THE
SOWER A publication of the Cereal Growers Association (CGA)
Climate change: Causes, effects & how you can help Are grains cheap, characterless commodities?
Passion for pulses and the management of diabetes
CGA
CEREAL GROWERS ASSOCIATION Vol 1: Issue No. 13, 2013
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Contents The Sower is magazine of Cereal Growers Association (CGA). The newsletter is published for circulation within the Agricul-
Climate change: Causes, effects & how farmers can help
CoverStory Pg 6
tural community in Kenya. Cereal Growers Association (CGA) is a registered farmers organization. Vision To be the most credible and effective farmer empowerment organization in Africa. Mission To bring all cereal farmers together to jointly undertake activities that ensure sustained improvement to their farming business.
Regulars Pg 8
Understanding soil testing vs yields
Objectives • Farmer Mobilization Policies • Extension Services
Pg 5
Strange maize killer disease
• Post Harvest Handling Training
Pg 11
Why every farmer needs crop insurance
• Linkage to Credit Services
Pg 15
Are cereals cheap, characterless commodities?
Pg 16
Kenya among countries in Africa that lose food valued at USD 4 billion annually due to post-harvest losses
Pg 18 Pg 19
Tranforming agriculture and agribusiness through technology
Farmers put policy issues on the spot
• Input Procurement Linkages • Advocacy on Agricultural Policy Find us at: Mt. View Estate Off Waiyaki Way, Hse No. 268 P.O BOX 27542-00506, Nyayo Stadium - Nairobi, Kenya E-mail: cga@wananchi.com Telephone: 254 (020) 833 00 60 Fax: 254 (020) 833 00 61 Editorial Team David Nyameino Anthony Kioko
Features
Design and Production
Cookery / Recipe
Pg 22
Farmers’ jokes
Understanding soil testing vs yields
Passion for pulses and the management of diabetes
Pg 23
Branded Content P.O. Box 11607 - 00100 GPO Nairobi Kenya Marketing Cel: 254-733-338-864 Email: brandedco@gmail.com Disclaimer
Diversity
The articles in this publication do
Integrated weed Pg 24 management
not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Cereal Growers Association.
Pg 8
Pg 20
A Word from the Board The CGA Board and Management welcome you to the
including: better management of the fertilizer subsidy,
13th edition of The Sower magazine. This issue, like
tariff regime on imported grain and inputs, access to
those published in the past, seeks to share innovative
agricultural credit, policy on agricultural insurance
experiences key to tackling
and cess collection and utilization
the challenges facing farmers
among others. If we stand together,
and the agricultural industry
all these are issues that we can
at large.
deal with.
We
wish
to
members, partners
thank
all
CGA has continued to work with
development
development partners particularly
and
other
in reaching out to the small scale
stakeholders for supporting
farmers, who are a key pillar
and committing to the CGA
in enriching this country’s food
cause.
basket.
Your
continued
support has been crucial in
Currently,
helping us voice farmers’ concerns,
on
Revolution
emerging CGA Chairman, Timothy Busienei
new opportunities in the
have continued to sponsor our activities and also advertize in the Sower magazine.
we receive your input concerning how you wish to see the organization support your
making
which is contained in this magazine, has also been sent out through email to all the members in our mailing list. You are invited to attend most, if not all, and get enlightened by
towards
profitable
agriculture and
the different technologies that will be showcased.
a
enjoyable
We
business to farmers and thus
for
effort
security. We look forward to
the
your continued support and your
to
feedback on how we can better be
subsidize fertilizers, whose
of service to you as per our motto
prices would otherwise have
- Together we grow.
been unaffordable to farmers in the past two years. There are still outstanding issues
2
your
sustainable and improving food
grateful
Government’s
appreciate
exciting task of making agriculture
people of Kenya. are
truly
membership / partnership in this
ensuring food security to the
We
European Cooperative for Rural
and learning platforms. The schedule of these activities,
achieving its core objective of
(AGRA),
The institution has planned several field day activities
businesses. CGA will continue role
Africa
this season, which serve as information dissemination
CGA is your organization and it is our joy whenever
its
in
Development (EUCORD).
subsector. We are particularly grateful to those who
play
partnering
the World Food Programme, and
innovations and pin-pointing
to
is
with the Alliance for a Green
disseminate
information
CGA
CGA CEO, David Nyameino
Letters to
the Editor
VAT Bill
Climate change is making life difficult
Thank you for your very informative magazine that keeps us abreast with the latest in cereal growing.
Dear Sir,
Given the government’s declared intention to ensure that Kenya attains food security, I am writing to express the disappointment that wheat farmers are currently going through. Since last year, millers have been buying wheat from farmers at prices ranging between K.shs 2,400 to K.shs 2,600 per 90 kg bag. My take is that this is indeed below the production cost of the average wheat farmer in this country.
Despite the great potential of Kenya in cereal production, the frequent occurrence of drought occasioned by erratic rainfall distribution and/or cessation of rain during the growing season is the greatest hindrance to increased production. This is more serious in the northern part of country where most of the cereals are produced. What are the options left for the small scale cereal grower in this regard? By Richard Bitega - Nyamira Dear Mr. Bitega, Your observations are correct and timely. At a time when the whole world is choking from the unbearable influence of climate change, we must raise to the ocassion and take the bull by it’s horns. The answer is simple. Plant more trees and conserve the environment. There is more information about this issue in the cover story. (Editor)
Are farmers always unprepared? On the other hand, frustrations at the miller’s gates are a common affliction. Therefore, farmers have been forced to sell their wheat through brokers who are offering less than K.shs 2,200 per 90 kg bag. My worry is that, keeping in mind that wheat is the second most important staple cereal after maize, this state of affairs is likely to lead to greater food insecurity since farmers might abandon wheat farming altogether. Urgent action needs to be taken in this regard. Joseph Ole Kipuri - Narok Dear Joseph, CGA is aware of the current challenges that farmers are going through. We are following up the matter with the relevant Government agencies and the millers as well. We will keep you informed through the “Sower” magazine and many other appropriate forms of communication available to us. (Editor)
The editor reserves the right to edit comments / contributions for brevity and/or clarity. Names and addresses are required as a sign of good faith
Dear Sir, Let me say that farmers are some of the most unprepared individuals in this country. Why am I saying this? Global oil prices rose by 3% and the sent shockwaves to primary food producers. The prices of farm inputs such as seeds and fertilizer have also gone up. Implements at the Juakali artisan workshops have also gone up significantly. This has affected the food situation in Kenya and is already reflecting on the food prices in the market. The supply of inputs such as fertilizers has been erratic with too much politics and corruption affecting its availability, prices and supply. Also, extension officers are not effective in reaching to farmers with the right information and support for increased productivity. The problem boils down to one factor; poor farm-gate prices for producers. Farmers are tired of working hard only for the benefit to go to others in the value chain. High prices of farm inputs and low farm-gate prices for outputs do not make sense. If farmers got better prices for what they produce, they would have money in their pockets to buy inputs in good time and better prepare for the rains. By Lee Rotich - Bureti
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PROGRAMBRIEFS
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Strange maize killer disease
NEWS BRIEF
By Jedidah China
F
or the first time in history, the maize killer disease, Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN), was discovered in Kenya. The disease, first discovered in the country last year, has caused agony to maize farmers having destroyed over 80% of their yield by July. According to the Food and Agriculture organisation, over 64,000 Hectares of maize fields had been affected by then. Farmers in Narok, Bomet, Kericho and Nyamira counties are the ones most affected by the peculiar maize killer disease.
The disease swept clean thousands of hectares of maize crops off the fields of Southern Rift Valley. The disease has brought doom to the farmers in Bomet district where it started and spread like wildfire across the Rift valley region and its environs. It has since spread to Central and even Eastern Kenya. It is estimated over 3.5 million bags of maize were destroyed by the disease in the July and August harvest. KARI and other research organizations
CGA
CEREAL GROWERS ASSOCIATION
Notes
Earlier some researchers had speculated the possibility of transmission through seeds. However, KARI ruled out this possibility owing to the fact that the disease affected all farmers regardless of the seeds and farm input they had used.
noted that the MLN disease had never shown up in the country before and a lot of speculation surrounded its origin. The symptoms of the disease are yellowing, stunting and drying up of maize plants. Experts continue to have divergent views concerning whether the disease is viral or fungal. A combination of the maize chlorotic mottle virus and the sugarcane mosaic virus are believed to cause. A lot of speculation also surrounds the mode of transmission of the disease as well as the source. The disease that is also
CGA organized Field Days 2013
Date / Venue 23rd May; Olerai Farm Ngore Ngore, Narok Host: Hugo Wood 20th June; Kisima Farm Host: Charlie Dyer 1st & 2nd August; Nakuru Host: Kabarak University 5th September Kapsuswa Farm, Eldoret (Turbo) Host: Charles Boit 24th October; Lengetia farm Timau/Laikipia Host: Lawrence Sessions Date to be confirmed (November); Kisima Farm, Timau Host: Charlie Dyer 5th December; Purko Sheep Ranch, Mau Narok
referred to as Corn lethal disease was first discovered in South America.
The National Drought Management Agency (NDMA) has asked farmers in central province to skip at least two maize planting seasons to curb the spread of the viral disease. Earlier farmers had been advised to burn down all affected maize stalks in order to stop the spread of the disease. Last year, maize deficit in the country had reached an outstanding 14 million bags. With the maize lethal necrosis disease here, the situation is expected to become worse. It is estimated that maize farmers only harvest 40% of their yield this year.
Theme: “Farming Smart: Utilizing available technology to enhance efficiency”
Event / Target farmers Field Day; Target: Large scale wheat farmers
Activities / main message • Farmers own practice in the management of wheat farming • exhibitions
Exhibition fee Kshs 20,000
Field Day; Target: Small scale farmers in maize / staples
• Good agricultural practices (mainly post harvesting handling and planting) with Irish potatoes and wheat being the main crops • Exhibitions
Kshs 20,000
Agri Business Fair; Target: All farmers Field Day; Target: Large scale wheat and maize farmers
• Exhibitions targeting the cereal and dairy sub sector
To be communicated
• Assorted demos • Farmer’s own practice • Exhibitions
Kshs 20,000
Field day; Target: Large scale wheat farmers
• Farmer’s own practice • Exhibitions
Kshs 20,000
Regional Field Day; Target: Small scale cereal and Irish potato farmers
• Good agricultural practices (mainly post harvesting handling and planting) with Irish potatoes and wheat being the main crops • Exhibitions
Kshs 20,000
EAML Field day • Demo / trial plots Target: large / medium scale wheat and barley farmers • Exhibitions
1. The exhibition charges shown above relate to paid up CGA Associate Members. Non Associate Members will pay an extra Kshs. 5,000 (hence Kshs 25,000 per event). 2. Companies will be free to request for space on which they can set up their demos within the main demo layout
in time for the same to form part of their exhibition during particular field days. 3. The charges and related details on the Agri-Business Fair will be communicated to potential exhibitors in due course by the EAGC.
Kshs 20,000
In case of any queries, please get in touch with Anthony Kioko (cell: 0722 - 236 175 OR 0734 - 909 963) or e-mail akioko@cga.co.ke
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COVER STORY
Climate change: Causes and effects - and how farmers can help
A
mong the silent but salient threats that poses a great challenge to the country’s food basket is climate change. The volatile and unpredictable weather patterns resulting from climate change consistently impact on yields in a big way. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), close to one billion people globally were food insecure in 2010. By 2050, the problem is expected to sharply increase by 70% where the global population is expected to increase and global yields to dwindle even further. Other studies have have indicated that one of the limiting factors to the fight against hunger is the fact that the areas with the highly volatile weather conditions are the same areas where the rural populations largely depend on farming. Most of sub-Saharan Africa falls in this category. Meanwhile, climate change has in the recent past manifested itself in worrying trends that affects farmers directly including; decreased or irregular rainfall and extremely high
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temperatures.
For a country like Kenya to counter the effects of climate change, it has to plant trees and increase its forest cover. Trees absorb excess carbon dioxide and other harmful gases from the atmosphere. The time to act is now and it is only right for everyone to act with speed so that we can control this monster.
If you want to feel the impacts of climate change you do not have to look far. Lakes in the Rift Valley are drying, rivers have now become streams. Glacier on top of Mt. Kenya is decreasing at an increasing rate. Arid lands are extending. Water points are drying and all one can see is vast plain lands with little or no vegetation. Farmers can no longer predict rainfall. While at it, you will also notice that most communities are clearing grassy plains and forests for farming or to burn charcoal. This goes on without the slightest hesitation on the impact of such actions. Factories on the other hand are polluting the environment by driving effluents into already drying up rivers and lakes. The worry is that the emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and other gases into the air are forming a barrier that prevents the sun’s energy from radiating back into space, thus raising the earth’s temperature. It is this climate change which is
COVER STORY
supposedly causing more intense and frequent droughts, floods, hurricanes, rising sea levels, and other negative effects in Kenya. For a country like Kenya to counter the effects of climate change, people must plant trees and increase its forest cover. Trees absorb excess carbon dioxide and other harmful gases from the atmosphere. The time to act is now and it is only right for everyone to act with speed so that we can control this monster.
Climate change authority bill 2012 The government has a plan in the pipeline to mitigate climate change through the Climate Change Authority Bill 2012. The bill proposes setting up laws that will limit activities that bring about climate change. This is in line with the formation of a green economy as espoused in Vision 2030. It proposes the creation of a Climatic Change Authority that will develop and facilitate the implementation of activities that will reduce the country’s carbon emitting levels. By doing so, farmers and other stakeholders will be in a position to reduce, mitigate and adapt to climate change as they will know exactly what to do in law.
The danger: Global warming has caused glaciers on Mount Kenya to recede at an alarming rate and scientists predict they could be wiped out soon if urgent measures are not taken. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) shows that seven out of 18 glaciers present atop Mount Kenya in 1900 had disappeared by 1986 and the remaining 11 glaciers had lost between 60 per cent and 92 per cent of their area.
Children should be encouraged about the importance of planting trees from an early age
The effects of climate change • Loss of plants and animals species, due to drought, • Prolonged drought that causes lose of biodiversity thus affecting the ecosystem • Lack of food and water due to prolonged drought will cause loss of human life. This is being witnessed in the some parts of Kenya today. • Poverty could lead people to start relying on aid. Rain patterns are changing and farmers cannot be able to predict rainfall so most of the times food crops dry up before maturity. The government has been in the forefront of tree planting campaigns. In this photo, the former minister of Forestry and Wildlife, Dr. Noah Wekesa, plants a tree
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Understanding soil testing vs yields
By Jed China
If parts of your crop field are doing better than other areas, it may be a sign that there’s something wrong with the soil. It goes without saying that whatever is at the root of the problem might not be evident above ground and so you need to go deeper into the soil to get the problem
I
t is normal for some farmers to complain of lower yields. It is however amazing that among the reasons attributed to lower yields, soil composition always comes last. Truth is, if parts of your crop field are doing better than other areas, it may be a sign that there’s something wrong with the soil. It goes without saying that whatever is at the root of the problem might not be evident above ground and so you need to go deeper into the soil to get the problem. Fact is, farmers can save time and money and improve their crop yield by conducting soil tests. The soil sampling situation can be likened to the need to checking oil periodically in vehicles. When the oil light comes on, it is a clear sign there is a problem and some damage may already have been done. Similarly, by the time there are visual signs of a problem in your field, yield has been lost and profits have been affected. Undertaking soil testing eliminates the guesswork. This writer spoke to farmers on their experiences. Mr. Ben Korir, one of the mart farmers who have tested their soil, was optimistic of his action. “The results are amazing; you can actually bring new life to the shamba just by understanding what the shamba needs and what it does not require especially during planting.”
Jeremy Cordingley showing this writer soil samples collected from farmers across the country.
“I am one of the people who did not believe that farming is a science until recently. For me, and as long as I can remember, my father has been planting on the same piece of land and the harvest keep reducing without any reason yet we always use fertilizers,” he said. “I changed my opinion one day when I attended a farmer’s field day and was told that my farm could be choking from the continuous use of fertilisers wrongly. I was also told that like the doctor must first diagnose the patient before giving medicine, so must the farmer. So it was a whole new experience with this Daktari wa Udongo initiative and I hope to harvest more now that I am waiting for my results
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Benefits of soil testing • Increases yields • Saves money • Improves crop resistance to pests and diseases • Reduces chemical applications • Helps plan and develop a long term budgets
from the lab,” observed Korir. According to DaktariWaUdongo, a program offering professional soil testing and fertilizer advisory services, soil sampling helps to analyse a number of crop ailments. Such a test provides the farmer with knowledge on what exactly ails their soil. The program also provides appropriate recommendations to treat the soil ailments. The Managing Director at Crop Nutrition Laboratory Services Jeremy Cordingley says that DaktariWaUdongo ‘is helping remove the guessing culture from agriculture’, adding that the increasing food shortage could easily be put in check if soil testing could be widely practised. “If you do not test your soil you are guessing. Soil testing removes the guessing out of farming,” says Jeremy.
Close to 70% of farms in Kenya have soils that are ailing yet farmers lack the necessary information to enable them to treat their soils. It is unfortunate that farmers keep buying the same fertilizers every season without knowing the real problems their soils are facing. According to Jeremy, close to 70% of farms in Kenya have soils that are ailing yet farmers lack the necessary information to trigger them to treat their soils. It is unfortunate that farmers keep buying the same fertilizers every season without knowing the real problems their soils are facing. This, coupled with repeated growing of the same crop on the same piece of land, eventually destablises soil fertility thus stifling crop production. However, through soil testing services and adopting positive soil practices, some farmers have increased their yields from 2 tonnes to 8 tonnes. Equipped with the necessary recommendations resulting from soil testing farm input dealers can now stock different fertilizers and more farm inputs that meet the exact needs of farmers in their areas. Caren Nyambeki, a farmer from Kitale is a happy farmer. “I am happy that I tested my farm. Now I understand why I have not been getting good results from my two plots.” “I have been blindly applying excess DAP, while my shamba needed more lime. The lab tests helped me double my yields in the first season after their analysis,” said Nyambeki adding that all farmers should ask professionals to test their soils for better yields.
Soil samples being processed in the lab
About DaktariWaUdongo • The farmer is trained by a Field Officer on how to take soil samples from the farm • The farmer delivers the soil to DaktariWaUdongo Agro Dealers who are located in major towns • Payment for the service is then made to the Agro Dealer • The Agro Dealer then sends the sample to the laboratory in Nairobi • The soil analysis is conducted quickly and accurately • An SMS is sent to the farmer’s mobile phone with the necessary soil and fertilizer management recommendations • The farmer is then able to access the required technical support from the Agro Dealers and Field Advisors. • The Agro Dealers also receive an email with the results from the soil lab analysis. This will enable the Agro Dealer to know the problems that the farmers in his area are facing and therefore he is able to stock his shop with the appropriate fertilizers and farm inputs. • DakatariwaUdongo services have so far reached a great number of farmers in Eldoret, Nakuru, Kitale, Kisumu and Bungoma among other regions.
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10
Why every farmer needs
INSURANCE
Crop Insurance
The frequency and severity of weather losses is increasing with time. We have seen more and more erratic weather, making farming a more risky venture.
O
ne of the greatest advantages of insurance is the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you are protected against any unforeseen losses. Insurance gives an individual the confidence to take calculated risks they would have otherwise shied away from.
In recent years, the subject of agricultural insurance has been gaining importance amongst farmers and industry players. Less than 5 years ago, no insurance company would have considered offering crop insurance in Kenya. The risks attached to farming are immense and catastrophic in nature. Looking back in retrospect starting last year, we witnessed maize destruction by an epidemic disease in South Rift. A frost attack earlier in the year left many tea, maize and potato farmers a discouraged lot. In 2011, farmers in lower Narok experienced a devastating drought with most wheat farmers hardly achieving a bag an acre. 2009 and 2005 were drought years in most parts of the country. The frequency and severity of weather related losses is increasing with time. We have seen more and more erratic weather, making farming a more risky venture. Global warming and climate change can only make the situation worse.
Like any other business farming has risks and farmers ought to protect themselves from the perils that are beyond the control of farmers The long and short of it is that farming is a risky business, and farmers ought to protect their money from the impact of changes in weather. One such important method of protection is buying crop insurance cover. A few insurers have taken the risk to insure Kenyan farmers and the impact of crop insurance is spreading.
Insured Causes/Perils The insurance offered is mainly a multi-peril cover. The crop is covered for yield Losses, arising out of any or a combination of the following weather perils: • Excess Rains • Drought • Hail Damage • Frost Damage • Fire Cont’d pg 16 >>
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PICTORIAL
iculture, touring the CGA liamentary Committe on Agr Par an, irm cha o, tuth Mu n Hon. Joh of Science and Technology held at Rift Valley Institute Fair s ines Bus the ing dur d stan ber 2012. (RVIST), Nakuru, in Septem
Women Traders displayin
g their cereal produce at
a market in Kilgoris
Farmers organisation leaders from around Meru pictured at the end of AGRA I project close out meeting in Meru
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xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx x xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxxxxxxxxx
the The Principal of RVIST, Mr. Koimett, leads other guests at CGA Business fair in 2012
mo
ing shown a CGA de
m AGRA be Mellyne Onyango fro site in Trans Mara
ion shows visitors sha Farmers Associat mo Ro at e l cia offi up mosha Market Centr Ismael, a far mer’s gro ag gregation store at Ro ce du pro ir the at e round the bulking sit
The CEO hands over a stit ching machine to group offi cials in Trans Mara
A Kenya Seed Company representative and participants including Trans Mara District Commissioner, Mr. Mathioya (in red tie) tour the company’s demo site at Poroko Primary School
Far mer
grain storage bags donated s from Ol Donyo Orok display
by CGA
AGRA and CGA officials visit farmers at
the grain bulking centre in Keiyan, Trans Mara
... inside the grain bulking centre
...
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INSURANCE
Obviously, the above perils are beyond the control of the farmer. An extension to cover diseases can be granted (at an extra cost), although it will be difficult to establish if the farmer could not have reasonably controlled the diseases.
How the insurance works: To get covered, a farmer will need to supply the insurance company with historical yield data, say for the past 10 years. This will establish the long-term average over the years. For example, most large-scale farmers in Lower Narok have produced on average 12 bags/acre of wheat. Insurance will cover between 50-70% of this average. This is referred to as the Yield Guarantee. Thus, if a farmer chooses a 65% Yield Guarantee, he will be covered up to 8 bags/acre. The price per bag is pre-agreed at the point of insurance and will not be altered at the point of harvest. This price should not be speculative. A price of not more than Ksh 3,500 for wheat was reasonable (in 2012). Thus the maximum cover for one acre in lower Narok will be around Ksh 28,000(i.e. 8bags X Ksh 3,500/bag). As an example, if a farmer harvests 5 bags as a result of drought, the insurer will pay 3 bags to return the farmer to the Yield Guarantee of 8 bags/acre. The insurer will therefore pay Ksh 10,500 for each acre (i.e. 3 bags X Ksh 3,500/bag). Note: a 65% Yield Guarantee for a wheat farmer in Eldoret could mean 10bags/acre. Most farmers do not keep records and the insurer can opt for area averages to determine the level of cover. Crop pay-outs are made at the end of the season, when the farmer would normally expect to harvest his crop.
is sufficient to achieve the long-term average declared. An Acceptance Letter (or decline letter) is sent to the farmer immediately after the visit. Later, the insurer agronomist will visit the farm at least 2 more times, to carry out Mid-season and Pre-harvest inspections. The farmer is required to give the insurer a 7 day notice of his intention to harvest, so that yield estimates can be carried out in the pre-harvest inspection. Yield estimates are done on a sampling basis, with the farmer and the agronomist signing the pre-harvest document. During the entire period of the insurance, the farmer is expected to carry out good crop husbandry practices (Pest, disease & weed control, plus good crop nutrition).
The right time to pay for crop insurance is before planting. In this case, the farmer and the insurer have no knowledge of what the season will be like Planting Windows: To get insured, the farmer has to plant within the correct planting window for a given location. Any crop planted too late in the season does not qualify for insurance. This is because the crop will not receive enough rainfall and heat units to get a good production.
Crop Inspections
Cost of Crop Insurance:
Crop insurance begins only after satisfactory germination of the crop. An insurer agronomist will visit the farm to establish that the germination
The average cost of crop insurance (for rain-fed cereals) is about 6% on the value insured. In the above case, the insurance cost would be Ksh
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1,680/acre. The cost would go as low as Ksh 1,000 if the pre-agreed price is lower, or if the Yield Guarantee is lower. Compare this with other costs of production; e.g. Ksh 4,000/ acre for land lease, Ksh 3,500/acre for Diammonium Phospate fertilizer (DAP), Ksh 2,500/acre for ploughing and Ksh 7,000/acre for chemicals. Insurance is a small price to pay to protect your investment.
When does the farmer pay insurance? The right time to pay for crop insurance is before planting. In this case, the farmer and the insurer have no knowledge of what the season will be like. In the past, farmers have rushed to pay insurance when they sense trouble.
Crop Insurance and Credit Access: Most banks in Kenya are insisting that a farmer has to buy crop insurance for the banks to lend to this sector. In the event of loss, the bank is paid by the insurer without having to deal with the farmer. Insurance gives the farmer a second chance to go back to the farm the following season, as he/she will still be creditworthy. Crop insurance effectively protects a farmer from bankruptcy and serves as important collateral for loans access by banks. In conclusion, crop insurance is an important component of risk mitigation by farmers. Insurance will protect Kenya’s bread baskets. With insurance, more farmers will get into production as the risks of weather are covered. In America and Europe, crop insurance is a critical component of any farming business, ensuring that farmers make money in all seasons. *Article by Michael Waigwa, Agronomist, CIC General Insurance Ltd.
Value Addition:
Are cereals cheap, characterless commodities? I
n The Foods that Make Billions, a three-part series on BBC, which shed light on how the food industry transforms simple, inexpensive commodities into billiondollar brands, the true funky side of the cereals came out openly. It answered the question whether grains are still the socalled cheap, characterless commodities, by bringing out the fabulous end products that change the character of cereals. In this BBC story, the basic formula was to add “value” to extremely cheap base materials — like cereal grains. The answer is processing and additives, including high fructose maize syrup, flavorings, vitamin fortification, packaging, marketing, and, of course, toys inside. For a minute, one forgets about Ugali, Uji and Githeri, that is if you might think to yourself, “But, I eat real food, so this really doesn’t have anything to do with me, does it?” In adding value, it showed that the future of this sector depends on the demands occasioned by value addition.
History of value addition in the cereal industry In the United States, 42 out of 50 states grow wheat. About 2½ billion metric tonnes of wheat are grown on over 60 million acres of land (that’s about the size of the entire UK). Half of this wheat is used domestically, while the other half is shipped around the world. But worldwide, wheat is only the second-most produced cereal grain, behind maize. And the United States is surprisingly only the 4th largest producer of wheat, behind China, India, and Russia. Amazingly, the epicenter of the cereal industry is the small midwestern town of Battle Creek, Michigan. It is here where, in 1903, one John Harvey Kellogg founded the health resort known as the Battle Creek Sanitarium. This was a vegetarian institution that promoted the health
principles of the Seventh Day Adventist church, and for a while it was a faddishly popular destination for well-known and wealthy clients. Here, they were subjected to frequent enemas, along with electrotherapy, hydrotherapy, thermotherapy, mechanotherapy, diatetics, physical culture, cold-air cure, and health training. A real party, celebrating life…as you can imagine. J.H. Kellogg promoted a low-fat, low-protein diet that was high in grains, fiber, and nuts. It was here and during this time that he invented what was to become the maize flake. However, it is W.K. Kellogg who founded the Kellogg company that today has worldwide revenues of over $13 Billion (K.shs 1 Trillion), annually. And what did W.K. Kellogg do to the maize flakes recipe his brother invented? He added sugar. This was a major milestone for the processed food industry. Combining cheap grains with cheap sugar was like printing money. A 75-cent worth of grain could now yield 12 dollars worth of cereal.
The moral of the story Markets and opportunities for the cereal farmers and their produce are huge. While products end up going bad due to market inefficiencies, there is light at the end of the tunnel if only people will think out of the box. There is a lot more demand for cereals than the market can take. Through proper marketing, value addition will create a major demand for cereals. Once the country gets to top gear of processing cereals for future consumption by encouraging a culture of breakfast cereals and cereals-on-the go, then farming will be an even more awesome endeavour. Created especially for Class Clips from the BBC series The Foods that Make Billions, first broadcast in 2010.
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Kenya among countries in Africa that lose food valued at USD 4 billion annually due to post-harvest losses
Research has shown that a reduction of just one per cent in post-harvest losses can lead to a gain of Kshs. 32 billion annually. Imagine the impact if we are to reduce the losses by just two per cent
A
n international workshop on post-harvest losses was recently told that food valued at over Kshs 320 billion is lost every year in Africa as a result of post-harvest inefficiencies across the staples agricultural value chain. Ms. Anne Mbaabu Director of Markets at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) called on governments to urgently invest in systems that will lead to a huge reduction in post-harvest losses and increase income levels of actors across various agricultural value chains. “Post-harvest losses significantly endanger the livelihoods of stakeholders across the value chain by reducing valuable incomes and profitability,” Ms. Mbaabu said. “Research has shown that a reduction of just one per cent in post-harvest losses can lead to a gain of Kshs. 32 billion annually. Imagine the impact if we are to reduce the losses by just two per cent,” she said. Participants at the meeting hosted by AGRA, in partnership with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, agreed that post-harvest losses are a major contributor to food insecurity in Africa and there is an urgent need to mitigate the negative impacts across the agricultural value chain. They decried the fact that there is very little data to demonstrate the real impact of post-harvest losses in Africa. AGRA President Jane Karuku called on African governments to take bold actions towards reducing the high level of post-harvest losses across the
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continent noting that value chain actors and particularly small holder farmers were losing potential incomes through systemic inefficiencies. “If we are serious about breaking the cycle of poverty, we must develop efficient systems for ensuring that the food we produce is properly stored, transported and marketed,” she said. “At AGRA, we are keen to work with various partners to come out with viable approaches to address this critical issue because we would like to see the emergence of more efficient value chains. This would ultimately benefit the smallholder farmer who is our primary focus.”
The study seeks to determine the status of postharvest losses and storage at various levels including the farmer level, aggregation centers and in grain traders’ stores
The workshop reviewed the outcomes of the first phase of a study that seeks to establish the levels of post-harvest losses along the stages of the value chain in 11 countries across Africa including Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Uganda and Mali. The study targets various staple crops including maize, rice, cassava, sweet potatoes, sorghum, millet and grain legumes such as cowpeas, soybeans, groundnuts and beans. The study seeks to determine the status of post-harvest losses and storage at various levels including the farmer level, aggregation centers and in grain traders’ stores. It seeks to determine the major factors that cause postharvest losses, identify local post-harvest management practices and come up with recommendation for improving storage structures. The participants discussed the methodological challenges
of collecting reliable and comparable data on the magnitude to post-harvest losses and the different factors contributing to them. Participants called for more harmonized data collection methodologies to ensure that comparable losses of quality, quantity and economic losses.
“We need stronger inter-organizational collaboration to benchmark current approaches and ensure more reliable estimation of post-harvest losses in the continent,” Dr Irene S. Egyir, the lead Researcher for the study said. “At the moment, though there are many studies available, the lack of a standard methodology from country to country makes it difficult to compare the date and draw conclusion.” The workshop was attended by representatives from a cross-section of organizations working on postharvest losses globally. They included COMESA, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, ICIPE, CGIAR-ILRI, Technoserve, World Food Program, Cereal Growers Association, Eastern Africa Grain Council, and Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture, Economic Research Institute Consortium, Rural Urban Development Initiative, Concern Universal and Frontier Development Associates. Others were Rwanda Development Organization, Farmers Union of Malawi, CIMMYT, ACDI/VOCA, The Urban Associates Limited, University of Nairobi, Tegemeo Institute, IDRC, APHLIS, Kenyatta University, ISSER, REPOA, Zambia Agricultural Research Institute, Chitedze Agricultural Research Institute among others Source AGRA Website
There’s an urgent need to invest in systems that can enhance reduction in post harvest loses in a bid to increase income levels for farmers
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Technology transfer
Transforming agriculture and agribusiness through technology
W
ith more than 25 million mobile users in Kenya, phones are becoming an important bridge to get rural communities connected. One such critical rural population is the small-scale farmer. They would want to know the prices of food, the best agricultural practices to use, rapid response on disease outbreaks and what to do to contain the diseases, where they can sell their produce and get cheap inputs among other needs.
treatment whenever they need to know the information.
Mobile information platform is one technology that is helping farmers make decisions, increase productivity and improve incomes.
Using the ‘Mobile Technology Panel’ farmers are able to get best deals on farm inputs, study changing trends in food availability and use that as an opportunity to plant certain crops, connect with buyers and sell to highest bidder. Farmers can use their financial activities on the mobile payments to prove their creditworthiness and also connect with other farmers where they can exchange information or do barter trade. On the same panel farmers can have virtual groups on the internet to trade together as well as gain access to bigger markets.
Take M-Farm for example. With this ground breaking technology, farmers have acces to a short code 3555. Using the short code, a farmer anywhere in the country, can track the prices of different crops in the major markets. In addition, farmers can sell his or her produce using the same mobile short code. The first service is a real-time daily price information and the second is a selling together service. The ‘selling together’ is an agricultural trading platform. Other technologies that have made life easy for smallholder farmers as well as traders includes mobile money transfer, micro-insurance systems where using the mobile, farmers are helped to get certified seed, access extension advise over the farmers’ helpline and the insurance company can monitor weather conditions and advise farmers on what to grow to reduce risks. Mobile payment records can be used as proof of credit history and the mobile payment systems are a supporting technology. Farmers can also register for soil testing and through their phones they can get constant updates of soil
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The real innovation however, that will boost Agriculture, is an integrated system where one mobile technology panel is available to farmers in a kind of a ‘One Stop Farmer Store’ where the farmers can access any kind of information at will on their mobile phones. This will be the perfect way to connect farmers in an integrated manner.
Policy
Farmers put policy issues on the spot
T
he 2013 general election is now history. But grain farmers face fresh marketing uncertainties with the inevitable privatization of the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB). The privatization of the board is a key plank in reforms aimed at attracting money for agriculture by privatization of the marketing aspect of NCPB. These changes will limit the government’s role in the grain market to handling strategic grain reserves (SGR) for emergency purposes only. The new laws - the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Authority (AFFA) Act, the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Bill 2012 and the Crops Bill 2012 will create a single regulator for production, processing and marketing of agricultural commodities. Implementation of the laws will see hundreds of workers being moved from the ministries to the devolved units to report to governors and other county executives. The new structure will also see national institutions retaining the roles of policy formulation, enforcement and supervision as field extension workers move to the counties. The NCPB is among 14 marketing agencies that will be restructured under the three Bills, which President Kibaki assented into law in January 2013. Since its inception, the board has been used by the government to stabilize maize prices and weed out middlemen who buy the grain from farmers for a song. Already, there are fears that privatizing the board would expose
farmers to predatory pricing by millers and middlemen, discouraging further investments in farming, with implications on food security. Meanwhile, the recent bumper harvest pushed down maize prices in the local market making Kenya one of the cheapest sources of cereals in East Africa. The average weekly wholesale price for the staple at one time fell to Sh2,675 per bag, down from Sh3,200 at the beginning of December. The Agriculture ministry estimates
The drop in maize prices is likely to reignite the old debate over the pricing policy of the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB). that the enhanced short rains may have lifted the country’s 2012 maize production to 38 million bags – just two million bags below the national consumption level. The drop in maize prices is likely to reignite the old debate over the pricing policy of the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB). At the onset of the short season harvests, NCPB raised its producer price to Sh3,000 a bag, attracting positive response from farmers. Critics however insist grain pricing
should be left to market forces. Uganda, however, remains the top source of grains that is exchanged across region, helping countries such as Kenya to plug their shortfalls and keep the commodity price down. Farmers have already asked the government to come up with measures to ensure sustainable production of the grain to stem reliance on imports. Kenya relies on imports from Russia, America, and European countries to meet its wheat requirements. Local production cannot match demand as only between 30 and 40 per cent of wheat is produced locally. Large-scale wheat farmers continue to urge the government to promote agriculture-friendly policies to transform wheat production and save the country from over-relying on imports. Farmers also want the government to allocate funds for purchase of wheat for the Strategic Grain Reserve, as is the case with maize, and set the price of the commodity at not less than Sh3,600 per 90 kilogramme bag. The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) has however said that funds released by the government during the 2012/13 financial year could only be used to buy maize, rice, and green grams. Wheat farmers said that it was unfair for the government to allocate Sh1.6 billion for purchase of maize and ignore wheat.
This is an abridged version of a story by eastafrican.co.ke (January 14th, 2013) entitled Maize prices fall as Kenya records bumper harvest
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Passion for pulses and the management of diabetes
P
ulses, which include beans, peas, chickpeas and lentils, are high-fibre, low-fat foods with a low glycemic index (GI) that may help people control their blood glucose levels. Maintaining a near-normal blood glucose level is the first goal of diet therapy in treating diabetes.
The key issue in diabetes is managing blood glucose One of the characteristics of diabetes mellitus is a high blood glucose level (hyperglycemia). People with diabetes experience disturbances in blood glucose that can result from problems with insulin secretion by the pancreas and/or problems with the actions of insulin in muscle and other tissues. Chronic hyperglycemia is a serious health matter because it damages various organs, particularly the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels. Type 2 diabetes - formerly called non-insulin-dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes - is the most common form, affecting about 90% of individuals with diabetes. The risk of developing Type 2 diabetes increases with age, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.
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Pulses in diabetes diet management - The evidence
rise in blood glucose than potatoes or wheat-based foods.
A diet that produces hyperglycemia and a greater demand for insulin increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Individuals with or at risk of Type 2 diabetes are advised to eat a diet in which about 50-60% of energy is supplied by carbohydrates obtained mainly from whole grains, fruit, vegetables and low-fat milk. Pulses make an important contribution to healthy eating because their effect on blood glucose is less than that of most other carbohydrate-containing foods.
Pulses have a low glycemic index
In one study, nine adults with Type 2 diabetes ate dried peas as part of a mixed meal and then later ate a mixed meal made with potatoes. Their blood glucose and insulin levels were lower after eating the mixed meal made with dried peas than after eating the mixed meal made with potatoes. A different study looking at healthy people found that those eating a chickpea-based meal had lower blood glucose and insulin levels than those eating wheat-based meals (either a whole grain plus wheat bran or white bread). These findings and others show that pulses can be useful for diabetics because they cause less of a
Twenty years ago, when the concept of the glycemic index was first being developed, researchers were surprised to discover that baked potatoes had a higher GI value and, therefore, a greater effect on blood glucose than ice cream! Today, the GI values for hundreds of foods are known. For instance, baked and instant potatoes, corn flakes, French fries and plain bagels have a high GI of 70 or more, meaning they raise blood glucose more than other foods. Pulses like lentils, kidney beans, split peas and chickpeas have a low GI of 55 or less, indicating that their effect on blood glucose is less than that of many other carbohydrate-containing foods. The lower the food’s glycemic index, the better the blood glucose control.
Pulses effect on blood glucose is less than that of most other carbohydratecontaining foods
The Glycemic Index of Some Common Foods High GI Foods Food Glycemic Index* White rice, boiled 45 - 104 Boiled potato 54 - 101
Food Baked beans Lentils (boiled)
(Maize) vvvCorn flakesTM
Apple (raw)
28 - 44
Chickpeas (dried, boiled) Yoghurt Hommos
36 14 - 36 6
72 - 92
White bread 67 - 87 Jelly beans 76 - 80 Porridge (from whole rolled oats) 42 - 75
Low GI Foods Glycemic Index* 40 - 56 18 - 52
* Values from www.glycemicindex.com The glycemic index is a method of ranking carbohydrate foods by their ability to raise blood glucose following a meal. To determine a food’s GI, a standard amount of the test food is eaten, and then the rise in blood glucose is compared with that of an equivalent amount of a standard or reference food (white bread or pure glucose). The reference food is given a GI value of 100. The GI values differ according to which food was used as the reference food. For example, when glucose was the reference food
in a Canadian study, sweet corn had a GI of 59; when white bread was the reference food, it had a GI of 84. Glucose was the reference food for the items listed in the table above.
Pulses help people control blood glucose Pulses have a low glycemic index, making them excellent sources of carbohydrate in the diet of those affected by diabetes. Including pulses in the diet helps control blood glucose and insulin levels. Pulses have other
D.I.
health effects, like reducing blood lipids. This may help prevent some serious complications of diabetes. Once referred to as “poor man’s meat” because they are high in protein and inexpensive, pulses are valuable additions to a modern diet because of their good taste, convenience, ease of use and nutritional role in managing and preventing diabetes. NutriTech Consulting, Winnipeg MB, for Pulse Canada, and Nancy Longnecker, PhD, CLIMA, The University of Western Australia. (source: www. passionforpulses.com/diabetes)
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PULSES DELIGHT
COOKERY
Matoke Recipe Serves:
6
Preparation:
1 hour
Cooking:
20 - 25 mins
Ingredients 8 Green bananas (peeled and cubed) Onion 3 Tomatoes Coriander 1/2 cup Coconut milk 1/2 tsp of Turmeric 1 tbsp Oil Salt & Pepper
Process Start by cutting and frying the onions. Add your cut tomatoes and cover, let them simmer until they are cooked. Add the bananas, turmeric, salt and pepper to taste. Pour chicken stock or Knorr cube mixed a warm cup of water. Cover and let the bananas cook, adding hot water to ensure they don’t dry up. Please resist the urge to stir too often as the bananas will break into smaller pieces.
Banana
Once they are almost ready add the coconut milk and coriander, stir, cover for
Onion
Spinach
1 tbsp butter
Add butter pan, once melted stir your onions, let them cook for a minute.
1/2 cup cream or milk Baby spinach Salt and pepper to taste
Pour your milk or cream and let it cook for a while, until it thickens
Onion
Once done, add your spinach, having washed them earlier on and allowed the
1½ cup cooked beans
Simplified Bean Stew
Onion 2 tomatoes Beef broth Salt Oil Coriander, Optional Beans
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Heat oil in pan, add the onions. Cook for 1 minute then add the tomatoes, beef broth and cover. Let them simmer for another 2 minutes Add the beans, salt and 1 cup of hot water or beef broth and allow the stew to cook for
another 2-3 min. Turn off the heat, you are good to go. Remember the stew can be as thick or as thin as you wish it to be, but thick is definitely better. You can enjoy them with meat stew, minced meat, chicken steak etc be creative You can also incorporate meat into the process, in that once the onions are ready, you add your cubed meat pieces, cook until ready, add tomatoes and follow above process. Delicious too!
water to drain Mix well, add salt and pepper to taste and after 4 minutes you are good to go. Ensure the milk is good and thick so that when you add in your spinach, it doesn’t take a lot of cooking to thicken the mix.
another 15 minutes, adding water where necessary. We believe the longer the stew cooks, the sweeter it becomes, but be the judge of your stew as well.
A
g n i Farms Joke
farm boy accidentally overturned his wagonload of maize. The farmer who lived nearby heard the noise and yelled over to the boy, “Hey Willis, forget your troubles. Come in and visit with us. I’ll help you get the wagon up later.”
“That’s mighty nice of you,” Willis answered, “But I don’t think Pa would like me to.” “Aw come on boy,” the farmer insisted. “Well okay,” the boy finally agreed, and added, “But Pa won’t like it.” After a hearty dinner, Willis thanked his host. “I feel a lot better now, but I know Pa is going to be real upset.” “Don’t be foolish!” the neighbor said with a smile. “By the way, where is he?”
“Under the wagon.”
A
busload of politicians were driving down a country road, when suddenly the bus ran off the road and crashed into an old farmer’s barn. The old farmer got off his tractor and went to investigate. Soon he dug a hole and buried the politicians. A few days later, the local sheriff came out, saw the crashed bus and asked the old farmer where all the politicians had gone.
A
n agricultural salesman is visiting a farm with a view to flogging a new type of combine harvester. “No, sorry son,” says the farmer, “my pig takes care of all the harvesting - I have no need for your fancy gizmo.” “Could save you money in the long-term” tries the salesman. “No, your combine would never match my pig’s productivity - you should see him go - swishing away with that scythe.” The salesman is intrigued about this pig and asks to see the creature. The farmer leads the salesman to an enclosure. Standing within - tall and proud - is the most magnificent pig the salesman has ever seen. But the pig has got a wooden leg. “That sure is an impressive pig, sir, but why’s he got a wooden leg?” asks the salesman. “This pig is more than ‘impressive’ mister - I’m sure he’s unique! Do you know he can also drive the tractor!?” “Really? But why’s he got a wooden leg?” “He drives our children to school and back!! - even helps them with their homework!!” “I’m impressed” admits the salesman, “but why the wooden leg?” “THIS PIG is also a leading authority on organic farming; thanks to him we’ve managed to branch out, and now our revenue is higher than that of any other farm in this county!! “Yeah, yeah!! You’ve got one hell of a pig - I can see that by just looking at him - but why does it have a wooden leg!?” Insists the salesman. “Did I mention the publishing deals? This pig’s just written a best seller - we’re going to be even richer now!!” “Amazing, truly amazing - but why the WOODEN LEG!!!!!!!!!!” The farmer looks admiringly at his pig and then turns to the salesman: Son, with a pig like this - you just DON’T eat him all at once.”
The old farmer told him he had buried them. The sheriff asked the old farmer, “Lordy, were they ALL dead?” The old farmer said, “Well, some of them said they weren’t, but you know how them crooked politicians lie.”
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Diversity ‘Diversity is the key, diversity is the future’ By Patrick Gachanja
I
ntegrated Weed Management (IWM) has become a principal program in the production systems of farmers.
It involves the use of a range of weed control techniques embracing physical, chemical and biological methods in an integrated fashion without excessive reliance on any one method and has been devised as a tool for preventing and managing herbicide resistant weeds. The purpose of IWM is to reduce weed pressure and keep weeds below their economic thresholds. In recent decades the agrochemical industry has provided excellent solutions for weed control. Herbicides have become the dominant tool and resulting to significant decrease in the amount of labor required for weed control while at the same time increasing crop yields. The main aim of IWM is to ensure that cropping systems
Integrated weed management is not just about weed control but also the integration of different practices that together help to decrease the competitiveness of weeds and to limit their spread. Herbicides are the most economical, effective and reliable way to control weeds in most crop production systems. Becoming familiar with the herbicide mode of action can help design programs that prevent the introduction and spread of herbicideresistant weeds, however, this tactic needs to be combined with other cultural practices e.g. crop rotation, to be more effective. Applying herbicides at reduced dose rates will promote the development of resistance, weed species which are more difficult to control may escape resulting in a weed shift to a new weed population occurring that will require new, more expensive management practices in the mid to long term.
‘You must know your enemy to be able to fight it’ Now, resistance is not an anonymous threat anymore
are profitable and to reduce the risk of weeds getting out of control and particularly those resistant to one or more herbicides. Two additional aims are a long term reduction in the weed seed bank and the sustainability of weed control practices with a minimum impact on the environment. Three principal components of an IWM program that should be considered by growers should include: diversity in crop rotation, diversity in cultural practices and diversity in herbicide use. The keys to IWM are diversity and integration- diversity of both cultural and chemical methods and an integrated program that employs multiple weed control technologies working together.
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Working preemptively through incorporating IWM measures can lead to the successful prevention of the development of resistant weed population.As an innovation leader in the crop protection industry, Bayer CropScience promotes the IWM options that fit into local production practices and are economically viable. Patrick works for Bayer CropScience
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