Smart farms

Youth using his knowledge to train and help farmers in crop production, further linking them to markets

julius ndwati in a greenhouse

James Ndwati in a greenhouse. He manages his clients' crop production process and later link them to markets for fair prices. Photo courtesy.

A 28 years old diploma graduate in Agriculture from East African University is using his knowledge to train and help crop producers through production process and eventually link them to markets. This is after he discovered that many farmers are reportedly recording dismal yields due to lack of the necessary knowhow and experience in the venture.

Julius Ndwati says that most starters in farming today without proper planning get excited especially about venturing in horticulture crops production upon accessing some information on how these crops can mature within a short time and earn them good returns.

“I have come across many beginners in farming who have recorded almost nil returns from growing crops they heard have very lucrative income. This is because they lack some key information right from the beginning,” said Ndawati.

The young agronomist has built his experience from over time. After his graduation in 2012, Ndwati joined Latia Agribusiness Solutions Limited for a one year agribusiness entrepreneurship course.

He then had his first internship in 2014 at Dr. David Gakuo and Betty Gikonyo’s commercial feedlot farm which was starting its crop production section. The section was to be managed by Ndwati who oversaw production of among other crops onions, spinach, green maize and some traditional vegetables.

“I am happy that during that first attempt in agribusiness management we could produce 30 tonnes of onions per acre within a 35 acres piece of land resulting to 1,050 tonnes at the end of the season,” said Ndawati.

Beginning 2015, he left the farm after receiving an invitation from an orchard farmer who wanted his service in his five acres fruit farm at Isinya near Kitengela. There he managed the production of grapes, oranges, bananas and apples among others for a period of one year.

Ndwati would in 2016 leave the orchard to join KickStart International, a non-profit social enterprise focused on lifting millions of African farmers out of poverty by helping them to establish profitable businesses.

He worked as the institution’s farm manager for one year and a half overseeing tomatoes, onions, spinach, watermelon and capsicum production.

“I can remember how our production were always all time high which got the organization exposed in both social, online and main stream media for the good yields,” said Ndwati.

This to him was a challenge and in July 2017 he decided to start his own company Africa Soil and Crop Care Limited through which he would offer consultancy work for various farmers.

He then partnered with Soil Cares and became their agent where he could source for farmers who want to venture in crop farming, he samples his farm soil for testing to discern the suitable crop for the farm.

“It is advisable that farmers know the type of soil for the right cropping and this is where soil testing is key,” said Ndwati.

He also help them budget for the whole production process, take them through it and finally link them to good markets for fair prices.

Ndwati describes his company as mobile operating it from his phone while in the farms. He also has a Facebook page, Julius Ndwati, where he connects with farmers for advice and support.

“I love seeing farmers prosper that is why my main focus when a farmer calls for consultations has never been on how much I will earn but how I can improve his production.”

He is currently working with with farmers in Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru, Embu, Kiambu. Busia, Machakos, Kajiado, Nyeri, Kericho, Kirinyaga and Tana River. He has also in the past worked with some farmers in Arusha Tanzania and Uganda.

Ndwati can be reached on 0770520605

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NGO to contract 99,000 farmers in Kilifi to grow Cocoa

Kilimo Sasa Fund, a Non-Governmental Organisation that promotes use of bio-organic fertilizer is targeting 99,000 famers to grow cocoa for commercial purposes in Kilifi County.

“We are targeting to produce 40,000 to 50,000 tonnes of cocoa in the first harvest before we consider expanding to other regions,” said Gary Stubley, the Chief Executive Officer of the company.

The crop will be grown as an alternative source of income for farmers in the region who have been relying on cashew nuts as a cash crop till the government banned the crop’s export in 2009 as farmers fell cashew nut trees to burn charcoal due to low production.

Cocoa matures in two and half years, has a lifespan of 30 to 40 years and is harvested twice in a year.

Kilifi has a humid climatic condition with sandy loam soils favorable for the growth of cocoa. The county’s average annual rainfall ranges from 300mm in the mainland to 1,300mm at the coastal belt while annual temperatures range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius in the coastal belt and between 30 and 40 degrees Celsius in the main land.

Kilimo Sasa Fund will partner with the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization who will be certifying the seeds bought from Ghana while the Community Agriculture Resources Development Programme will mobilize farmers to grow the crop.

Cocoa in a world of global environmental changes – time for “uncommon collaboration”

cocoa

Cocoa crop

According to the International Cococa Organisation market review, the crop’s prices rallied by nine per cent from US$2,083 to US$2,269 per tonne in London and by three per cent from US$2,178 to US$2,238 per tonne in New York by the end of February in reaction to prospects of an increasing demand coupled with adverse weather conditions that occurred in some West African cocoa growing regions such as Ghana and Nigeria.

With the 2018/19 main crop drawing to a close, arrivals data show that, Côte d’Ivoire, the world largest producer of the crop is about to top its record cocoa production established during the 2016/17 crop year at 2.020m tonnes. As at 10th March 2019, cumulative arrivals at Ivoirian ports were seen at 1.587 million tonnes, up from 1.441 million tonnes recorded during the same period last season.

In Ghana, production is expected to remain stable despite a drought, as the country continues with the implementation of its Production Enhancement Programmes (PEP). Over the same timeframe, Nigeria’s output is expected to move downward by 10,000 tonnes to 245,000 tonnes.

It is projected that processing activities will grow by 1.6 per cent to 1.737m tonnes in Europe and by 4.3 per cent to 1.096m tonnes in Asia and Oceania whereas an increase of 1.9 per cent to 981,000 tonnes is anticipated in Africa. In the Americas, with the operations of Ferrero in Canada, processing activities are forecast to expand by 3.1 per cent to 899,000 tonnes as compared to the level attained in the same period of the previous season.

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Monday, 16 November 2020 [quote=May Kilemeko]I am the CEO of a newly registered NGO in Kenya, authorized ...

Monday, 09 November 2020 I am the CEO of a newly registered NGO in Kenya, authorized to operate in Kilifi...

Quest for healthy diet births a fruit and vegetable agribusiness for Kitui farmer

vegetables Munuve's farmhand watering tree tomato plants at his farm in Kitui. The county then gave him an acre piece of plot at Mwingi where he used to grow maize, beans, green grams and cowpeas among other crops. Photo courtesy.

Justine Munuve quitted his job in 2000 to start a botanic garden to improve the diet of his ailing mother is now running a lucrative agribusiness, a venture which has seen him mentor over 30 youth besides earning Sh1m annually from it.

He worked for Nakumatt (a Kenyan supermarket chain) Mombasa branch at its purchasing department until his mother was diagnosed with diabetes 18 years ago.

Since there was no one to attend to her, Munuve had to leave his job to look after his sick mother by helping with the doctor’s recommended foods such as vegetables and fruits among others.

“My mother fell ill. She needed support especially with the right diet to enable her improve on her nutrition as a way to complement the doctor’s prescribed medication,” said Munuve.

Buying fruits and vegetables for the sick mother everyday was not easy. “I could spend almost Sh300 per day buying some fruits and greens,” said Munuve. This was too expensive for him.

He therefore decided to start a small botanic garden where he would plant bullet chillies, eggplant, zucchini, some indigenous vegetables, bitter gourd (Karela), guava and oranges among others to cut down his budget and that the produce could be of help to his diabetic mother.

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), fruits such as oranges, passion, watermelon, apple, kiwi, and guava among others are loaded with good-for-you vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber, a powerful nutrient that can help regulate blood sugar levels and decrease your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

To his surprise, the garden yielded enough produce and the surplus could be sold in the nearby open air market to raise some money to cater for other needs.

“I was happy that the health of my mother gradually improved courtesy of the small garden which yielded enough vegetables for food and sale,” said Munuve.

This was his turning point in his new career. After the mother fully regained her health, he decided to move his farming to another level. In 2010 he wrote a proposal to the county government of Kitui for support.

“When my mother’s health had improved, I decided to increase my farming but lack of enough resources was a challenge. I therefore opted to look for support from the county government,” said Munuve.

The county then gave him an acre piece of plot at Mwingi where he used to grow maize, beans, green grams and cowpeas among others before moving into greenhouse farming of tomatoes, kales, amaranths, pumpkins and onions a year later.

Munuve is currently running Skyway Hotel in Mwingi Town. The hotel which is in Kitui County is the main consumer of his produce further cutting down his budget.

“I do not spend a lot in purchasing vegetables and fruits I need to prepare meals for my customers because I produce most of these from my farm,” said Munuve.

He also supplies his produce to colleges, schools and also sells to open air markets in the surrounding where he says there is great demand.

I am able to make over Sh1m every year from the agribusiness venture and this is motivating, he said.

Munuve has since dug a well worth Sh200,000 from which he draws water to irrigate his farm during dry periods which according to him is between July and October.

The well has enabled him further venture into tree nursery business, where he sells avocado, orange, passion, grapes and jack fruit seedlings besides selling pumpkin seeds.

He has since increased the number of youth he mentors from 12 to 30 and together with them they have been able to plant trees covering over 11 administration locations in Mwingi.

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