July 2022

Tractors For Africa T4A

Nonprofit introduces cheaper Pay-As-You-Go model of tractor ownership

By George Munene Global nonprofit Heifer International has partnered with Hello Tractor to introduce a Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) rent-to-own tractor financing program. Dubbed Tractors 4 Africa (T4A), it will enable Kenyan and Nigerian agri-entrepreneurs to become tractor owners at a reduced cost and without requiring any security given they have a farmer network. The financing model will …

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Embu farmers slash energy costs 40% with coffee husk briquettesĀ 

By George Munene The Rainforest Alliance is partnering with local organizations and coffee farmers in Embu County to turn their coffee husks into smokeless carbonized household cooking briquettes which reduce energy costs by 40 per cent. The project which will serve 1,500 members of the Kibugu Farmers’ Cooperative Society in Embu County will reduce their …

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Dryland farmers increase milk, lower cost through camel & goat dairy farming

Farmers in north sub-Saharan Africa’s drylands are able to raise milk production with lower inputs by shifting from cattle to camel and goat farming. The report outlined that increasing goat and camel populations by 14 per cent (7.7 million) and 10 per cent (1.2 million), respectively while reducing the dairy cattle population by 24 per …

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Italian firm sets up oilseed plant in Makueni employing 25,000 farmers

By George Munene Italian oil company Eni S.p.A. has completed the construction of an oilseed collection and pressing plant in Makueni, Kenya. The company’s first agri-hub will employ 25,000 farmers using a vertical-integration model where castor, croton, and cottonseeds will be cultivated and handled by local farmers before being bought and extracted to make vegetable …

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sorghum

EABL seeking 4,000 Homa-Bay sorghum growers with ready market

By George Munene East African Breweries Ltd (EABL), has embarked on an initiative seeking out more than 4,000 Homa-Bay County farmers to grow sorghum in the next planting season starting September. EABL will provide farmers with seeds and other farm inputs at affordable prices to enable them to grow the crop. They will purchase the …

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Government purchasing 26,710 cattle to freely feed 267,210 households

By George Munene The government-funded livestock destocking program has commenced in 13 drought-hit counties targeting the purchase and slaughter of over 26,710 cattle from herders to feed 267,210 households. This exercise will be conducted over six weeks and hopes to reduce the effects of the ongoing drought and reduce the loss of animal life. The …

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UK gov identifies 3 high-potential products for Kenyan agri exporters

By George Munene A joint project by the Growth Gateway and Trade Connect programmes commissioned by the British government has identified three high-potential horticulture products that could increase Kenya’s exports to the UK. These were mixed vegetables, fresh fruit, and value-added products such as nut mixes, dried fruits, and avocado oil. Mixed vegetables (cut and …

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Increased transport & permit costs hinder Kenya’s agriculture imports

As Kenya seeks to increase maize, sugar, and wheat imports to reduce rising costs and tackle food insecurity, rising permit costs and transportation, a dollar shortage, and delayed clearance at border points are reducing the ease of doing business for traders. Tanzania has increased the cost of export permits by 93 per cent. The authorities …

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Kenya secures Sh7.5B loan for subsidised fertilizer & seeds ahead of short rains

By George Munene The African Development Bank Group has approved a Sh7.5 billion loan to Kenya to enable the government to provide affordable fertilizer and seeds to farmers ahead of the October-December 2022 short rains and into the 2022/2023 long rains crop production season. This will boost cereals and oil seeds production by over 1.5 …

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