MESPT Bulletin

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/ OMENA FINDS A HIGH END MARKET AS FISHERMEN EMBRACE ICT

MESPT

/ NEW SKILLS AND PRODUCT REVIEW BOOST RURAL MICRO- FINANCE GROWTH

ASMEP Intervention seeks to enhance income from fishing and reduce post harvest losses

M ICRO E NTERPRISES S UPPORT P ROGRAMME T RUST

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Capacity building intervention seeks to enable the institutions reach a larger number of underserved rural clients.

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/ FARMERS BENEFIT FROM NEW FARMING TECHNIQUES AND VALUE ADDITION SKILLS

Development of vertical and horizontal linkages key to boosting efficiency and sustainability.

Bulletin ISSUE 1

SEPTEMBER

2012

EDITORIAL

T

he Assistance to Micro and Small Enterprises Programme [ASMEP] is a government initiative in support of the MSEs in Kenya. The programme agreement, funded to the tune of 7 million Euros, was signed between the government of Kenya and European Union in 2007.

However, implementation started almost 3 years later due to post election violence that locked the country. In the two years period, significant milestone have been made.

The Ministry of Trade is the principal ASMEP host institution. ASMEP is designed with the overall objective of improving private sector development and growth in Kenya and ultimately to alleviate poverty.

The programme is aimed at supporting MSEs through institutional and capacity building of business associations involved in promoting and developing them.

It also aimed at disseminating business information through support to business information centres in various regions in the country and sectoral support targeting agro-processing, packaging and value addition.

Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT), an autonomous organisation created by the government and EU in 2002 was contracted by the Ministry of Trade to implement two broad interventions.

The first intervention involved institutional and capacity building to Rural Microfinance Institution (MFI) and Saccos. It also targeted Financial Service Association- Village Banksand community based organisations offering financial services in Kisumu, Kakamega, Mt Kenya region and Mombasa. >> CONT. PAGE TWO

FISH MARKET: Traders in Kisumu Municipal Fish Market, one of the 300 markets that provide data to EFMIS system.

Omena finds a high end market as fishermen ride on ICT to commercialize the sector ASMEP intervention focused on improving fisher folk income and reducing post harvest losses

F

or the first time in history, Omena, which has been associated with the low end market and rural folk is finding its way to supermarket shelves where most of the high end market buys food stuff.

This has been made possible by an initiative- Assistance to Small and Micro Enterprises Programme (ASMEP) - that was funded last year by European Union through Ministry of Trade that engaged

Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT) as implementing agency to turnaround the fishing industry in Kenya that was previously dominated by middlemen who exploited fishermen.

The intervention under fishing sector focused on reduction of post harvest losses and value addition through improved processing and creation of market linkages with overall objective of improving the income of small and micro enterprises within the sector. Emphasize was also laid on strengthening producers and traders associations.

The programme officer at MESPT in charge of fishery George Okeyo says that Omena has over the years been associated with animal feeds and poor quality and the intervention has added value of Omena by improving their quality >> CONT. PAGE TWO

EDITORIAL

>> CONT. FROM PAGE ONE

Priority was given on corporate governance, upgrading of management information systems and development of risk management frameworks. Other key areas included product development and review, business strategic planning and staff training with emphasise on delinquency management.

The second intervention was mainly in the facilitation of Business Development Services (BDS) focusing on horticulture sector and fisheries. In horticulture, a major component of the interventions was in developing vertical and horizontal linkages to boost efficiency and sustainability to reduce post harvest losses.

This was achieved through upgrading of collection centres to offer community facilities such as bulking, technical advice and market linkage. It also aimed at promoting good agricultural practices and development of capacities for cottage processing In fisheries, the intervention targeted fisher-folks in the inland waters and marine fishing along the Indian Ocean shores in Kenya.

The intervention under this programme focused on reduction of post harvest losses and value addition through improved processing, pacrket linkage with overall objectives of improving income within the sector.

The intervention targeted promotion of efficient and hygienic processing methodologies that included proper drying. It also aimed at facilitating development of fish certification and traceability. The programme created a market information system to promote fish trade.

Although the programme funding period is coming to an end in September this year, sustainability efforts have been created with strong indications that both the ministry and MESPT will integrate them in their other programmes.

ASMEP is designed with the overall objective of improving private sector development and growth in Kenya and ultimately to alleviate poverty.

FISH BUSINESS: Litare Beach Management Unit members sorting and grading Omena in Litare beach in Suba district. >> CONT. FROM PAGE ONE

through hygienic handling in three landing sites along

introduce a modern technique of drying Omena to reduce

the shore of lake Victoria. These beaches are Litare and

post harvest losses as well as be able to access high end

Nyachebe beaches in Suba district in Homabay County

market.

and Honge beach in Bondo district in Siaya County.

The intervention has now established 75 racks in these

“We have demonstrated that you can increase the income

three beaches. A fish expert at WIFIP Anthony Sifuna says

of the fisher-folks by improving the handling and packag-

that the process involved installing racks and training the

ing of Omena,” Okeyo said.

players to engage in Omena fishing as a business venture

Before MESPT intervention on value addition and organ-

by improving handling and packaging.

ising dealers, fishermen were relying on the middlemen

In Litare beach, WIFIP is working with 10 boats that are

and local community for their harvest and income gener-

able to land about 100 Kgs. The racks have been helpful

ated was not sustainable.

in safeguarding the quality of the fish since they are

On landing, most of Omena was processed by sun-drying,

conveniently raised from the ground to prevent contami-

which is done on the nets that are laid on the ground.

nation from the external sources.

This process compromises the quality of Omena with most

“Women used to step on Omena to turn it but since the

of the harvest going to the animal feed industry. During

racks are only 2 metres wide, a woman can turn Omena

rainy seasons, losses in both quality and volumes of

from any side guarantying the quality,” Sifuna said, adding

Omena are extremely high.

that the racks are covered with polythene papers which

There were also the issues of hygiene due to the bird

provide heat and also protects the harvest from bird

droppings, especially while drying the Omena on open

droppings.

ground. Lack of sufficient measures to dry fish for high

Monica Auma, chairlady of Litare Beach Management

end market has reduced the farmers earning despite the

Unit, a self help group with 70 members that benefited

huge potential of approximately 72,000 tonnes supporting

from the EU funded drying racks initiative says that the

a fishing fleet of 2700 vessels and 11,000 fishermen.

group income has improved significantly. They are now

Women in Fishing Industry Programme, an NGO in

able to sell 400grammes at Sh 200 compared to Sh 100 a

Kisumu was contracted by MESPT in March last year to

2 kilogramme can fetched when they were using the old

We have demonstrated that you can increase the income of the fisher-folks by improving the handling and packaging of Omena.

George Okeyo - Programme Officer - Fishery, MESPT

2

ACTIVITY BULLETIN

drying method.

was contracted by MESPT to host a data centre and

Samuel Osewe, chairman of Kiumba Beach Management

The drying is taking shorter time, Auma said, adding that

implement the system through which stakeholders in the

Unit, which has over 1000 members says that the system

the old system was not only time consuming but also

fishing industry are able to seek market inquiries using

has significantly improved the income of all the players

labour intensive since one had to scare birds all through

their mobile phones.

in the fishing sector.

the drying period, which took up to 24 hours.

Database manager at KMFRI in Kisumu Robert Oketch

Before, a fisherman would come with fish from the lake

Jenipher Atieno, the chief executive officer of WIFIP says

explained that a mobile phone is connected to the com-

without caring how much it would fetch. “But today, the

that the processed omena has already secured a market

puter system through which data collectors send informa-

fishermen are able to negotiate for the prices before

even before the certification by Kenya Bureau of Standard

tion to the system that is manned round the clock.

they land the fish. They are able to know the prices in

is completed. The training, which was also geared towards

Data collectors are positioned in 300 beaches and send

several beaches through their phones. They come here

improving market system, has seen the Omena secure

data twice a day. Other data collectors are positioned in

when they know the prices are good,” Osewe said.

high end market in Nairobi.

all fish market in the country. Anyone can send a message

Fisher folks were exploited by traders because they

A small supermarket in Ngong in Nairobi is buying 10 kilos

to 5565 and seek the prices and quantity of fish from any

could not be able to tell how much the fish was fetching

of fried and spiced Omena from WIFIP every week, which

beach or market.

in other beaches. The system is able to bring healthy

collects 20 kilos from fisher folk in the 3 landing sites.

Dr William Ojwang, assistant director- KMFRI and coordi-

competition because the prices are average.

Other buyers include an academy in Nairobi and individ-

nator of Efmis- ke said that this intervention was demand

Mr Agwati Opollo, an agent at Kiumba says that the

uals consumers in Kisumu. Atieno says that the produce

driven since lack of information lead to exploitation of

system has enhanced the flow of information and trader

has been received very well in market.

fisher folks by traders.

can easily compare prices in various beaches. This has

“We are not aggressively looking for a market due to certi-

A pilot project in Lake Victoria funded by DFID through

given everybody negotiating power because of knowl-

fication limitation,” Atieno said.

the International Labour Organisation and its Cooperative

edge of prices.

The initiative can supply about 50 kgs of dried Omena and

Facility for Africa Fund successfully set a new electronic

“We used manual system where we used to send

25 kgs of fried omena every week, she said.

system of information collection and dissemination which

someone to check prices and quantities. This was time

“Traditionally, omena has been associated with the poor

KMFRI used to roll out the national initiative that was

consuming but today we just SMS to inquire on quantity

and those who have tasted our product knows it can be of

supported under ASMEP.

and quality,” Opollo said.

such a high quality and value,” Atieno said.

The system has strengthened the bargaining power of

For Sarah Ogwel, a trader in municipal fish market in

Fish Market Information System, known as EFMIS, anoth-

traders and fishermen and time is not wasted negoti-

Kisumu, the system helps her to know where to collect

er ASMEP initiative has improved the fisher folk income

ating for prices, Ojwang said. After learning the trials in

the fish at favourable prices. She is able to query the

by helping them to engage in fishing as a commercial

Lake Victoria, it was realized that the prices increased

prices and the amount of fish that helps her plan.

venture. The system has created an electronic traceability

significantly and the money was going to the pockets of

Weather affects the availability of the fish and EFMIS sys-

system in Nile Perch value chain and enhanced transpar-

fisher-folks.

tem can allow traders to query weather conditions. Each

ency in pricing systems and compliance to certification.

“This was the first time the fishing in Kenya was leveraging

inquiry is charged at Sh 10, which is shared between

Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI)

on the IT sector,” Ojwang said.

service providers and KMFRI to sustain the project.

The electronic system has increased traceability along the value chain required by EU laws. For the first time, researchers are able to obtain the data in fishing programme. >> CONT. PAGE FOUR

BY THE NUMBERS

75 racks

have been constructed in three beaches along the shore of Lake Victoria under the ASMEP project.

10 shillings

The cost of a SMS to get information from EFMIS system

IMPROVED DRYING METHOD: Fish drying in one of the 75 racks constructed along the shores of Lake Victoria under the ASMEP project.

ACTIVITY BULLETIN

300

The number of data collectors sending information to EFMIS system

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>> CONT. FROM PAGE THREE

Omena finds a high end market as fishermen ride on ICT to commercialize the sector The intervention in Fishing also involved building institutions to help fishermen and traders in negotiating for better prices. The National BMU Network, a national organisation of fishermen from all water bodies, Chairman Tom Guda says that coming together of the fisher folk has improved the folks earning significantly and brought cohesion in a sector that was previously dominated by the middlemen.

Lake Victoria Nile Perch Traders Association was also established in the intervention. The association has even come up with a welfare wing to help its members. The fishermen were also trained on how to handle fish and also engage in the practice as a commercial venture.

“Fishermen were doing it as hands to mouth activity. Right now, they are able to engage in it as business for today and future,” says Odongo who is the association chairman.

Timothy Odende, the principal fisheries officer, who coordinated the training on group cohesion said that the fishermen were first organised at beach level. They were trained on their roles as an organisation.

The government, Odende says, is now able to involve the fishermen in data collection among other things.

“They are able to negotiate for better prices and allocation of support through initiatives such as CDF and Latf is now possible,” Odende noted.

The main challenge ASMEP project faced was time constraint. The chief executive officer of MESPT Jeff Njagi says that the duration of implementation was very short. The project which was meant to be implemented in 3 years was implemented in only one and half years.

Community did not work with the timelines and expectations, as is usually the case when donors are involved, were very high.

However Mespt addressed the time constraints by holding monthly meeting and scheduling activities on monthly basis. MESPT, according to Ken Marangu, ASMEP project manager has agreed to continue supporting successful projects by seeking support from other donors such as Danida until they stand on their own.

4

Time U Sacco office in Chuka.

New recruitment skills and product review drive rural micro-finance growth ASMEP capacity building intervention seeks to enable the institutions reach a larger number of underserved rural clients with a wider range of financial services.

O

ne of the key visible milestones of the

plan while Fine Line trained on product development.

ASMEP intervention on training of rural

Risk management and corporate governance was carried

based micro finance institutions is the

out by Management Audit Consulting Ltd and Kenya

growth in client base that is attributed to

Institute Management respectively while Micro Save

the new products the institutions have rolled out in the

trained on delinquency management.

last one year. Some financial institutions have recorded

“Corporate governance targeted the board of governance

unprecedented growth managing to double their clientele

for better management while the other trainings targeted

base in just one year.

staff of these institutions,” Ekwam said, adding that the

The ASMEP component aimed at building capacity of

institutions were picked based on the needs assesement.

these institutions, which was either low or lacking. The

The intervention was supposed to strengthen manage-

intervention sought to enable the institutions reach a larg-

ment and governance of the identified financial organi-

er number of underserved rural clients with a wider range

sations in rural areas. It was also supposed to strengthen

of financial services.

help in development and commercialisation of new or

The intervention targeted micro finance institutions,

unexploited financial products that benefit Micro and

Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (Saccos),

Small Enterprises (MSEs).

Financial Service Associations (FSAs) and Village Banks. It

Mary Adhiambo, finance manager at Rural Agency for

focused on Western and Nyanza, Mt Kenya region, lower

Development (Rafode) in Kisumu says that after the train-

Eastern and Coast Province.

ing, the institution has reviewed its lending policy and is

Patrick Ekwam, a value chain officer at Micro Enterprise

now doing research to develop what the clients want. The

Support programme Trust said that 61 institutions

institution 3200 clients are farmers and businessmen with

were trained across in the demarcated areas. Delloite

a portfolio of Sh 30 millions.

Consulting Limited trained on development of business

“We are about to roll out school fees loan product,”

ACTIVITY BULLETIN

Adhiambo said.

current location where it now occupies entire building.

training due to the highly skilled service providers that

The institution, she adds, is reinforcing the assessment

Mwamba says that following the training, the institution

carried them out saying that the institution faced serious

of the clients by putting emphasis on the group cohesion

has been able to address challenges of withdrawal by

gaps on portfolio.

since this is where the guarantee of the loan lies. On cor-

members following review of the products to accommo-

“Two of the officers who attended the training have come

porate governance, the training defined the responsibility

date needs of those who left the institution when they

up with very exciting products due to these exposure,”

of board members and one of them is now assisting in

could not get loans.

Kachi said.

the operations of Rafode, Adhiambo said.

“We are able to develop the products by taking them

The institution has now developed risk management man-

The institution is now more proactive in mitigating

through all the processes before rolling them out,”

ual and risk management framework. The training, Kachi

measure on risk management and has revised its values,

Mwamba said.

said, was an eye opener in terms of depth and scope an

mission and organisation structure to reflect the new par-

On products developed, Time U has been able to devel-

came at the right time. The institution is specifically trying

adigm shift, Adhiambo added.

op Jitegemee loan product, a flexible product that has

to strengthen the agriculture portfolio, where it is already

Centenary Sacco Society Ltd which started in 2003 as

brought a rapid growth. Members could not access loans

funding farmers in Coast region.

a small institution catering for only 26 Meru Catholic

without collateral. The new product has made it easier to

Following the closure of the funding period by EU, the

Diocese employees in Meru has almost doubled its client

borrow from the institution and one needs only 3 guaran-

capacity building intervention will easily fit in the Business

base in the last one year, which chief executive Elizabeth

tors who use household items to secure financing.

Sector Programme Support ( BSPS2) being implemented

Syengo attributes to the new recruiting skills the institu-

The institution has also introduced group borrowing and

by MESPT.

tions learnt from training.

repackaged mama/baba loan, which was before payable

The institution was able to attend all the training. It has

in a week’s time.

been able to review its products and developed a 4 years

In Coast province, ASMEP intervention has helped Kaloleni

strategic plan. The training, Syengo said, also helped the

Financial Service Association (KFSA) develop a 5 years

institution to develop a risk management policy.

strategic plan. Harrison Katana, KFSA chairman says that

“In case of a transaction, there are measures on risk that

the institution aims to have its own building, ATM and

are considered,” she said.

extend to the entire Kilifi County. The institution has 3500

The institution has also developed several products which

members who have bought shares at a cost of Sh 300 per

include Kumekucha loans. The new products require a

share.

group to save for 3 months and qualify for a block loan if

The institution which today has a portfolio of Sh 15 million

it gives a business proposal.

is review loaning strategy and instead of giving huge

Before the training, the institution used to give a max-

amount it has resulted to giving small loans targeting

imum of Sh 100,000 loan but has since developed a

many small clients.

business booster loan for those who have successfully

Two loan products, according to Katana will be rolled out

paid previous loans, raising the amount to a maximum of

soon. These are individual loan and a funeral service loan.

Sh 300,000.

Yehu chief executive officer Adeti Kachi applauded the

BY THE NUMBERS

3,500

Number of shareholders in Kaloleni Financial Service Association (KFSA).

Ksh 300,000

The maximum loan clients can borrow from Centenary Sacco Society Ltd.

Ksh 30m

Portfolio of Rural Agency for Development (Rafode) in Kisumu.

The institution has witnessed a rapid growth and has over 7000 clients compared to 3600 in last year, which Syengo attributes to aggressive marketing and skills of recruiting new members that was acquired after ASMEP interven-

Making a Difference KISUMU The Rural Agency for Development (Rafode) in Kisumu reviewed its lending policy after training and is now doing research to develop what the clients want. The institution’s 3,200 clients are farmers and businessmen with a portfolio of KSh 30 million.

tion. A Micro credit project that was started in 2009 has now benefited 126 groups.

In the neighbouring Chuka, Times U Sacco Society Ltd has also made significant strides in terms of growth and product development. The institution was started in 1993

MERU Centenary Sacco Society Ltd which started in 2003 as a small institution catering for only 26 Meru Catholic Diocese employees has almost doubled its client base in the last one year, which chief executive Elizabeth Syengo (left) attributes to the new recruiting skills the institutions learnt from training.

by church youth who operated within a location.

To give it a national outlook, the institution was in 2009 changed to its new name opening room for members from Isiolo and Nairobi, the chief executive officer Catherine Mwamba said.

The relationship between the institution and MESPT started a few years back when it operated from a single room.

MESPT helped the institution acquire equipments and software that automated operations, seeing it move to the

ACTIVITY BULLETIN

Elizabeth Syengo, CEO Centenary Sacco Society Ltd

KILIFI ASMEP intervention has helped Kaloleni Financial Service Association (KFSA) develop a 5 years strategic plan.

Harrison Katana, KFSA chairman says that the institution aims to have its own building, ATM and extend to the entire Kilifi County.

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Horticulture farmers reap huge fortune from new farming techniques and value addition skills A major component of the interventions was in developing vertical and horizontal linkages to boost efficiency and sustainability.

A

fter searching for a cash crop for several

horticulture business service providers by training them

Through MESPT, the group has been trained on value

years to turn-around their farming prac-

on value addition.

addition and has developed skills to process jam, juice

tice, Siaya County farmers have finally

Peter adds that focus was on developing target collection

and wine. Agriculture Technology Development Centre

settled on purple passion fruit.

centres/producer association as centres of excellence in

(ATDC) is incubating the group for one year and has pro-

For only two years into the practice, the region is now pro-

horticulture business for replication to other areas.

vided machinery that according to the centre’s manager

ducing the sweetest passion fruits in the country, which

“The interventions were national in scope with 17 col-

Christopher Mulielie will help the group acquire food

has generated a lot of interest among the consumers in

lection centres/producer associations and an estimated

science skills before they buy their own machinery.

nearby markets.

10,000 farmers benefiting from across target regions,�

The group has also been taught on meeting Global Gap

The fruit is grown in six regions by 500 farmers who have

Peter says.

certification requirements. The secretary of the coopera-

planted between half and two and half acres of land

A major component of the interventions was in developing

tive Gabriel Ofuwa says that the group intends to sell all

each. The regions are able to produce 650 kilos of fresh

vertical and horizontal linkages to boost efficiency and

its produce as end products since it is highly lucrative.

fruit every week.

sustainability. The interventions were national in scope

5 kilo of fresh fruit, he says, can produce 5 litres of fruit

Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT)

with 17 collection centres/producer associations and an

juice and left over used to make jam and wine. The resid-

intervention in horticulture in Siaya sought to enhance

estimated 10,000 farmers benefiting from across target

ual can further be used to make animal feeds. When the

value addition, improve processing, packaging and stor-

regions.

5 kilos of fresh fruit are sold, they can only fetch Sh 500,

age technologies to reduce post harvest losses and create

In 2010, when Siaya County decided to go passion fruit

Ofuwa says. The association is in the process of acquiring

market linkages. It is this support that the group is now

way, the 500 farmers registered a community based orga-

Kenya Bureau of Standards certification so that the pro-

riding on to sell end products from passion when they

nization, which has since transformed into a cooperative

cessed products can reach the mass market.

acquire Kenya Bureau of Standard certification this year.

society- Siaya County Passion Fruit Growers Association.

MESPT also worked with Nyangorora Banana Production

Peter Ngeli, MESPT programme officer in horticulture value chain says that Mespt intervention was in three areas. SNV was contracted to help small scale enterprises upgrade marketing systems while training on global gap industry standards was done by Millennium Management Consultants (MMC). Delloite helped in capacity building

6

A major component of the interventions was in developing vertical and horizontal linkages to boost efficiency sustainability.

Peter Ngeli - Programme Officer - Horticulture, MESPT ACTIVITY BULLETIN

Ltd in Kisii County which has ventured in commercializing

per kilo compared to the current Ksh 15, says Eric Kirimi, a

“There were many problems that have been addressed by

banana farming. The group started in 2002 as a youth

farmer in Meru South.

the training the group has acquired from MESPT,” Godfrey

group farming tissue culture bananas, which were

“Through service providers, we have been able to acquire

Kuru, the Sacco’s chairman said.

introduced in the region by Kenya Agriculture Research

farming skills,” Kirimi said.

The support included upgrading of the collection centre,

Institute (KARI).

The group’s treasurer Christine Murangiri says that a

which created some basics that make it compliant to

The group is being incubated by Kenya Industrial Research

bunch of banana that fetched Sh 250 before MESPT

global gap requirements. They were also supported in

Development Institute (KIRDI), which has provided

intervention is now able to sell at Sh 900. She says that by

developing grading tables, acquiring crates among other

machinery for processing bananas. Through the training

coming together, the farmers have been able to negotiate

farm handling items….

that was carried out by Delloite Consulting Limited, which

for better prices since they are able to share information

was contracted by MESPT to train groups on value addi-

on prevailing market trends.

tion, the society is now able to make 12 products.

MESPT has also helped in establishment of a collection

“We are currently making 7 products. The starting capital

centre through which the group is able to sell up to 9000

is a challenge and we have not yet developed good

kgs of banana during the peak season.

packaging,” the group’s spokesperson Askah Kerubo said.

The intervention by MESPT, Murangiri says, helped the

The group is able to make cakes and crisps among other

group acquire skills of production, marketing and han-

products.

dling logistics. There is a rule within the group that each

William Mutwiri, a research scientist in charge of Kirdi Kisii

member should plant al least 50 stems. “This is as a result

branch says that the processing unit that hosts the group

of realizing that we can expand to larger markets.”

is in its final phase of construction and the next step is to

Horticulture farmers in the dry Kibwezi have for the first

commercialize banana production in the region.

time been able to secure a contract from Everest to supply

The market prospects for the banana products are very

baby corn thanks to the MESPT interventions. Kwakyai

high since they are highly nutritious for children, old peo-

Rural Sacco which was started in 1952 has brought

ple and sick. The processing unit, according to Mutwiri can

together farmers who hold 400 acres of land they use for

make banana juice. Mutwiri says that MESPT has been

horticulture.

BY THE NUMBERS

500 farmers

have planted yellow passion fruits in Siaya.

900 kg

the volume of bananas farmers in Meru South are able to sell every week during peak season.

1952

the year Kwakyai Rural Sacco in Kibwezi started operations.

a key partner in value addition and impacting marketing skills that will help the group to export the produce.

Mt Kenya Buuri Cooperative Society in Timau 250 members have been trained on global certification, which they hope will open global market for their horticulture crop.

They are growing garden peas, snow peas, garlic, baby carrot and French beans.

Anthony Kinyua, the group chairman said that the training, which was sponsored by MESPT has enabled the group to

VALUE ADDITION: Nyangorora Banana Production Ltd workers (left) preparing bananas for processing at Kirdi, where the company is being incubated.

A food technologist (below) at Agriculture Technology Development Centre (ATDC) displays some of the products passion fruit farmers in Siaya are making at the facility’s incubation centre.

learn skills of proper crop husbandry that will help them acquire Global Gap certification. They have also learnt skills of documentation and market requirements.

The group has already done a proposal to MESPT for support in acquiring global certification and creation of an own agro vet at the collection centre, which was established through MESPT support. MESPT has also provided grading tables, crates and files for documentation.

Perhaps the biggest beneficiary of ASMEP intervention is Meru South, where horticulture farmers suffered huge losses due to lack of cohesion that allowed middlemen to dictate the market trends at the farmers’ expense.

Meru South Bananas and Horticulture Producers Organisation which has created cohesion and brought 8 groups together has helped the region to commercialize horticulture and brought immense benefits to farmers.

Before Mespt initiated training on marketing and helped in group cohesion, a kilo of banana was selling at Ksh 12 ACTIVITY BULLETIN

7

MESPT

M ICRO E NTERPRISES S UPPORT P ROGRAMME T RUST

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