Smart farms

: 06 May 2022; Hits: 3631

Group buying enables farmers purchase feeds for 20% less

farmer groups

By George Munene

By collecting in groups to purchase animal feed in bulk directly from producers small-scale farmers can enjoy up to 20 per cent in discounts.

“Large-volume buying cuts out the producer, distributor to stockist chain. By purchasing directly from feed makers farmers enjoy volume discounts as is the case with large-holder farmers we deal with,” explained Harrison Juma, the general manager of fish feed maker Tunga Nutrition.

Feed costs account for 50-70 percent of livestock production costs, with prices having more than doubled in the last two years, farmers are looking at all available measures that can reduce operating costs.

Besides discount prices, dealing with a collective of farmers also makes it easier for agriculture input manufacturers, i.e, feeds, pesticides, fertilisers makers to offer technical support and reduce the cost in logistics of reaching every individual farmer.

In studies, smallholder African farmers organised in groups were found to practice more modernised farming and have improved incomes.

Group members were found to be more likely to use fertilisers which meant they produced higher yields.

They are also better informed on the best and latest farming practices as they make it easier for government, NGOs, and other rural development agencies to reach and support more people at the same time. This is easier than working with individual farming households.

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: 25 April 2022; Hits: 26364

NGO looking to train young Kenyan dairy, poultry, livestock agripreneurs

heifer international

By George Munene

Heifer International, a multinational nonprofit that seeks to end hunger and poverty by investing in farmers is looking to train young dairy, poultry, or livestock farmers helping them start or grow their own agribusinesses.

The program run jointly with leading digital microlearning platform Kuza Biashara is looking to promote youth agripreneurship and will offer participants incubator support that will train them on best practices in dairy, poultry, or livestock production. Trainees will further be linked to markets and service providers enabling them to grow their businesses.

Dubbed, Heifer's Digital Field Force program, it will take in applicants aged 25-45 from Elgeyo Marakwet, Embu, Homabay, Kisumu, Meru, Migori, Nandi, Siaya, Tharka Nithi, Trans Nzoia, and Uasin Gishu counties.

“Heifer is looking to catalyze ground-up engagement of the youth in agriculture. This initiative will foster the application of digital technology in agriculture, delivering solutions that address challenges faced by smallholders at scale, ” said Adesuwa Ifedi, Senior VP Heifer Africa.

Applicants must have at least two years of prior experience in agriculture or agribusiness and have strong prior experience in community mobilisation and training of farmers.

The program is being pioneered in Kenya before expanding to the rest of Africa.

Heifer International Kenya has been working with Kenyan farmers since 1981 providing supporting over 682,000 families across the dairy, poultry, and beef value chains.

Apply here: Heifer's Digital Field Force program

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: 22 April 2022; Hits: 8239

Horn of Africa facing the worst drought in 41 years

Kenya drought 09

By George Munene

According to Ireland’s aid and humanitarian agency Concern Worldwide, the Horn of Africa is facing its worst drought since 1981.

This has left over 13 million people in Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia facing severe hunger and water shortages. Of this, up to 5.5 million children are acutely malnourished and face the prospect of death if the situation is not addressed.

Kenya

Per the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), by June 2022 3.5 million Kenyans will be facing hunger due to severe drought. This owes to a predicted fourth consecutive year of poor rains.

The ongoing drought has caused the death of over 1.4 million animals in Kenya.

Farmers in arid and semi-arid counties in Kenya which make up 89 per cent of the country’s landmass and are home to 36 per cent of the population have been most affected.

90% to 80% of water reservoirs and dams in the country’s largest counties, Turkana and Marsabit, are drying up. In Kajiado and Narok this figure is 50 per cent. This makes up most of Kenya’s major pastoral zones. Over 3 million people in these counties rely on groundwater for livestock, irrigation, and domestic purposes.

This, coupled with external market forces, has led to a leap in food and water pushing these basic commodities out of reach for most and resulting in rising malnutrition.

Somalia

Over 4.3 million people are estimated to be affected by the severe drought.

Water shortages are affecting huge parts of the country leading to large-scale displacements with an estimated 270,000 people forced to move from their homes since December alone.

According to Save the Children, an estimated 1.4 million children, nearly half of the population of children under five are likely to be acutely malnourished.

The prevailing drought has further affected over half a million of the country’s livestock population.

The situation is most dire in regions under al-Shabaab blockade making them out of reach of humanitarian workers and the government.

Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, the drought is affecting approximately 6.8 million people.

If the March to April rains are below par, this will be the fourth failed rainy season in the country and will push the crisis to unmitigable levels.

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