Smart farms

Tana River farmer who produces 30 tonnes of chilli a season, in need of contractors to grow more

bad eye chilli

bird's eye chilli. Photo courtesy.

Abdulahi Omar Sheikh, a Tana River County farmer who abandoned vegetable, onion and tomato farming last year to venture into bird's eye and bullet chillies is now producing 30 tonnes of the crop a season something which is pushing him to look for contactors to produce more owing to a guaranteed market.

Until April last year, Omar was growing vegetables, onions and tomatoes in his 10 acres of land near Odha Town and sell to traders in Kongowea Market in Mombasa. However, due to importation of the produce by Kenyan traders from Tanzania and Uganda affecting local prices, he opted to grow chillies to keep his venture alive.

“Cheap produce from the neighboring countries have really affected our local markets. Especially for tomato farmers from this area who have to look for better markets distance away end up making huge losses and get discouraged,” said Omar.

He used to harvest over 250 boxes of tomatoes and hire a lorry to transport it to Kongowea Market which according to him is 240km away from Tana River. He could sell it at Sh20 a kilo and the money realised could not cater for all his bills and leave him with at least a profit.

Tired of fluctuating market price, Omar did a short research about chilli production and marketing something which enabled him identify some chilli exporters besides learning some export requirements for chilli.

“During my research I happened to meet some exporters in Nairobi who advised me on the production of the crop for both local and international markets,” he said.

He therefore moved on to spend over Sh600,000 capital to hire land, buy 250g bird's eye chilli seeds worth Sh25,000 and Sh6000 to buy the same measure of bullet chilli seeds. He also spends between Sh4,000-6,000 every week on generator water pump fuel.

Irrigation though he says is expensive, enables him produce chilli all year round elevating his potential of producing over 30 tonnes of the crop per season.

“All I am lacking currently to match big chilli producers in the country are contractors who can help me through production process and assure me of a guaranteed market,” said Omar.

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Currently he can harvest up to five tonnes a day on order. He sells a kilo at between Sh60-80 during peak periods and at between Sh30-40 when the market is flooded to traders who sell it locally and exporters.

According to National Farmers Informational Service (NAFIS), coastal region where Tana River County is situated has a high potential for chili production.

“Owing to the expected high returns, the chilies will be among the leading cash crops in the region,” read a statement in an article published by NAFIS.

Some of the big buyers of the crop is Equator Products Limited which is already entering into contract farming with willing farmers.

Equator products is offering a guaranteed price of Sh60 per kilo of fresh chilies to contracted farmers.

From half an acre, a farmer can make a profit of about Sh140,000 from an investment cost of Sh85,000, according to NAFIS.

Omar can be reached on +254 722 710 501

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University lecturer invents automated irrigation system that will help farmers’ water crops correctly

In December 2018, Benson Muoki’s automated irrigation machine that enables farmers to correctly water their plants is set to hit the Kenyan market. This is following a six months’ research that the electronic engineer conducted in 2016 that found out that farmers in four different counties were either over watering or under watering their plants.

Muoki carried out research in Nyeri, Kiambu, Mombasa and Malindi counties on challenges facing irrigation farming in these regions from March to August 2016. From the information gathered, he found out that plants in these four counties were not receiving the 30-40mm of water required by plants under irrigation as according to Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).

“This automated irrigation manager prevents farmers from over watering or under watering their plants as it was the major challenge I found out during my research,’’ said Muoki.

The 21cm by 16 cm machine does not exceed 35 per cent water content distribution making it advantageous to farmers as it will avoid over flowing and under flowing of water giving the plant what is enough thus surpassing 15 per cent rain water stored in the soil profile.

The machine which goes at a cost of Sh47,000 serves one acre of land if only one type of crop is planted. This is because the root depth of the plant is usually measured and then sensors on the machine are fitted according to the root depth. One machine is fitted with two sensors that can serve both wet and socky soils.

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automated irrigation muoki

Benson Muoki explains how the automated irrigation system works. (Photo: Courtesy)

“The machine has two sensors at a base of 6cm deep which is the estimated measure of getting to the roots. This helps farmers to provide their crops with enough water while engaging in other duties at the machine is purely automated and operates depending on the type of setting adopted by the farmer,’’ said Muoki.

After the machine was recognized and patented by the directorate of management JKUAT in 2017, Muoki put it on several tests in September and October 2017 in Nyeri and Nairobi respectively which he says the response from farmers through emails and contacts was positive.

The automotive irrigation machine has several advantages among them: it eliminates old methods of irrigation by allowing water to flow 6 cm deep thus reaching the roots, minimizes water usage as it has a timer which ensures only the set amount of water will be used, is easy to install due its portable size, minimizes the use of electricity by using 12VC and does not require manpower due to its automotive nature.

The 56-year-old used Sh250,000, a grant he got from JKUAT which sponsored his project to buy basic components of the machine: a timer at Sh2,500, a relay at Sh1,500, a potentiometer at Sh350 and Copper electrodes which he used to finish the design and research coordination of the machine in April 2017. The remaining amount was used in software construction of the material and body construction and component shouldering of the automated irrigation machine.

Having not trained on innovations, Muoki relied on research and his skills to come up with the invention and the write up of the machine.

“I did not undergo any training prior to the innovation. I depended on research which I often did and in-born skills,’’ said Muoki.

The electrical engineer will make a profit of 20 per cent on one piece of the machine after he introduces them to the market in December as he is still shaping them up from metallic casing to plastic casing since plastic is durable, does not rust and is cheaper to purchase than metallic.

The engineer’s main challenge is the Kenyan Economy which is on the rise necessitating the rise in the cost of raw materials. For instance, back in 2016, Muoki bought a timer at Sh2500 which is double the price in 2018 at a cost of Sh5,000.

“In 2016, I bought a relay at Sh1,500 which now goes for Sh3,000. The Kenyan economy is expensive right now, what I do is calculate the production cost and from it, I establish my selling price and profit. It has not been easy,” said Muoki.

He further says that his other main challenge is the fact that he is not an agriculture specialist and farmers keep asking him questions and advices related to farming yet he cannot give a professional advice but with the help of his colleagues: Professor John Mwibanda Wesonga, a specialist in horticulture and crop protection, sustainable agriculture and ICT and Martin Obanda, a specialist in plant bio chemistry and Enzymology, he consults them and later gets back to farmers regarding their queries.

He is assisted by two other technologists: Irungu Bernard who constructed the software of the machine and Mungai Benson who constructed the body and component shoulder.

The technologist who wishes to have his own industry in future and installs the machine farmers at no cost advices young innovators on the need to do a lot of research and consultation as nothing comes easily.

“Innovation is in somebody’s mind, if you can sit and think of something you would wish to do just go and pursue it. You will go far,” said Muoki.

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Migori farmers eyes sunflower and soya bean after tobacco woes

sunflower

Migori County farmers who abandoned tobacco farming four years and have been struggling to find their new cash crops are set to grow sunflower and soya bean as their new money minting venture.

According to Kenya Tobacco Growers Association, over 10,000 farmers were growing tobacco in the county before the exit of Alliance One Tobacco Company four years ago leaving the farmers with no clear future. The company which was the biggest leaf buyer in the county moved to Uganda and Zimbabwe two years ago, citing poor leaf quality in Kenya.

However, two prominent companies, Bidco and Safaricom have struck a deal with the County Government of Migori to help the farmers engage in sunflower and soya bean production.

The County executive for agriculture Isca Oluoch said the new venture will be of great benefit to the farmers.

“Farmers used to plant tobacco in large and small scale but after the fall of the sector most have been looking for alternative cash crops,” Oluoch said on Thursday when she received officers from Bidco Kenya and Safaricom Ltd, who have since contracted 750 farmers in Suna West and Nyatike sub-counties.

She said the profits of the two products is better than what farmers got in tobacco and that the county, will also seek to have the production of the two crops rolled out in Kuria East and Kuria West sub-counties where farmers were also affected by collapse of tobacco farming.

According to the new collaboration, Safaricom, through its initiative dubbed Digi-farm, will provide technical support such as the provision of quality fertilizer, seeds and other farming inputs to increase productivity.

The Telco giant will also offer training and updates to farmers through short messages.

“We will pay farmers on the spot after delivering their products to Bidco. We are interested in ensuring the farmer is able to make money from farming,” said Elizabeth Mudogo, an officer from Safaricom’s M-agriculture department.

Bidco has also pledged to provide a ready market for the produce to allow farmers produce raw material for a range of her edible oils, soaps and other household products. The firm has been forced to import part of the products.

The Bidco’s Programme Officer, John Kariuki said the partnership will also offer farmers insurance on their crops in case of drought or other catastrophe.

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