Build Africa UK

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Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1HE Registered Charity No. 298316

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A final report on Build Africa’s livelihoods project in rural Kenya

FARMERS FROM KAPSITA FARMERS’ NETWORK RECEIVING THEIR PYRERTHRUM SEEDS ELBURGON, KENUA

Project Overview

With the support of Shepherd Compello, Build Africa has successfully completed a three year livelihoods project supporting farmers in rural Kenya. Through the Farmer’ Network Project, these farmers have developed a better understanding of farming techniques that will maximize crop yield and production, increasing their income and enabling them to support their families and send their children to school. There were three main outcomes from the Farmers Network Project: • Increased access to financial services, enabling farmers to invest in appropriate inputs to develop their farms • Increased farmers’ skills and knowledge of improved and modern farming techniques • Participation of farmers in networks to allow for improved sharing of information, acquisition of better farming practices and higher negotiation ability in the sale of their produce These activities specifically focus on building networks and the skills of local farmers, as well as diversifying farming outputs to increase the long term resilience of the community.

Build Africa | February 2017

Sharing Learning and Collective Power

Build Africa supported the establishment of seventy-one Savings and Loans Groups who are clustered into fourteen Farmers Networks in Elburgon and Gilgil. As well as sharing knowledge and supporting eachother to use new crop-growing methods, the farmer groups have greater power to influence and negotiate when taking their produce to market, opening up access to larger marketing opportunities. Fifty farmers in three networks were able to group together to purchase large water storage tanks through a microfinance provider. The tanks were delivered to the farmers at an interest fee which can be paid back in instalments over a one year period. This is a significant achievement as the three networks are in areas which do not have access to tap water, so they can now store rain water in the tanks. Exchange Visits

Field-based and agricultural exchange visits have taken place across the networks. These are a great way to disseminate new information and share knowledge. For example, the Kagumu Network took part in an exchange visit to a large poultry farm where they purchased high quality and well-bred cockerels and eggs for brooding. The farmers have since reported on improvements in the quality and quantity of their eggs and chicks. Demonstration Plots

Five demonstration plots have been supported by Build Africa through the provision of materials and start-up kits. These have given farmers the opportunity to pilot different varieties of seeds, pesticides and growing methods, ensuring they are able to manage any associated risks before they scale them up for use on their own farms. In addition to these plots, four network farmers have volunteered some of their own land to use as demonstration plots. One half of each of these four plots has been planted traditionally and the other half planted using the new recommended best practice techniques, enabling farmers to compare the two and learn from the differences observed. The Ministries of Agriculture and Livestock are now more involved with the farmers and have visited the plots to provide technical expertise and advice.

Seven hundred and eighty one farmers told Build Africa that being a member of a VSLA meant that they could now afford their children’s education.

FARMERS RECEIVE TRAINING ON BEE KEEPING AT BARAKA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE MOLO, KENYA

FARMERS LEARN HOW TO PRESERVE DRY SILAGE AT KAGUMU DEMO PLOT GILGIL, KENYA

CONSTRUCTING SOLAR DRYERS FOR DRYING CROP GILGIL, KENYA

Build Africa | February 2017

THE KAPSITA FARMERS’ NETWOKR ATTEND A SESSION ON WRITING BUSINESS PROPOSALS ELBURGON, KENYA

LEARNING HOW TO EXTRACT WAX AND HARVEST HONEY MITI-MINGI DEMO PLOT, KENYA

PREPARING HIGH QUALITY POULTRY FEED AT KAGUMU DEMO PLOT GILGIL, KENYA

Increased Access to Financial Services

The Community Based Trainers who were employed to establish the Savings and Loans Groups continue to work closely with farmers to scale up their new micro innovations and ensure that the farmers continue to share best practice. The trainers have been responding to the farmers’ direct needs by supporting specific requests for business development training. For example, one hundred and fourty six farmers from five farmer networks were trained to write business proposals, and six hundred and seventy eight farmers from six farmer networks received training on accessing enterprise funds. Specialised Practical Training to Boost Productivity

Farmers placed high value on the training they had received to help boost production and incomes. For example, five hundred and eighty six farmers received training on poultry keeping, including producing inexpensive and nutritious poultry feed, and one hundred and one farmers were trained and exposed to the benefits of conservation agriculture. The Future of the Farmers’ Network Project

Build Africa plan to develop the Farmers Network Project into a second phase which will support farmers with further training on production and marketing. We will update you on the second phase project in the coming months. It is vital that we can raise the funds that are critical for the successful implementation of the project, so we hope that you will continue to support us in our work to help beat poverty through education. Thank you, Shepherd Compello, for your valued contribution to Build Africa’s work.

Four farmers from the Arimi Farmers’ Network received training on dairy production and dairy meal formulation in early November 2016 and have already noticed an increase

in milk production from seven to nine litres per milking.

PREPARING SILAGE FOR DAIRY CATTLE FEED

Build Africa | February 2017

Pyrethrum Solar Driers

Kenya is the world’s largest producer and exporter of pyrethrum, the extract of which can be used in the formulation of organic pesticides. Before the Farmers’ Networks were established, farmers had been drying their pyrethrum crop on gunny bags laid down on the floor under the open sun. This exposed it to direct sunlight and rain which damaged the crop. Build Africa worked with Farmers’ Networks to establish nine demonstration plots and build model solar driers for drying pyrethrum. These dryers protect the crop against direct sunlight and rain, increasing its quality and value. The farmers also have more time to spend doing other productive tasks as they do not have to worry about moving the crop when it rains.

PHOTO TITLE or FIGURE 1 LOCATION COUNTRY

The Ministry of Agriculture and Pyrethrum Board of Kenya Officers have visited the farmers’ plots to provide technical expertise on conservation agriculture and the benefits of pyrethrum solar

drying.

THE TANGI-TANO FARMERS NETWORK RECEIVIE PYRETHRUM SEEDS FROM THE PYRETHRUM BOARD OF KENYA OFFICERS GILGIL, KENYA

MR. NYAMWEYA, CHAIRMAIN OF THE TANGI-TANO NETWORK, SHOWS THE PYRERTHRUM OFFICERS AROUND HIS FIELD

Build Africa | February 2017

Poultry Keeping

Several Farmers’ Networks participated in a two day practical training course on the construction of model poultry houses that can house two hundred indigenous chickens, called “kienyeji”. These houses could be built complete with a chicken maternity unit and brooder. Chege Mbuthia is a farmer in Lower Mutamaiyo Farmers Network. After receiving the training in May 2016, he bought two hundred kienyeji from which he is already selling the eggs. He is a former employee of Tuskys Supermarkets and chose to use some of his retirement benefits to implement the poultry training. Out of the one hundred and eighty five surviving birds, one hundred and fourty four are laying on a daily basis. Other farmers are also learning from him about how to manage poultry farming. Agnes Chepkosgei from Arimi Farmers Network is also rearing indigenous chicken after the training she received through the network. Initially she purchased sixty five kienyeji and is currently building up more of her stock to reach a full capacity of two hundred birds.

PREPARING HIGH QUALITY POULTRY FEED AT KAGUMU DEMO PLOT GILGIL, KENYA

Five hundred and eighty six farmers, including two hundred and eighty seven women, and thirty one farmers from the Kagumu Farmers’ Network, have benefitted from the training on poultry production and preparing quality, less costly poultry feed.

KAGUMU FARMERS’ NETWORK ATTEND A POULTRY TRAINING SESSION GILGIL, KENYA