THE
CONNECTING FARMERS TO THE GLOBAL MARKET Ksh: 200 / Ush: 5000 / Tsh: 3,600 / Us$: 3.0 / Uk £ 2.0 June - July 2011
6 164002 138018 >
Youth Profiting From The Farm: A Paradigm Shift In Agriculture The potential of vegetable e-marketing in Kenya
Government Moves to Eradicate Tsetse Flies
Farmer Coexist with Tough Climatic Conditions.
Amiran Farmer’s Kit Sets the Stage for Careers in Agribusiness for the Youth
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Word Of The Season Managing Editor Mumassabba Michael Sales & Advertising Doris Kiende Annie Githendu Contributors Isaiah Esipisu Dr. Victor Yamo Ntinyari Muriuki Maya Jackson Karimi Wamache Martin Leshan Peter Kioko Dr. Joseph Othieno
Research Assistant Elsey K. Mbogori Publisher Tropex Limited P.O. Box 16757, 00100 GPO Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 (0)20 26 75 692 Mobile : +254 715 051 199 Email: info@tropexlimited.com Web : www.tropexlimited.com
Write to us. The Editor The Agrolink Magazine P.O. Box 16757, 00100 GPO Nairobi, Kenya Email:agrolink@tropexlimited.com
Welcome to this issue of The Agrolink. In this issue we focus on an intricate theme on youth profiting on the farm and how farming is being made attractive or “cool” for the young generation. The laxity of young people taking up farming in the past may be due to, but not limited to lack of encouragement by parents and society at large, lack of incentives, minimum exposure to agriculture in the formative years, and increase of rural urban migration. If youth are not encouraged to engage in farming then the whole East African region may be at risk. The youth are energetic, ambitious and entrepreneurial and they are raking great profits from agriculture. The agriculture sector has often been seen as a reserve of the old-guard but now has received attention from the new breed of young technologically savvy generation. Many young people are now choosing agriculture as their choice career while others are abandoning their white collar jobs for farming… isn’t that cool. With this realization, many institutions are now joining the bandwagon. In the private sector, companies like Amiran Kenya who recently launched their Amiran Next Generation Initiative are engaging the youth both on facebook and individually encouraging them to participate actively in farming. The government through its institutions has not been left behind. The Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) has launched two innovative programmes that aim at mentoring and winning the young generation back to agriculture. With all these efforts clearly the next generation will not be missing food and food security may not continue to be a top agenda in East Africa. Other interesting features in this issue are the climate change article in the farmers profile section and how farmers can diversify their farming activities to ensure profitability and the Horticulture: vegetables article that focuses on how farmers can get commodity prices via the mobile phone. We welcome your feedback and comments on all the articles as we strive to make The Agrolink even more informative and relevant. Thank you for being part of The Agrolink Community. As always we remain committed to your success.
Editors Desk.
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this magazine is correct, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any inadvertent inaccuracies or omissions. All prices mentioned are correct at the time of going to press. Views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. This magazine is protected by copyright and nothing can be wholly or partially reproduced without permission from the publishers. The magazine cannot be re-sold, lent, hired-out or otherwise disposed of without the permission of the publishers. Manuscripts, photographs, illustrations, storage media and advertising artworks are submitted on the understanding that the publishers are not liable in case of loss or damage. The publisher does not expressly endorse the advertising content of the magazine and is not liable for any damage caused there from. Copyright © 2011
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Contents
8
15 13
Aro News Roundup
4
Events
7
Horticulture: Flowers
8
Hortculture: Vegetables
10
Cash Crops
12
Livestock
13
Main Feature
15
2 | The Agrolink
2829
29
44 Agromarketing
43
Careers In Agriculture
26
The Law &Agriculture
28
Farmers Profile
29
Healthfocus
31
Farm Tool &Equipments
35
Leisure Page
46
24
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Agro News Roundup
KENYA Hillside Green Growers building a name in the European market
H
illside Green Growers attended Fruit Logistica 2011 with the assistance of Center for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI) of the Netherlands as part of their five year program with the organization. The Export Promotion Council of Kenya recommended Hillside to CBI in the year 2008, since then, Hillside
4 | The Agrolink
has been an active participant of CBI Export Coaching Programme. For the first two years, CBI audited and evaluated Hillside in terms of product quality, consistency and reliability. Training was also provided in order to improve export and marketing strategies, to successfully deal with the European standards whether marketing or logistically and to limit risks for potential European partners. After completing a strict CBI Export Coaching Programme, Hillside was presented under the supervision
of CBI at Fruit Logistica 2011. Attending Fruit Logistica with the assistance of CBI opened new markets for Hillside. Exporting activities to the Netherlands and the UK are two greatest results of CBI programs. Dubai, Kuwait and Qatar are the main countries for export by Hillside though UK and the Netherlands are two new markets which Hillside would
like to improve or increase production . They offer fruit and vegetables on these countries such as pineapple, banana, avocado, mango, grape, orange, green bean, sugar peas, sugar snap and other exotic products. Hillside also exports avocado to the Netherlands, France, Norway, France and Sweden. The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) is set to launch a US$4 million renewable energy farm in June, which will include crops, livestock and also serve as a tourist attraction. The project would pave the way for a lessdependent agrarian system, with every operation of the farm powered by solar energy. This is a new concept that demonstrates that research and science is moving away from traditional to more exciting settings like the green villages. The future of agriculture is to increase productivity and conserve the environment.
Cashing on Cashew Nuts
The collapse of the cashew nut industry set to be fixed when reforms instituted by major players in the crop’s industry begin to take effect and a processing unit set up in Mombasa. The Liberalization policies pushed on African countries by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the successful ban on exports of in-shell nuts had threat-
Agro News Roundup ened the industry for a long time exposing local farmers to a global market that they could not wade through due to poor running of cooperatives and unpreparedness for the open market. However, major reforms instituted by the cashew nut industry seek to reverse this trend. Newly-created Nut processors Association of Kenya (NutPAK) has laid down major reforms which aim at coordinating and promoting the production of the cash crop. The Kenya Cashew nut processors and Exporters association on its part has indicated that three firms have partnered in the venture of setting up a processing unit in Mombasa in the course of the year. The plant will be able to process over 16 tonnes of nuts per day and it is estimated to cost Ksh. 300 million. If all goes as planned, Kenyan farmers will be able to benefit the global high prices that Tanzania and its counterparts have been enjoying for a long time. Tanzania, which is Africa’s third-largest producer after Nigeria and Ivory Coast and the world’s eighth producer (according to FAO), is already reaping millions of shillings from processed cashew nuts that fetch higher prices in the global market.
Study faults new banana technology
A new biotechnology product
that was aimed at protecting tissue cultured bananas has been faulted by researchers at Wagenigen University of Netherlands. The product, a naturally occurring fungus Fysarium oxysporun V5w2, was set to be introduced and commercialised in Kenya. The report says that the product is a threat to banana farming. The product has been laboratory tested by the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service and is ready for mass production and distribution to farmers. The report says further says that the product does not only fail to protect tissue culture bananas from pests but was actually found to increase pest attacks leading to poor harvests. It therefore calls for better policies on the use of biotechnology products.
Researchers develop new fruit seed varieties
Researchers at the Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) Thika centre, have developed improved seeds for several crops such as bananas, Passion fruits, Macadamia nuts, Avocadoes, Pawpaws, Apples and Mangoes with an aim of changing the lives of local farmers through agriculture. The seeds developed through plant breeding are high yielding, fast maturing and disease-resistant.
The improved sweet yellow passion fruit, for example, grows around three times larger than purple passion fruit, with a higher yield and sweeter juice.Upon maturation, the fruit can be harvested after every three months. It is also very profitable to the farmer because out of a hectare, one can expect to reap 30 to 40 (metric) tonnes of fruit with a Kilo retailing between Ksh60 to Ksh100. However, many farmers have yet to benefit the fruits of these technologies due to the low supply of the improved seeds.
Drought resistant crops to fight famine in Ukambani Farmers in Ukambani will benefit from a new farming initiative focusing on drought resistant horticultural crops. The programme, funded by United States Agency for International Development and Kenya Horticulture Competitiveness Project, will cover Machakos, Kitui and Makueni districts. The project targets over 10,000 farmers in the region who will be encouraged to grow crops like greengrams, cow peas, pepper and fruits such as pawpaw and watermelon. Such crops are drought resistant and have ready market both locally and internationally.
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Agro News Roundup in the collaborative efforts to contain the disease, pioneered by their counterparts ASARECA of Uganda.
UGANDA
TANZANIA
Tanzania’s bananas Soaring Food Prices under threat In Uganda A banana disease that has Soaring international prices of raw materials resulting from the depreciation of the Ugandan shilling against major trading currencies especially the dollar have led to increased prices of items such as food, rent, clothes, transport fare, school fees and other household items. A low supply to the markets of food products such as sweet potatoes, cabbage, tomatoes, green pepper, bitter tomatoes, fish, fresh milk, bread, margarine and refined oil is also said to have contributed to the sharp rise in the food prices. It has been estimated that prices for food products rose to 24.6 percent up from 22.1 percent.
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spread from Uganda has hit the Lake Zone in Tanzania. The disease with strange symptoms has already posed a great threat over food insecurity in the whole of Kagera and neighbouring regions in the Lake Zone engaged in banana farming as it has already depleted several hundreds of acres of banana plantations mostly in Bukoba rural and Muleba districts. The disease has prompted a number of partners including Biodiversity International, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Lake Zone Agricultural Research Development Institute (LZARDI) at Maruku in Kagera to be involved in efforts to contain it. In addition, agricultural institutes from Burundi and Rwanda including Institut Des Agronomiques Du Burundi (ISABU) and Institut Des Agronomiques Du Rwanda, respectively, are taking part
The countries are undertaking joint efforts to reverse the impact of the frightening plant illness.
RWANDA Rwanda Growth
enjoys
Rwanda’s GDP hit 7.5 percent in 2010 up from 6.1 the previous year according to a new report by the National Institute of Statistics (NISR). The increase could be attributed to increased income generated from the industrial sector and the expansion of the private sector. The report further states that Agriculture grew by five percent in 2010, with a five percent growth in food crops and 14 percent in export crops which recovered from a 15 percent decrease in 2009. The report also indicates an 8 percent growth in the industrial sector while the service sector grew by 9 percent.
Events Agricultural Society Of Kenya Shows Date
Event
01 June 2011
Meru National Show
08 June 2011
Venue
Time/Duration
Meru
June 1st - 4th
Livestock Breeders Show and Sale
J/Park
June 8th - 10th
16 June 2011
Eastern Kenya Branch Show
Embu
June 16th - 18th
23 June 2011
Western Branch Show
Kakamega
June 23rd -25th
30 June 2011
S.E. Kenya Branch Show
Machako
02 July 2011
Y.F.C.K National Rally
J/Park
July 2nd 1 day
07 July 2011
Nakuru National Show
Nakuru
July 7th - 10th
14 July 2011
Southern Kenya Branch Show
Kisii
July 14 - 16th
27 July 2011
Kisumu Regional Show
Kisum
July 27th - 31st
04 August 2011
Mt.Kenya Branch Show Nanyuki
Nanyuki
August 4th - 6th
June 30th - July 2nd
2011 Brookside Livestock Breeders Show & sale Show Dates: 8th -10th June 2011, Between 8.00am and 5.00pm. Venue:Jamhuri Park, Nairobi.
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Horticulture: Flowers
Flourishing flower markets for small-scale farmers through collective marketing
T
he flower market in Kenya is on the rise once again after suffering a blow from Icelandic ash and heavy snow fall last year, fluctuating currencies and skyrocketing fuel prices. According to the Kenya Flower Council, flower shipments climbed up by 10% to 22,000 metric tons in the first two months of 2011 therefore forecasting a bright year for the flower industry. Key players in the market are bracing themselves to tap into this year’s promising sales. The flower market structure is well defined internationally but not established in the local arena. The market chain is usually from the large-scale growers in Kenya to the Dutch auction. The small-scale growers in many cases act as outgrowers for the large-scale growers with few smallscale growers venturing into the local 8 | The Agrolink
market. Things are changing though, with more Kenyans becoming aware of flowers and starting to use them for occasions like Valentine’s Day, weddings and even for decorating offices. This creates an internal local market for flowers, which needs players to satisfy this new market. According to the ministry of Metropolitan development Kenya is also planning to introduce a flower market in Nairobi. This will act as a platform for both vendors and buyers for doing business. This will help establish the local market. Most of the Kenyan flowers are sold in Holland, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Switzerland, which translates to 35% of all the flower sales in Europe. Flowers sold in these markets include roses, carnations and many types of fillers. These markets have favored Kenyan flower farmers since the euro has strength-
Horticulture: Flowers ened against the Kenya shilling meaning that farmers get more returns when they convert the euro to Kenya shillings. Furthermore, the European commission has raised its forecast for economic growth to 1.6% in 2011 from 1.5% in November 2010. This means that there may be an increased demand for flowers in Europe. Through research by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), smallscale farmers have ventured into growing wild summer varieties which require less investment as compared to roses and carnations. Some of the varieties being grown include anthurium, gerbera, calla lily, gladiolus, leather leaf fern and lily. They thrive well because of the good climatic conditions experienced in Kenya, which lies on the equator. The main growing areas are in Eastern, Rift valley, Central and Coast provinces. These varieties grown in these areas are sold into the local market as well as for export into the European market. Most of the smallscale farmers grow them on very small pieces of land; often less than an acre, hence produce small volumes per farmer. The small-scale farmers have been trained through the pesticide initiative program on most of the compliance requirements for the European Union markets especially the global gap among other certification procedures. This training encompasses safe use of pesticides, integrated pest management and compliance to traceabil-
ity. This has opened an opportunity for them to access high niche markets in Europe. One of the main challenges is low production volumes per individual small scale farmer. This creates an impediment in sending their produce directly to the lucrative European Union markets and makes them sell it to a local large industry player who in turn ships the consignment to Europe. This more often than not ends up giving the farmer less return than if they accessed the market directly. Since small-scale farmers have the required knowledge and skills acquired through training, they can access the high niche markets through collective marketing. By forming groups through which they can assemble their produce together, get the quality checked to ensure they meet the desired standards, and assembling large volumes as necessary to meet the minimum shipping quantity to break even, then they can enjoy the lucrative European market directly. The same farmer groups can explore the upcoming local markets as well by growing the summer varieties. With sufficient volumes, they can have a bargaining power and sell their flowers locally at a profitable price. The government should develop proper policies to promote the local flower market, which has been neglected for a long time. Improved infrastructure will greatly boost the local flower industry by ensuring reduced transport costs among other benefits. This will encourage more players to join and make the market a success. By Peter Kioko The Agrolink
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Horticulture: Vegetables
The potential of vegetable e-marketing in Kenya
V
egetables are an accompaniment in almost every meal not only in Kenya but all over the world. This makes them quite important in peoples’ diets consequently driving their demand up, but paradoxically, small scale farmers mostly end up getting low prices for their produce in developing countries, and more specific, in Kenya. This may be attributed to many factors, which complicate marketing of vegetables in Kenya. These factors include but are not limited to; overproduction as a result of all farmers planting at the same time when the weather is favorable, poor post harvest handling which lowers quality and lack of storage facilities, long transaction chains between the farmers and the consumers, low production volumes with uneven quality standards, poor access to appropriate market information, among others. According to a household survey by Tegemeo institute/MSU in 2000, farmers sell 64% of the produce and retain 36% for domestic con10 | The Agrolink
sumption. Out of the 64% sold, 52% is consumed in the local markets. This shows that the domestic market takes the lion’s share of the total vegetable production. The domestic market is not well structured like the international markets. Various marketing chains exist, which include, small scale farmers to rural retail centers; small scale farmers to rural assembly markets who in turn sell to urban wholesale markets who then distribute the produce to open air retail markets, kiosks, high end green grocers, supermarkets, hotels and processors; small scale farmers can also sell directly to urban wholesale markets who in turn distribute the produce to their respective distribution chains as mentioned earlier. The longer the marketing chain, the lower the returns to small scale farmers. Farmers occasionally get high prices especially when there is a shortage that maybe caused by bad weather conditions and high effective demand. This is mainly experienced by tomato growers who manage to raise a crop during the rainy season when the crop from other farmers is destroyed by high disease incidences due to prevailing conducive climatic conditions for disease outbreak. Kales and cabbages fetch high prices in the markets during the dry spell when there are no other greens like cowpea and amaranthus in the market. Traditionally, prices are low in areas, which
Horticulture: Vegetables have high vegetable production potential as opposed to areas where they don’t produce much. This is caused by a glut in the local market occasioned by overproduction in the high potential areas. It is also as a result of the small scale farmers failing to explore other market chains and selling only in the rural retail centers or to the rural assembly markets. On the contrary, markets further from the high potential zones offer higher prices but may be inaccessible due to poor infrastructure or lack of information. The main vegetables grown and utilized in the Kenyan market include, kales, cabbages, carrots, onions, tomatoes, parsley, chillies, courgettes, cauliflower, brinjals, capsicum, spinach and lettuce. Vegetables for the domestic markets are usually grown by smallscale farmers though some of them export but the export market is mainly dominated by the large scale growers. These small scale farmers lack proper market information and consequently miss out on high niche markets. For farmers to access good prices in the markets, proper planning, timing and information is required. Farmers should endeavor to understand the market cycle and the seasonality of the crops they are growing. It’s advisable to grow vegetables and aim to get into the market when there is a shortage and not when the market is flooded. The lower the supply, the higher the prices. This is an economic principle that farmers can only ignore at their own peril. For farmers who want to grow the vegetables during the main season, then they should consider value addition. Tomatoes can be processed into a sauce or powder which can store for long and would fetch a higher market price. Greens can be dried [using solar driers which are affordable] and sold when the markets are less flooded. Access
to information is vital in marketing. If market information is available, one can compare different market prices and know which region to target. Different towns offer different prices for the same commodity during the same time period. By selling in those markets one would probably make a profit even after paying for transport. With the advances made in the mobile telephony and improved road networks, one can access market prices for major towns in Kenya through short text messages offered by the Kenya Agricultural Commodity Exchange (KACE) and M-Farm. These services are available at a fee whereby one can send an sms and receive the desired information in a short while. This enables one price his or her commodities appropriately and also decide where to sell them if transport cost is not prohibitive. By making contacts in major towns, one can send their produce without even accompanying it and the money from the proceeds is send back via the mobile phone money transfer services (M-pesa, Zap or Yu cash). Farmers can gain more from farming if they utilize e-marketing, thus by accessing market information through mobile phones, which enables them know which market is offering high prices. They can also transact with contact persons at main market centres whereby they send their produce and because they already know the price in that market, the contact person will sell the produce and transfer the money back to the farmer through the mobile phone money transfer service. This reduces transport charges and other costs incurred due to logistics. With the government’s commitment in improving road transport networks, farmers can now be in a position to access markets, which are kilometers away at a low cost. By having the right information, proper infrastructure, and proper timing while planting, then small scale farmers can get good returns from their produce. If timing is not done properly and one gets their produce to the market when there is a glut, value addition can go a long way in ensuring that they get high returns fro their vegetables. By Peter Kioko. The Agrolink
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Cash Crops
New Wheat Varieties to Assist in Food Security
F
try’s premier institution for agricultural research and technology transfer, has released more than 100 wheat varieties
Wheat is the second most important cereal crop in Kenya, after maize. But despite the increasing wheat production, the country produces just a third and has to import two-thirds of its annual wheat demand, now at vastly higher prices. Kenya Agricultural Research Institution (KARI), the coun-
since it began operations in 1927. The institution believes that scientific techniques like mutation are amongst the best options for Kenya to develop better wheat varieties. Plant breeders in KARI have over the years successfully released innovative wheat varieties like Njoro-BW1and DH4 with key side benefits such as moderate susceptibility to wheat rust, high yields, with grains valued for flour production of good baking quality and high protein
ood security currently posses as the greatest challenge to mankind more so compounded with increasing rates of climate change. Soaring food prices are threatening the survival of mankind and the most affected are the impoverished populations around the globe.
12 | The Agrolink
content. These traits make the wheat varieties have a high market value compared to the other varieties. Currently, KARI is involved in yet another ambitious plan to develop more resistant wheat varieties for the country and the region at large. The two wheat varieties, Robin and Eagle, will be available upon proper testing and multiplication by Kenya Seed Company. Other popular wheat varieties currently in the market are Duma, Ngamia, Fahari, Kongoni, Mbuni, Nyangumi, Popo, Kwale and Mwamba.
Livestock Corner
Government Moves to Eradicate Tsetse Flies
A
fter a successful eradication of tsetse flies within the Lambwe Valley in Southern Nyanza, the government has embarked on a similar project to eradicate the insect from game reserves within Eastern province, to save the area domestic animals from acquiring trypanosomiasis (Nagana). Though indicators in many areas within Meru/Mwea tsetse region show that the insect has already been combated, the government is already contemplating aerial spraying of insecticides especially over the Meru National Park and neighboring areas to ensure total eradication. “Negotiations with concerned parties especially in the environmental sector are in top gear. The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) will soon contact
an Environment Impact Assessment before we finally embark on the aerial spraying,” said Dr Joseph Othieno, the communication officer – Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC), an outfit within the Department of Veterinary Services. The project is an initiative by regional African heads of state and government that was formed with the main objective of eradicating tsetse and the diseases they spread in man and animals from the African continent. The decision arrived at in 2000, in Lome Togo culminated in the launch of PATTEC in Burkina Faso in 2002 and the subsequent establishment of PATTEC coordination unit at the Commission of African Union in Addis Ababa and with national secretari-
ats in all the countries affected by the tsetse problem. African Development Bank became the first sponsor for the implementation of the tsetse eradication campaigns in the first six countries in a phased approach intended to cover the 37 infested African countries, Kenya included. In Kenya, the first phase of tsetse control activities is ongoing in three regions namely Lake Victoria basin, Meru/Mwea and the Lake Bogoria tsetse belts before it spreads to all other infested areas. “We are convinced that the insect has successfully been eradicated from the Lambwe Valley, the area where the project commenced its activities in the year 2006. However, we may soon commission a scientific study to confirm our claims,” said Daniel Gamba, the project entomologist. To eradicate the insect, the project employs different methods including use of insecticide treated fabrics, animal spraying, sterilization of male tsetse flies, and if accepted, aerial spraying method may soon be used. “Sterilization of male tsetse flies is the very last method we use after we are convinced that the prevalence is near to zero. Here, male flies are sterilized in a laboratory setting using ultra violet rays, then released to the bush to search for the females,” said the entomologist. Biologically, female tsetse The Agrolink
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Livestock Corner flies mate once in their lifetime. Once this is done, the sperms are stored and will be used to fertilize eggs over and over again. Yet if the semen produced at that first time turns out to be sterile, then it means the female will lay infertile eggs in the entire lifetime, hence killing the generation. At the same time, insecticide treated fabric targets have been erected in strategic areas within game parks and reserves. “At the targets, we use open bottles filled with bull’s urine. And because of the odor, the insects are always guised to think they are landing on animals when they are actually landing on insecticide treated targets that would eventually kill them,” said Gamba. The intervention has so far seen residents scale up their animal husbandry. “Through the government interventions against the insect, we can now rare high value dairy breed in this area,” said Samuel Muturi Karobia of Namori Village, a stone throw
from Mwea game reserve. Karobia has acquired two Friesian dairy cattle through Madiafa Self Help Group. According to the farmer, raring of pure breeds was not possible with tsetse flies in the vicinity because of the animals’ sensitivity to diseases cause by the flies. To ensure sustainability of the pest control, PATTEC has donated spray pumps to residents through such community based organizations. “We have as well trained them on how to spray their domestic animals using the pumps,” said Dr Othieno. According to government statistics, animal trypanosomiasis prevalence within Mwea/ Meru region was found to be 15.6 per cent by February 2008 with the highest rating in Mburutani centre. But in December 2009, the disease situation was still high as the prevalence in Ngetani (Mtangani) was found to be 14.11 per cent even after the control indicators de-
tected zero catches in flies. It is due to such situation that the project has embarked on free mass treatment of all domestic animals within the infested areas. According to records, the total tsetse infested area in Kenya is about 92,000 square kilometers. But PATTEC targets to eradicate the flies from about 24,000 square kilometers in the first phase of the project. Tsetse flies have been considered to be a health risk in many African countries. They transmit trypanosomiasis, an infection of the central nervous system. Trypanosomiasis comes in two forms: Rodesian (sometimes called East African trypanosomiasis) and Gambian (sometimes called West African trypanosomiasis). Rhodesian trypanosomiasis, also known as nagana, is transmitted from animal to animal through the fly and mostly affects cattle, horses, and wild animals like antelope. However, humans can also be infected. The Gambian form is much more prevalent and only affects humans. In Kenya, the disease also known as the Sleeping Sickness was rampant within the Lambwe Valley in South Nyanza. But in the past three years, the insect has nearly been eradicated, highly lowering chances of the disease progression. By Isaiah Esipisu
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Main Feature
Youth Profiting On The Farm: A Paradigm Shift In Agriculture
An Amiran Farmer’s Kit in Ukambani grows crops inside the greenhouse and outside
Amiran Farmer’s Kit Sets the Stage for Careers in Agribusiness for the Youth
I
n a tiny village known as Kyumbuni along the way to Kithimani market in Eastern Kenya, one cannot miss out on the elegancy of two well constructed greenhouses with the Amiran trademark, which stands out in the drought stricken area.
It is possible to dismiss it as a project owned by a rich development conscious retiree, gracefully enjoying benefits of years of hard
work. Though, the opposite is the reality. The project is just a beginning of a dry-land farming career.
tal city – just like any other young man would do,” said the farmer. But like an insect jumping from a hot frying pan to the red hot fire, Brian found tougher life awaiting him at the city than he could imagine.
“The main aim why I left for the city was to avoid helping my parents on their farm. Being a young jolly boy, I thought that toiling in the farm was not the best idea,” he said. “When I finished my sec- But upon arriving at the ondary education in the city, he joined thousands year 2007, the first move of other youthful individu was to migrate to the capiBrian Mutinda, 21 years of age, is the inspiring young and budding farmer behind the whole idea of making horticulture possible in such a dry-land area.
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Main Feature als in city casual jobs which could pay him not more than Sh150 per day. However, he vividly recalls one day while marketing services and products of one telecommunication firm in the city’s Dandora sprawling estates, when he was confronted by armed thugs and robbed of every penny he had gathered on that very day. They did not spare his shoes and a cap he was putting on to shield his skull from the simmering hot sun.
water tank, a farmer’s knapsack sprayer, gold medal seeds, fertilizer to cover one season of crop, agrochemicals sufficient for one season, personal protective gear, training and Agro Support.
Yanguni Secondary School and Ndalani Secondary School where the kits had been erected, and I immediately knew that this was the way to go, especially in the dry-land areas which are already being complicated by the “I visited three schools ever changing climatic including the Matuu Holly conditions,” said Brian. Ghost Secondary School, Under normal circum-
“That was my last day in the city as a casual labourer,” he recalls. He therefore returned home before the end of the first year in the city – where he had no choice but to continue helping his father on the farm. But in the year 2010, while at home, he witnessed his area Member of Parliament Hon. Charles Kilonzo distributing Amiran Farmers’ Kits (AFK) to schools in the constituency, as some of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) projects. The kit is a ‘self contained’ tool which includes a greenhouse, a drip irrigation system, a collapsible 16 | The Agrolink
A young Amiran Farmer enjoying a good harvest Caption
Main Feature
17 year old Hawi Sintenayeu of Matuu Secondary Girls School in Yatta, guides Hon Wycliffe Oparanya, Minister of Planning, Development and Vision 2030 through the AFK plot during the launch of the Amiran Next Generation Farmers Initiatvie
stances, greenhouses are the most ideal tools for dry-land farming because within the structures, one can easily control the heat, the amount of water to be exposed to the crops, and the flow of carbon-dioxide in and out of the structures making the environment ideal for the crops planted therein. “When I made up my mind, I approached my father and persuaded him to help me try the greenhouse farming method, which sounded very new and complicated to him,” he said. But since his father had trust in his son, he took the risk and went for a loan with an objective of purchasing the farmer’s kit. “We bought the kit from the Amiran Headquar-
ters in Nairobi, and on 10 September 2010, I went for a one day training at the Amiran offices, under a professional agronomist – Duncan Mwaniki as my tutor,” recalled Brian.
developing resistance, weed management in a greenhouse setting, use of the drip irrigation system, fertilizer application, establishment of seedbeds, harvesting techniques to avoid damages, post harvest management, record keeping among other lessons. He was later awarded a certificate after the full course. On 12th and 13th of the same month, Amiran Kenya Limited sent technicians to construct a greenhouse on a farm given to Brian by his father. “It took a tiny – almost negligible space that was eight metres by 24 metres,” said Brian.
The lessons learned during the one day training included proper ap- He later planted tomatoes plication of chemicals to of Corazon variety which avoid chances of pests were harvested as from
An Amiran Farmer’s Kit growing in the Greenhouse and in the Outside area all covered by drip irrigation The Agrolink
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Main Feature is a youth friendly venture, and a money making career that cannot be ignored anymore, or left for the elderly who are used to the ancient methods of farming,” he advices the youth. Brian is just one of hundreds of youths countrywide who have chosen Yariv Kedar, Amiran’s Head of Agro Division explains the ease of water regiment to Prime Minister Raila Odinga at the launch of the Amiran Donated AFK to the Milimani High School ingreenhouse farming as a Naivasha. lifetime career especially with the changing cliDecember 2010. “From matic conditions. “As then, I started making Amiran strives to conat least Sh18,000 per tinue to provide farmer week, which compares friendly, high quality very poorly to Sh900 products coupled with I used to make in the the Knowledge and same period of time Know How needed to while in the city as a calead a successful agrisual labourer,” he said. business unit, we are seeing less and less From the proceeds, the of our farmers talking young adult has been about ‘food security’ able to purchase a secand more farmers talkond kit of the same size ing about agribusiness with an aim of doubling and making enough the profits. “This is just money to lift themselves the beginning. I will evenout of poverty” says tually fill the entire eight Gilad Millo, Amiran’s acre piece of land with Head of Administration, greenhouses,” he said. Business Development and Public Relations. So far, he has used the “Dozens of young proceeds supplemented farmers are accepting with some support from ployed a farm manager to continue manning the farm that Farming is Cool and his father to pay his colas he takes his studies. joining the agribusiness lege fees at the Moi Unirevolution by starting their versity in Eldoret, where he is studying chemical “Farming is cool. And with own small scale agribusiengineering. He has em- the Amiran Farmer’s Kit, it ness units every day.
“Farming is cool. And with the Amiran Farmer’s Kit, it is a youth friendly venture, and a money making career that cannot be ignored anymore, or left for the elderly who are used to the ancient methods of farming,”
18 | The Agrolink
Main Feature the ‘Farming is Cool’ approach and engage in agribusiness” says Millo adding that “in every
Cherry tomatoes growing in an Amiran Farmer’s Kit in Kilifi on the Coast of Kenya.
We at Amiran believe that together with our partners, as we scale up in terms of the number of young farmers engaged in agribusiness, we will be able to impact the entire region by harnessing the power of the small scale farmers, who like Brian, understand the sense of embracing agribusiness as a career.” By the beginning of this year, the Amiran Farmer’s Kit (AFK) had been installed and included in the educational curriculum of more than 350 schools across the country through CDF projects and through the efforts of the Kenya Red Cross Society, who have partnered with Amiran Kenya to place Amiran Farmer’s Kits in schools in the drought stricken areas
of North Eastern, Ukambani and along the Coast. The Ministry of Youth partnered with Amiran to erect an additional 100 AFK’s in 100 Youth Polytechnics throughout the country, raising to over 30 thousand, the number of students exposed to this modern agribusiness approach and learning about greenhouse farming, drip irrigation and proper selection and use of seeds, fertilizers and agro-chemicals in a virtual classroom that is now a part of their school. “In March of this year, Amiran launched the Amiran Next Generation Farmers Initiative, which aims to bring the Amiran Farmer’s Kit to every school in Kenya, while encouraging the youth of the country to adopt
school the AFK serves to bring money into the school from sale of the produce, it has a positive impact on the diet of the students enriching their meals with vegetables, it serves as a demonstration site for the community around the school, and most importantly it is helping us to educate the next generation of Kenya’s farmers”. Many of the Humanitarian organizations, NGOs and donors have adopted the Amiran Farmer’s Kit and Amiran’s approach to small scale farmers as their preferred way of creating sustainable development. Evidence of this is a recent statement made by Mr Abbas Gullet, Secretary General of the Kenya Red Cross Society, stating that he “would rather give out food security than food,” something which the organization has actively initiated by mounting AFKs all over the country especially in the Arid and Semi arid Areas. World Vision Kenya has The Agrolink
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Main Feature also taken a very active role in promoting the agribusiness revolution by partnering with Amiran to place 200 Amiran Farmer’s Kits in various locations across the country. “We had never known about greenhouse farming until a few months ago when officers of the World Vision Kenya donated an Amiran Farmer’s Kit to us,” said Halima Bonaya, the secretary of Kula Mawe Self Help Group in Kula Mawe village in Isiolo – North Eastern Province. Initially, villagers of Kula Mawe depended on buying horticultural products from different areas that receive rain. “The name of this area is Kula Mawe, literally meaning ‘eat stones’. The entire area is full of stones, and it usually rains once after several years. But with a greenhouse, we have been able to grow tomatoes and other horticultural crops that provides a supplementary diet to the nomadic community who perpetually feed on meat and milk,” said Bonaya. To ensure finance for the the kits, allowing poorer people to access the technology, Amiran has part20 | The Agrolink
nered with several financing institutions including Equity Bank, Co-operative Bank and the Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT). Under the micro-financing schemes, the financing organization purchases the Amiran Farmer’s Kit for the client and by using the fully installed kit, the farmer (who is the client) is expected to use proceeds made to responsibly repay the loan. “The Amiran Farmer’s Kit represents a Holistic approach to agribusiness because it includes everything the farmer needs to succeed in terms of the high quality inputs, the Knowledge and the Know How, which are provided in the AFK training, and the Agro-Support, which means that the farmer is accompanied and supported by an expert Amiran agronomist throughout the season” says Millo.
a clear goal – to attract a younger caliber of farmers. “The average age of the Kenyan farmer is today in the mid to high 50’s whereas the average age of the Amiran Farmer is in the mid 30’s” say Christopher Nzuki, Amiran’s Integrated Project’s Manger, who is one of the leaders of the Amiran Agribusiness Revolution, which is sweeping the country. “With the age of Amiran Farmers dropping every day, a presence on Facebook is another way of showing a younger audience that agribusiness is an attractive route to take” explains Gilad Millo. Amiran Kenya scooped the coveted award for the Millennium Development Goal 1 – the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, for The Amiran Farmer’s Kit, from the MDGs Trust Fund, in 2010. Sponsors of the MDG Awards included UNDP, Microsoft and the End Poverty 2015 Millennium Campaign among others.
In the ‘Farming is Cool’ spirit, Amiran has taken its campaign to energize the youth about agribusiness to Facebook, the social networking plat- By form. Amiran’s recent Isaiah Esipisu decision to join the worldwide Facebook craze has
Main Feature
Youths for Agriculture: An ADC initiative
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approach to agriculture.
The two programmes were launched by the Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Sally Kosgei at the Kenya High School on 10th May 2011.
he agricultural development corporation (ADC), as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility, has launched two innovative programmes which aim at winning the young generation back to agriculture. The Managing Director of ADC Mr. William Kirwa said “Under the ADC MkuThe school-based programmes namely lima junior steer Competition, ADC will ADC Mkulima Junior Steer Competition donate steers to schools for students and ADC Mkulima Junior Mentorship to fatten them and thereafter comprogrammes seek to encourage high pete for a trophy to be awarded during school students to embrace agriculture the Nairobi International Trade Fair. by exposing them to a more practical The competition will allow students to The Agrolink
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Main Feature
develop their skills in animal husbandry, teamwork and communication whilst providing them with exposure to their specific industry. ADC will support the process through provision of tech nical advice and sale of animal feeds�.
schools, will be attached to ADC farms during their vocational holidays. They will be placed under special care by ADC Farm Managers who will expose them to livestock management, crop production, safety at work and equipment use on the farm and a variety of This programme wills also en- other farm activities. courage schools to venture into livestock and crop activities as This agement and also as a way a way of increasing food pro- of giving back to the Community duction and generating income. as Corporate Social Responsibility The other programme, ADC Mkulima (CSR)�. junior Mentorship program, has been designed to develop the practical By Mumassabba Wamache skills appropriate to local agricultural situations. Selected mentees, who will be nominated by their respective
22 | The Agrolink
Main Feature THE ADC MKULIMA STEER COMPETITION LAUNCH EVENT Venue: Kenya High School Date: 10 may 2011 Photos: The Agrolink photographer
Dr. Sally kosgei with some of the students present
The Minister for agriculture: Hon. Dr. Sally kosgei officially flags off the competition
From left, ADC Chairman Mr Lee Waruingi, Dr sally Kosgei, Mrs Rosemary Saina principal Kenya High School na ADC Managing Director Mr William Kirwa
Kenya High School students Pose with one of the Steers donated by ADC The Agrolink
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Agromarketing
Research Conducted Among Farmers in meru and Kirinyaga
The major Vegetables grown in survey that was conducted these areas are as shown above. by The Agrolink during the kaguru and kamuiti ATC field days to determine the growing of Horticultural Crops (mainly veg- The study indicated that 70% of etables) in parts of Meru and Kirin- farmers in Meru and Kirinyaga yaga districts has revealed that, 95 prefer to source their seeds and % of farmers in Meru grow vege- planting materials from stocktables, whereas in Kirinyaga, 81% ists and agrovets near them. of the farmers grow vegetables. Other farmers prefer to source their seeds from farmers centre’s, company suppliers, from their neighbors while some recycle last season’s harvest as their seed.
A
Major Vegetables grown in Meru
Source
of
Seeds
It can be observed that 70% of the farmers thus prefer sourcing their seeds and planting materials from agrovets. This can thus mean that companies which capitalize on their stockists and agrovets will reap more benefits than those which use other avenues.
Seed Price and Seed Quality Major Vegetables grown in Kirinyaga 24 | The Agrolink
There is a significant influence of both Seed price and its qual-
Agromarketing ity when farmers go to purchase seeds. Simlaw seed, Amiran, Monsanto, Kenya Highland and East African seed companies were the most preferred seed companies in terms of their quality and pricing. Other seed companies known to the farmers include Safari seeds, Pannar seeds, Seedlinks and Western seed companies.
• Fertilizer (Which fertilizer to buy) • Seeds (Which seed to buy) • Agronomy (How to grow the crop)
Over 60% of the interviewed farmers said they would chose one among these companies as their source of seed and planting material
Many farmers in these areas practice mixed farming in which they grow different types of crops within their farms and also keep livestock.
Major Challenges facing farmers
The major kinds of animals kept include; Cattle, Goats, Chicken, Fish, Rabbits and Sheep.
The other challenges identified include financial constraints, Lack of water and natural calamities.
Veterinary Services
The farmers identified the Concerning veterinary services, key challenges that face the many farmers seek the sevices growing of vegetables as: from private practioners, Public veterinary extension officers • Markets (where to take and Local farmers in that order of their produce for sell) preference. • Chemicals (Which chemical to By The Agrolink staff buy) The Agrolink
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Careers in Agriculture Manager • Teacher • Plant Breeder
Potential Employers
• • • • • • •
HORTICULTURALIST
T
he horticultural industry is fast growing both in the region and globally. Horticulture has been recognized worldwide as a multi-billion-dollar industry. It offers a large selection of career choices. The careers offer employees the opportunity to work within office environment or outdoors
Commercial Greenhouses Bedding Plant Producers Florists Seed Companies Commercial Nurseries Landscape Contractors Garden Centers • Arboretums • Botanical Gardens • Park Districts • Golf Courses • Commercial Lawn Care Companies • Consulting Firms • Fruit and Vegetable Growers • Produce Distributors • Universities and High Schools • Ministries and Parastatals of Agriculture • Research Agencies • Extension Services • Supply Companies
So, if you are thinking of becoming a Characteristics some Horticulturalist these are some of the Horticulture workforce majors you could settle on: Floriculture and Olericulture Industries Floriculture concerns itself in flowers • Horticulture/Garden Writer while olericulture deals with vegeta• Landscape Designer bles. • Greenhouse Manager The work undertaken by the workforce • Floral, vegetable and fruit Crop in these industries includes: Marketer • Floral Designer • Growing and harvesting of commer• Landscape Contractor cial flowers and vegetables, flower • Urban or Park Horticulturist and vegetable seed, foliage and es• Home and Commercial Lawn Care sential oil crops, 26 | The Agrolink
Careers in Agriculture • Management and maintenance of field and controlled growing environments, • Post harvest treatments and production of plant products, • Wild harvesting and processing of commercial flowers and vegetables, flower and vegetable seed, foliage and essential oil crops.
Landscape Industry
prise the following: • establishment and maintenance of commercial and recreational turf, • design and preparation of sports turf playing surfaces, • domestic mowing and turf maintenance operations, • commercial growing and supply of turf, • management of recreational and sport turf facilities, • provision of technical advice on turf irrigation, pest and disease control and turf management practices.
The work undertaken by those employed in the Landscape sector can comprise construction and maintenance of domestic and commercial landscapes, design of gardens and commercial landscapes, rehabilitation The Nursery Industry and maintenance of urban bushland, There is a wide diversity of enterprises construction and installation of amenity that comprise the Nursery sector with and recreational landscape structures, the major distinction being between production, wholesale and retail nursProvision of technical advice and for- eries. Some nurseries are involved in ward estimates on landscape develop- two or three sectors. ment proposals. The work undertaken by those employed in the nursery sector can comLandscape work is associated with prise the following: commercial construction, hotel and resort construction, engineering projects • propagation, production and mainalong transport corridors, new housing tenance of plants for sales and/or developments, and improvements to hire, residential, commercial and industrial • wholesaling and retailing of plants properties. and associated products, • provision of advice on plant selection and garden design, The Turf Industry It comprises two industry groups, the • marketing and promotion of plant products and services. growing and sale of turf and the care and management of turf. The work undertaken by those employed in the Turf Industry can comThe Agrolink
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Business Counsel updated, and it helps that you create a periodic summary of your income and expense. Your summary will show you in a glance if your business is doing well or not that can determine your corresponding action. • Prepare Your Financial Reports From The Summaries The relevance of these periodic summaries can now be seen in the preparation s discussed in the ments such as official of your financial reports April – May issue receipts, vouchers, in- such as Income Statebookkeeping is in- voices, sales and delivery ment, Balance Sheet, and deed not glamorous but receipts among others. more. When you have is the backbone of ev- Keep these documents accurately created sumery successful business. safe and secured prefer- maries of your financial ably in one place where transaction, it can lessen Farming is a business and you can easily retrieve the time and the complexishould be run profitably. In them as the need aris- ties of preparing your busithe previous issue we high- es. The information on ness’s financial reports. lighted the importance of these documents is what bookkeeping in agriculture you record in a process Financial reports are necand now we will share with known as book keeping. essary and mandatory for you some simple bookacquisition of financing keeping techniques that will • Create a Periodic for your business, encourhelp you grow your farming Summary of Your Incom- aging investors, fulfilling practice to the next level. ing (Income) and Outgoing your financial obligations (Expense) Transactions to the government in the • Keep all Your Fiform of taxes, and more. nancial Transaction The main purpose of book Documents Safe and keeping is to determine Accurate recording and Secured in One Place whether your small busi- simple book keeping techness is making money or niques take out the diffiThe primary role of book not. This requires an ac- culty in the preparation of keeping in any business curate recording of your these reports that benefit is to record the financial income and expense to your small business. Start transactions of the busi- find out if you are earning to simplify the book keepness company. The main profits from your business. ing process on your farm requirement in recording Your financial records or today. is the transaction docu- books should be regularly
Simple Bookkeeping Techniques for Farmers
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28 | The Agrolink
The law and agriculture A historical Background of Kenya’s Agricultural laws. Historical Background
Why do we have so many pieces of Legislation?
Kenya’s agricultural sec-
tor is governed by over 130 pieces of legislation. Many of these are out of date with the current economic thinking and are in need of updating, amendment, and repeal. The traditional pace and method of updating legislation has been extremely slow. The tragedy is that even those pieces that have gone through parliament have not been fully implemented due to flaws in the new bills, sections that are impossible to implement, and resistance from various quarters. To understand agricultural law in Kenya and even the greater East Africa you will need to review the historical background of these laws.
•
•
• • •
• •
Exercise of colonial power 19001955: Motives of legislation were: • Control of crop and livestock production and marketing Rules, licensing, control crop and livestock numbers/cropping patterns Designate beneficiaries of government resources + allow for collection of cess Designate monopoly marketers/areas/forms/ grade and standards Control/exclude African . Licensing. (e.g. tea, coffee) Specify all that could/or could not be done. And can be done against your will, but at your cost - Terracing, cattle dipping, vaccination, weeding Create crimes + sanctions. System of police state
(including Agricultural officers) – stop, examine, enter, seize, and associated costs
• • Swynnerton Plan • Agitation for better conditions for Africans, pro development, anti Mau Mau, • Land consolidation and adjudication. Issuance of title • Terracing • Allow growing of certain commodities, through co-ops
Agriculture Act
Declaraction of essential produce, fixed and guaranteed prices, control of production and marketing, establish agricultural committees and boards, rules to preserve soil fertility and control land development, appoint agents, compulsory acquisition, GMR, guarantees to AFC,
Independence
Opportunity + risk. No African private sector, anti Asian, therefore keep marketing parastatals + restrictions and controls on private competition. Transfer benefits to new rulers and The Agrolink
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The law and agriculture their allies/cronies. Good jobs.
1980’s – 1990’s
• Decline, centralization of control State Corporations Act. • Sessional Paper # 1, 1986. • Incomplete Structural Adjustment • Decontrol of everything. • Domestic political imperatives vs donor pressure nb cereals sector reform and reversal • Donors disengage • Sectors failing – maize, coffee, sugar, cotton, pyrethrum, dairy, cashew etc. • Decline in services – agricultural extension, research, AI, veterinary, AFC, etc but high public expenditure, primarily wages. • Liberalization: who wanted it? And was it ever actually completed. • Decade wasted. Sector after sector has declined as an out of date legal framework, ownership and governance structure met the economic realities of the end of the 20th century… examples Enter NARC ERS – role of the state 3 pro30 | The Agrolink
ductive sectors. Agriculture. Strategic interventions identified within agriculture include legislative and regulatory reform, reform of agricultural extension, improved access to financial services, reviving livestock marketing and interventions to improve the fishing industry and to protect forests. The SRA also recognizes the problem of low productivity and the extension, research and economic and financing dimensions of the problem. SRA also commits to legislative review, sector coordination and coordination across agriculture and rural related ministries, an apex stakeholder forum and new institutional structures in agricultural extension and research Recent Work In The Area The government’s approach to liberalization. The table below gives some overview of the government’s thinking behind the legislation that has already been passed for tea, coffee and sugar and that proposed for dairy, cotton and horticulture. In all cases it can be seen that the new bodies are to inherit the obligations and staff of the bodies that preceded them. This means that they • Undertake too many functions • Cannot fully escape the
government’s desire to control Licensing procedures are a case in point. While there is movement away from licensing every actor - growers, processors and marketers- the postcolonial hangover remains. The Coffee Act1, and the Sugar Act2 talk of issuing a license if the applicant is a ‘fit and proper person’ (whatever that may be and supposedly ‘fitness’ and ‘properness’ are not permanent states and can change from year to year) and is ‘knowledgeable, experienced and has capacity or employs such a person’. This is a subjective criterion and subject to change at the discretion of those empowered to issue the licenses. If one employee leaves the license can be withdrawn? These types of provisions do little to attract private investment into the industry, and open the door to corruption and influencing peddling. Reasons can be created that force a potential operator to bribe board officials, or even the minister who, in every case, has final authority. Adopted from Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy & development, Egerton University – Kenya. Working paper 20/2005.
Farmers Profile
Farmer Coexist with Tough Climatic Conditions.
Residents of the semi arid Matungulu
prime ‘farming business,’ the farmer keeps hundreds of indigenous chicken, district in Eastern Kenya have been star- a few goats, and whenever it rains, he ing at the azure blue skies for the past two grows drought resistant legumes, oryears, pondering and wondering when the anges, mangoes among other crops. elusive rains will come down. The entire district is dry – really dry. And given the At ten O’clock in the morning on this ever changing climatic conditions, rains particular day, two motorists drive right have become even more unpredictable. into the compound in search of honey. However, one farmer in this area has learned how to coexist with such tough climatic conditions. Gabriel Mbatha Nzomo – locally known as Alex is a dedicated dry-land farmer. From his five acre piece of land in Kyakatulu village, the farmer has been able to pay school fees for his children to the university level. Apart from keeping bees, which is one of his
“Whenever am not around, my wife is always indoors waiting for clients like the ones who have just arrived. The fastest moving product is honey. But at times I receive buyers of indigenous chicken,” said the farmer. Alex has 22 Langstroth Beehives on his farm, some of them confined in a grass thatched apiary,while others are hanging on trees and shrubs on the farm. The Agrolink
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Farmer Profile Langstroth Beehives, which are mostly used in the developed world are considered to be the most convenient especially if one has to practice beekeeping ass a business. They have rectangular frames made of wire-mesh. The main advantage is that the bees build honeycomb into the wire-meshed frames, making it easy for the farmer to move the combs without trouble. “Unlike other beehives, it is easy to pull out one frame after the other from the Langstroth beehive to check whether there is honey or not – without braking the combs,” said the farmer. This means that the farmer has the opportunity to harvest only the honeycombs that are full with honey.
Under normal circumstances, bees consume seven kilograms of nectar in order to make a kilo of wax. Bees are adapted for feeding on nectar and pollen, the farmer primarily as an energy source and the latter primarily for protein nutrients. Alex harvests between 15 to 18 kilograms of honey from each beehive – twice a year. “I have a special machine for extracting honey without getting impurities into the final product, and without damaging the honey-combs,” said the farmer. “And this is what customers need – pure honey,” he said.
Alex began honey farming in the year 2000 with three Top-bar beehives. But three years later, he was linked to a Belgian NonGovernmental Organisation, Following the frame design in a Lang- from which he was fully trained on stroth beehive, bees do not attach bee keeping as a business, promptwax honeycomb between the frames ing him to buy the Langstroth beehives. or to the walls of the hive. Hence, the farmer does not temper with the wax To supplement the beekeeping busi– one of the most essential compo- ness, Alex engages in indigenous poulnents needed for bees to make honey. try farming. “This is a business that most 32 | The Agrolink
Farmer Profile villagers here have tried but failed due to various reasons. The biggest impediment has always been diseases, par-
reduced egg production,” explained Alex.
ticularly the Newcastle disease,” he said.
ing attack is between 90 and 100 per cent.
Newcastle disease is a contagious viral avian disease affecting many domestic and wild bird species. It was discovered in the Newcastle, United Kingdom in 1926, thus, it was named after the place of its origin.
However, through a program at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute funded by the European Union, Alex is among 6000 Kenyans who have so far learned how to keep the disease at bay by vaccinating their birds.
“When it attacks, the birds gasp and cough, they appear depressed and one can observe muscular tremors. The wings droop, while the neck twists making the bird completely paralysed. One can also observe swelling of the tissues around the eyes and neck, greenish, watery diarrhea, rough- or thin-shelled eggs and
According to experts, the mortality rate dur-
“Through a program known as Kenya Arid and Semi Arid Land – KASAL project, I have been taught how to vaccinate the chicken against the Newcastle disease,” said the farmer. According to Dr Ann Wachira, a poultry The Agrolink
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Farmers Profile “Through a program known as Kenya Arid and Semi Arid Land – KASAL project, I have been taught how to vaccinate the chicken against the Newcastle disease.”
expert at KARI, and a KASAL Principal Investigator for the Indigenous chicken program, the Newcastle disease has no cure. “The
all chicken are vaccinated at a cost of five shillings per dose administered. Alex is one of the lucky trainers of trainees. “It is like another job. I receive orders on daily basis, but I venture out in the field to vaccinate chicken in villages twice every week,” said the farmer. Now that the biggest problem for poultry farming in his area has been controlled, Alex has been able to improve the stock of birds on his farm. “I just sold 120 birds a few days ago. At the moment, am remaining with 197 birds,” he said. He points out that this is a huge improvement because in fear of the Newcastle disease, he would hardly keep more than 10 birds. “When I met the KASAL team three years ago, I had only four birds on my farm. But since I learned more skills on how to control the disease, manage the birds, and the appropriate feeding methods, I have been able to keep hundreds of birds,” he said.
only way to combat the disease is to stop the chicken from getting it. And the best way is through vaccinating the birds,” she said. As a result, the KASAL group has trained 64 trainers of trainees in Eastern province – who as well act as community based extension officers to ensure that 34 | The Agrolink
However, the farmer as well involves himself in crop farming especially during rainy seasons. “Rains are elusive in this area. As a result, we can only plant whenever it rains – sometimes once after three years,” he said. Alex has become a role model to many people in his village and beyond, who visit his farm to learn about techniques one can use to remain productive despite the scorching drought. By Isaiah Esipisu.
Health Focus famers one such important issue is pregnancy Pregnancy is the condition of carrying the foetus (the unborn baby) in the body, from conception to delivery, where conception is the beginning of pregnancy, when an egg is fertilized by a sperm. As much as this condition is crucial to the woman, this is one situation in which she is expected to continue to function optimally.
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ccording to the official labour force statistics issued by the World Bank and other institutions, 42% of the economically active population involved in agriculture in Africa is female. But the UN food and agriculture organisation [FAO] suggests that such figures greatly underestimate women’s actual role, since there is a tendancy to register women in farm households as housewives, yet despite the important role the woman plays in the cultivation and processing of food most of the stakeholders within the agriculture and food industries have not come to appreciate or reflect on the reality of the issues that bedevil the women
WOMEN FARMERS HAVING HEALTHY PREGNANCY
“42% of the economically active population involved in agriculture in Africa is female.”
Therefore, it is important that she (with the help and understanding of the entire family) can maintain a healthy lifestyle through it. In this issue, we will look at the care of a pregnant woman, highlighting some risk factors to watch out for before and during pregnancy. Though pregnancy carries with it a degree of risk to the mother and her unborn baby, the risks can be prevented and/ or minimized through professional health care provided throughout pregnancy and delivery. This will require concerted efforts from the pregnant woman, her spouse, and the health team (obThe Agrolink
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Health Focus stetrician
and
midwife).
SOME RISK FACTORS TO OBSERVE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MOTHER
Age, size and weight.
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irls less than 15 years stand a risk of developing a condition known medically as pre-eclampsia or eclampsia during pregnancy and delivery. They are more likely to deliver underweight babies Pre-eclampsia is a medical condition in which the blood pressure rises in pregnancy (pregnancy-induced hypertension) in association with significant amounts of protein in the urine. Preeclampsia may develop to eclampsia which is characterised by the appearance of seizures.. Women above 35 years may develop high blood pressure, diabetes or fibroids, which can complicate pregnancy. • A woman shorter than 5 feet is more likely to have a small pelvis. Her risk of having premature labour or an abnormally small baby whose growth in the uterus has been stunted is also greater. • A woman who is 36 | The Agrolink
less than 50kg can end up with a baby smaller than the expected for the age of the pregnancy. On the contrary, one with weight more than 100kg at conception may end up with a very large baby. Obesity also increases the risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy.
ease, lung disease such as asthma, untreated sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis and HIV infection • Family history of diabetes, high blood pressure or heart conditions predisposes one to develop these during pregnancy. • Rh incompatibility. This is a condition that develops when a pregnant womhas Rh-negative blood Medical conditions an and the baby in her womb • Already existing has Rh-positive blood. This medical conditions like high can result in haemolytic blood pressure, diabetes, disease of the newborn. heart conditions, thyroid dis-
Health Focus Exposure to drugs, toxic chemicals or infections • Alcohol has been known to produce birth defects in newborns. Cigarette-smoking results in reduction of the baby’s birth weight. The more a woman smokes during pregnancy, the less the baby is likely to weigh. PHYSICAL CHANGES DURING PREGNANCY. Ideally, before becoming pregnant, a woman should see a doctor to be screened for possible diseases and to discuss the dangers of tobacco, alcohol and other substances, as well as diet and the use of medications in pregnancy.
mass index (BMI), this is a person’s weight (in kilograms) divided by the “It is important to discuss square of his or her height any arising health concern (in metres). A person with a with your doctor or mid- BMI of 30 or more is genwife, in order to capture an erally considered obese. impending complication”. A person with a BMI equal to or more than 25 is overweight. In addition to these, the considered volume of blood in the If one is obese or overwoman’s circulation in- weight they tend to be creases by 50 percent dur- more prone to having a ing pregnancy. The heart, number of chronic diseaskidney, lungs and other es. Some of these include: cardiovascumajor organs of her body diabetes, work extra hard to satisfy lar diseases and cancer. the physiologic needs of the woman and her grow- Key facts of Obesity ing foetus. It is common • Worldwide obefor every woman to feel sity has more than more out of breath upon doubled since 1980. exertion, especially to- • 65% of the world’s ward the end of pregnancy. population live in counnancy advances) • Weight gain
Pregnancy causes many changes through- Until next time, keep it out the body, most of healthy! which disappear after delivery. These include: NB: Your feedback is welcome on this article. • breast swelling • nausea by Ntinyari Muriuki • Occasional vomiting. • Moodiness • Fatigue • bloated abdomen • indigestion • Backache besity has been defined • Heartburn as excessive or abnormal • Constipation fat build up that has a large • Haemorrhoids effect on one’s health. • swelling of feet and A rough population meafingers (especially as preg- sure of obesity is the body
obesity
O
tries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight. • Almost 43 million children under the age of five were overweight in 2010.
What are the common health consequen of obesity? Raised BMI is a major risk factor for diseases such as: • Cardiovascular diseases (heart disease) • Diabetes • Osteoarthritis • Breast and colon cancer • Sleep apnea • Metabolic syndrome The Agrolink
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Health Focus tance of health and nutrition
• Fatty liver disease How can one reduce their chances of becoming obese? Obesity can be prevented. Helpful atmospheres and communities are essential in shaping the choices that people make regarding health and exercise. At the individual level, people can: • Limit their energy intake from fats • Raise their intake of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds • Limit their intake of sugar • Make sure to have regular physical activity • Maintain energy balance and a healthy weight The food industry can play an important role in promoting healthy diets by: • Reducing the sugar, salt and fat content of processed foods • Making sure thatpeople make nutritious choices which are affordable and fresh • Educating the population on the impor38 | The Agrolink
If one is obese how can they help themselves maintain a healthy weight?
There are certain steps that one should do to learn more about how to overcome it. Some of these include:
I Learn the Risks of Obesity:
Being overweight enhances someone’s risk of developing a large number of health issues. Having a good diet and exercise regime can help keep the weight off.
2 Make the Decision to Im-
prove Your Health: Get in control! Make the decision to take charge of your life, and improve your health through a good diet. Try to see how you will look after you have lost the weight. Try to come up with small weekly and monthly goals that you can accomplish and will find motivating.
3
Assess Your Existing Diet: Try to record everything you eat and drink: what time and how much you eat. Learn what the size of one serving is I for everything you eat and drink. Get help if you need
it to set up daily records for your consumption. Include each day the total number of servings you’ve had of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, milk products, and glasses of water.
4
Come up with a personalized Meal Plan: With the help of a nutritionist you can have a personalized meal plan to help you keep the weight off. This will also include an exercise regime which you should stick to with a personal trainer. The system will assist you in losing the weight while maintaining a healthy and balanced diet.
5 Develop a Comprehen-
sive exercise Program: After obtaining medical clearance begin a walking program starting out by walking 10 minutes a day and gradually, over several months, work up to walking for 60-90 minutes a day, at least five days a week to lose weight and achieve basic fitness. After a month or two of walking add a strength training program to build muscle. See a personal trainer at your regular gym to assist with your weight loss program. • 7 stay positive! Losing weight is not something that is easy to do. One must stay focused and positive. It does not always happen
Health Focus fast but with the help of a nutritionist, personal trainer, and the support of friends and family it can be done!
Here are some tips on how to eat when trying to lose weight:
Below are ways to reduce calorie intake without having to alter your diet significantly: • Replace fizzy drinks and fruit cordials with water • Swap whole milk for low fat milk • Limit the use of margarine or butter and full-fat mayonnaise • Stop taking sugar in tea and coffee • Have smaller portions of the food you enjoy • Try to avoid having a second helping at dinner • Cut out unhealthy treats, sugary biscuits and crisps between meals • Cut down on alcohol intake All these things will influence your health in a positive way. Finally, don’t be tempted to skip breakfast – or any meal to lose weight. While skipping a meal will reduce your calorie intake for that hour, it will leave you much hungrier later on. Not only are you likely to overeat to compensate, but you will often make bad choices to fill the gap: a cereal bar is not as healthy as a bowl of
cereal or as filing, leading you to ‘need’ something extra for lunch. Irregular eating habits also disrupt your body’s metabolism, which makes it harder to lose weight in the first place. Here are some healthy foods that can help with weight loss: Eggs: These are full of protein and help you feel full for a longer time. They also prevent blood sugar increase, which helps prevent cravings for food. Beans: Beans help keep blood sugar levels in check. So you can keep hanger pangs at bay for longer. Salad: This helps control your calorie intake by starting with a large salad without the creamy mayonnaise dressing. A large serving of salad can keep you full as it contains high levels of vitamins C and E, folic acid, lycopene, and carotenoids. Soup: A cup of chicken soup is as good as eating a piece of chicken. Even the simplest soup satisfies hunger pangs because your brain perceives it as filling. Pears: These contain pectin fibre, which decrease blood-sugar levels, therefore helping you t avoid snacking. Green antioxidants called catechines are whathelp speed metabolism and fat
burning. Green tea also boosts the metabolism and lowers cholesterol. Lean Beef: If you are trying to reduce weight there is no need to keep totally off meat. Meat, fish, and daily products can help you reduce weight while maintaining calorie-burning muscles. Olive oil: Fight off that middle-age bulge with extra virgin olive oil. A mono unsaturated fat it will help you burn calories. Cinnamon: Sprinkle it on porridge or whole-grain toast to help cure those midafternoon-sugar-slumps. Research has found out that a little cinnamon can help control post-meal insulin spikes, which make you feel hungry. Nuts: Yes, nuts are fattening but research shows that people who snack on nuts tend to be slimmer than those who don’t. They help by boosting the metabolism. Plus, certain nuts like walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for good health. Don’t go hungry for fear of increasing your weight and becoming obese. Select the right foods and eat to your heart’s content! By Maya Jacsion The Agrolink
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Farm Tools & Equipments
Choosing a 4x4 pick-up for your farming business
O
ne of these most important equipment on a farm is a pickup truck. Because farmers are continually hauling supplies and tools, pickups are probably the most versatile and useful tools a farmer can have. Whether it is needed to haul manure, tools, animal feed, building supplies, farm produce or seedlings, a good truck that is well maintained can serve your interests for years. When choosing a 4x4 pick-up truck it is a good idea to make a list of what you want from your truck and what features are less important to you prior to stepping foot onto a sales lot, as this will aid in your selection of the best vehicle to serve your wants and needs. If you are purchasing a 4x4 pick-up to use in farming or hauling, a heavy-duty truck is going to offer you more ser40 | The Agrolink
vice than a light-duty truwith low towing capacities. The following four factors must be considered to ensure that you purchase the best truck for your farming needs. • Ground clearance and suspension are two of the most common considerations for many 4x4 pick-up purchasers. • Engine and transmission options are typically the next most motivating factors behind many purchases. The transmission is a motivating factor for some buyers because while an automatic is often an easier transmission to use, some consumers want the ability to shift a manual transmission in hilly terrain. • Payload capacity and weight hauling are also important considerations for some buyers. • Fuel type is often a very important option when making the decision to pur-
chase a new 4x4 pick-up. If there are no diesel fuelling locations close to you, a diesel pick-up is likely not a good buy regardless of the price. • Four wheel engagement: If you live or work on the farm or in an area that will require the frequent engagement of the four-wheel drive function, you may want to look at trucks that do not require you to exit the cab to lock in the front hubs. Many 4x4 pickup designs utilize self-locking hubs that do not require the operator to manually engage the front axle hubs. This frequent engagement might also be linked to muddy or loose ground environments. In this situation, you may wish to purchase a 4x4 pick-up with locking differentials that will aid in traversing this terrain without becoming stuck. Nearly all manufacturers offer 4x4 pick-up packages with luxurious leather interiors complete with stereo and heating systems. This leaves many decisions to be based solely on brand loyalty and favouritism, however, engine power and fuel economy can vary greatly between manufacturers. In order to purchase the best 4x4 pick-up for your individual needs, it is important to visit several dealerships and make notes of the positives and negatives of each offering. Test drive the vehicles that land in the top two spots on your list and base your decision on personal likes and dislikes.
Community/NGO Link afford improved farm inputs they cannot produce enough to feed themselves much less sell to the market. Unlocking this poverty trap is the key for propoor agricultural growth. The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) - whose Board is chaired by H.E. Kofi Annan (former secretary General of the United Nations) - is working safeguarding the environ- with African governments, ment. AGRA advocates farmers, private sector any NGO’s have for policies that support its and other stakeholders to sprung up in Africa all work across all key aspects rapidly raise agricultural geared towards eradicating of the African agricultural productivity in Africa and poverty through improving value chain from seeds, soil lift millions out of poverty. food security by applying health and water to markets AGRAfocuses on the followimproved farming technolo- and agricultural education. ing five integrated programs: gies. While some have lived There are many chalup to their ideals a good lenges faced in the African The seeds programIt supnumber have not. In this is- continent that require in- ports the breeding of imsue we focus on one NGO tervention from the NGOs, proved seed and works to that seems to have lived up especially in the agriculture ensure that this good seed to its ideals and is growing sector and in rural areas. gets to farmers. Currently, even stronger in East Africa A case in point is Kenya- less than one-quarter of and the entire African con- seeds and fertilizers. Rural African farmers use high tinent succeeding where input supply shops do not yielding, locally adapted many have failed: The Al- have access to capital to seed. Poor seeds and liance for a Green Revo- stock up on farm inputs. As depleted soils have kept lution in Africa (AGRA). a result farm inputs are not farmers’ yields at oneAGRA is a dynamic part- there on time for farmers. quarter the global average. nership working across Yet the irony is that there AGRA has launched a $150 the African continent to exists significant liquidity in million program to support help millions of small-scale financial institutions which national plant breeders to farmers and their families can be lent to the agricul- develop improved seed valift themselves out of pov- ture sector, especially for rieties that are adaptable to erty and hunger. AGRA pro- poor smallholder farmers. local conditions. They have grammes develop practical Banks don’t lend because provided significant support solutions to significantly they face significant risks. to the programs at the Keboost farm productivity and This puts farmers into a nya Agricultural Research incomes for the poor while liquidity trap. Unable to Institute (KARI). They are
AGRA: Living Up To Its Ideals
M
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Community/NGO Link also providing financing Market process for local seed companies, such as Western Seeds, program Once imto commercialize seeds proved seeds and soils engender higher yields, farmers need access to Soil health pro- markets for their surplus. gram: It improves farm AGRA’s market access productivity through in- program pursues multiple creasing farmers’ ac- routes to expanding market cess to locally appropri- access for smallholders. ate soil nutrients and promoting integrated soil Policy and partnerand water management. ship program: For all of these efforts to have a The Seeds and Soil Health Programs work together to widespread impact, agriculraise farmers’ yields. Both tural policies must provide are key to environmental smallholder farmers with sustainability and help- comprehensive support on ing farmers adapt to and national, regional and globmitigate climate change. al levels. At the same time, partnerships are needed to AGRA has also launched marshal the resources and a $180 million program expertise that will catalyze for improving soil fertility, change. AGRA’spolicy and with significant efforts to partnership program tackthese challenges. improve availability of fer- les tilizers and assisting farmers to use them efficiently Iinitiative on innowith soil organic matter. They are developing new vative finance Realprograms that will build ising that all of its activities market access for farm- require resources, AGRA ers, policies to stimulate have made a deliberate efincentives, as well as ex- fort to work with one overtension programs, and irri- looked source Africa’s own gation and water manage- commercial banks. AGRA’s ment. AGRA’s approach cross-cutting Iinitiative on is holistic and covers the innovative finance works food chain from the field, with Africa’s financial into the market, to the table. stitutions and other partners to increase access to low-interest loans for 42 | The Agrolink
smallholder farmers and agricultural businesses. In 2008, AGRA joined hands together with the Government of Kenya, Equity Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, to launch a major effort to accelerate access to financing for farmers, rural farm input suppliers, grain traders and agro-processors. AGRA and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (through its Kenya Smallholder Horticulture Development Project) are providing $2.5 million each, towards a $ 5 million credit guarantee facility. The facility will lower the risk of lending by Equity Bank to farmers and rural farm input supply shops in Kenya. The Equity Bank, based on the guarantee, lends $50 million towards supporting Kenyan farmers, farm input supply stores, input wholesalers, fertilizer importers and agro-processors. It represents the largest single effort of a bank to lend at scale to poor farmers and farm input supply shops in Africa. It is a sterling example that banks can play a major role in unlocking rural economic growth potential.
Agrolink Pictorials Dr Victor Yamo the chairman Kenya Veterinary Board during the Recent KVA National AGM & scientific Conference held in Kisumu
From Right, Mr. William Kirwa MD ADC and Dr. Sally Kosgei during the ADC Mkulima Steer Competition Launch
KEVEVAPI Staff at their stand during the Recent KVA National AGM & scientific Conference held in Kisumu
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Dear Daktari
Black Rot In Cabbages During this wet and cold weather, my cabbages tend to turn a yellowish colour on the leaves and some seem rotten giving a very bad smell. I have sprayed copper and other fungicides but nothing is working. Please advise.
does not store well either.
Spread.
This happens through infected seedlings, infected water, soil, infected farm implements such as jembes, tractors especially when farmers share this without observing cleanliResponse. ness. Spread is also posThe disease in your cab- sible through farm workbage field is known as ers, weeds or already Black Rot and is caused by infected material being the bacterium Xanthomo- used as mulch. The climatnas campestris. It’s symp- ic conditions favourable toms are just as you have for the disease developdescribed and more. When ment is cool, wet and alyou split the cabbage at the ternating warm conditions base you will find a black especially similar to what ring which indicates the we are experiencing durspread of the bacteria. The ing this June-July period. spread begins from the root system all the way up to the Control. midrib of leaves and even- Black rot control or mantually when the leaf is dying agement requires a inteis when you see the yellow- grated approach because ing. If the infection comes no one method can give a in early, the plants appear 100% control. As a farmer, stunted and if the cabbage you need to ensure you head forms, it tends to rot purchase certified seeds immediately before harvest from renowned seed merand if harvested, it gives chants. If you buy seelings, out a rotting smell and make sure the nursery per44 | The Agrolink
son is registered and follows hygienic methods of producing the seedlings. Another major approach is crop rotation. Black rot affects mainly crops in the cabbage family such as sukuma wiki, collards, cabbages etc (this is known as Brassiccas or Cruciferous crops). Practise rotation for a period of at least 24 months and alternate with non Brassica crops such as maize, wheat, beans etc. If the infection has already set in, chemical control might not work for your crop. Copper sprays tend to suppress the disease only for a period but once the conditions continue being favourable, the disease goes out of controllable proportions. It is advisable to use copper based fungicides early in enough and as per the manufacturer’s recommendations. Finally, do not use diseased plant materials as mulch as this will only act as introduction of diseases into the soil. Practise soil hygiene all the time.
Mlo - Murwa How to prepare Mutton Curry
Ingredients
1 kg mutton (washed, cleaned and cut) 120 ml oil 4 medium onions (finely chopped) 1 tsp cumin seeds 3 hot green chillies (optional) 1 tsp ginger paste 1 tsp garlic paste 8-10 tomatoes paste (boiled and blended) 1 tsp chilli powder ½ tsp turmeric powder 1 tsp curry powder (simba mbili), heaped A handful of fresh coriander leaves Salt to taste Steps to follow - Heat oil in a pan, add cumin seeds and let them pop. Add onion, and cook till brown - Add ginger, garlic, green chillies, Add the mutton and cook until it dries - Add coriander leaves, curry powder, chilli powder, turmeric powder and salt. Stir well, then add tomato paste - Let it simmer until meat is tender and all the flavour is infused. Then garnish with fresh coriander and serve Serve with roties, chapati, nan, rice or paratas The recipe is by Shilen Shah professional chef based in Kenya. The Agrolink
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Leisure Page Climate Change is a shift from the average climatic patterns as we know it due to mankind’s interference with the natural way of the earth’s ability to take care of itself. This edition’s word puzzle is about some of the causes of climate change and the effects of climate change on the earth. A
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FIND THE WORDS CARBON GAS, MUD SLIDES, HIGH TEMPERATURES, IRREGULAR RAINFALL,FLOODS, LOW FOOD PRODUCTION, DROUGHT, low forest cover.
AGROFACTS
• Some 70 to 90 percent of farms in Africa are smallholder operations involving less than two hectares of land and they account for the bulk of staple food production. • African farmers who sell surplus harvest routinely receive
only 10 to 20 percent of the price of their products, with the rest eaten up by various transaction costs and post harvest losses. • Africa’s regional market for food staples is valued at US $150 billion and demand is expected to double by 2020. African farmers could substantially increase their income simply by meeting this domestic demand. • According to the 2002 Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP), improving rural roads to boost market access for smallholder farmers will require an initial investment of US $62 billion over some 10 to 15 years while operation and maintenance of these assets will require an additional US $37 billion. Source: AGRA
46 | The Agrolink
Back to Our Roots The Donkey and the Dirt
One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The donkey cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided that the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey. The farmer then invited his neighbors to come over and help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first the donkey realized that it will soon be buried alive and so it cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amusement, the donkey quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer and the neighbors looked down the well to see their progress. They were astonished at what they saw. The donkey was doing something amazing. With every shovelful of dirt that hit its back, it would shake it off and take a step up the new layer of dirt. As the farmer and friends continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off, to the shock and amusement of all the people around. Moral of the story- Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick is not in stopping and crying but in shaking it off and stepping on it. Each of our problems and challenges can be a stepping stone if only we know how to shake it off and make good use of it. And finally, the donkey gave the farmer who had tried to bury him a good kicking; which brings us to the other moral of the storywhen you decide to do something bad and then try to cover your ass; it always comes back and gets you. Adopted by: Martin Leshan
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