid and this led me to switch to pineapple farming which now earns me Sh20,000 weekly,” said Salome Maina, a farmer in Nandi.

However, following the directive by the government, there is hope that things will get better. The maize marketing board will buy a 90kg of maize at Sh2,500 down from Sh3,200 in 2018.

“A farmer who would like to deliver maize to us has to undergo vetting to enable us identify genuine maize farmers,” said Bonness Cheruiyot an officer at the National Cereals and Produce Board.

The vetting process involves farmers obtaining claim forms from their nearest ministry of agriculture office. The claim forms are to be accompanied by three copies of the national identity card, Kenya Revenue Authority PIN certificate and three passport photos to be certified by the area chief.

Other items required are the recipient bank details, weighbridge ticket and original delivery note which are attached to the claim form.

“During delivery the maize’s moisture content is checked in a process that takes roughly fifteen minutes. The moisture content should be not more than 13.5 per cent,” said Cheruiyot.

After delivery the farmer will then be paid through his/her bank account directly within a period of one week, although this may vary depending on availability of funds.

There was a 44 per cent increase in maize production from 32m bags recorded in 2017 to 46m bags in 2018 driven by sufficient rains and reduced impact of the Fall Armyworm according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Kenya consumes at least three million bags of maize monthly according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. The crop is used to make ugali, a dish made out of maize flour and a staple food in Kenyan households.

In 2017, the shortage of Kenya’s staple food maize, led to increase in maize flour prices from an average of Sh110 to Sh150 for a two kilogram packet forcing the government to subsidize the cost through imports.

In this, the government imported more than 100,000 tonnes of the produce to curb shortage thus allowing millers to sell a 2kg packet Sh90 each, a big relief to more than 70 per cent of Kenya’s 46m people who depend on the crop as food and for commercial purposes.

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: 09 January 2019; Hits: 35268

NGO urgently looking for farmers to grow chia crop

packed chia seeds Chia seeds packed in sacks. There is need for more farmers to grow the crop sparked by rise in demand in both local and international markets. Photo courtesy.

A non-governmental organization is urgently looking for willing farmers from all parts of the country to grow chia crop amid rising demand of the products in both local and international markets.

According to Momentum Trust, a Danish organization based in Kenya with its headquarters in Suaya County and working with small-scale farmers in Africa there are ready local and international markets prompting the need of more growers.

“We already have about 2,000 farmers growing the crop in Bungoma, Busia and Homabay counties but because of the high demand sparked by the nutrition value of the seeds there is need of more production,” said Philip Odhiambo, the organisation’s Homabay-Oyugis branch manager.

“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.”

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.

RELATED ARTICLE: Magic chia seeds earns farmer Sh1500 per kilo

How to Join

First, 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 trainings 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.”

chia crop

Chia crop.

Expected harvest and return

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 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 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.”

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

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Wednesday, 07 April 2021 [quote=Jennifer Murugi Gitahi]Hello,is this chance still available we would like...

Friday, 02 April 2021 Am planning to start farming it thank you for that much information dedansammy@g...

Saturday, 27 March 2021 Hello,is this chance still available we would like to do chia seeds farming.than...

Sunday, 17 January 2021 [quote=Ngeno][quote=Samuel]Have grown chia seeds in small scale but looking forw...

Tuesday, 12 January 2021 [quote=Samuel]Have grown chia seeds in small scale but looking forward to grow i...