Avocado farmers, who have poor access to markets, can extract cooking oil from ripe fruits for sale to save on rotting using a cheap manual pressing machine from Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation, KALRO. The machine extracts pure cooking oil from ripe avocados, which can be packaged and sold upon approval from regulatory authorities …
Manual oil extractor averts avocado farmer losses Read More »
Practical Action and Mastercard Foundation have collaborated in establishing the Resilient Agriculture that Works for Young People (RAY) project. The project is expected to benefit over 100,000 youth in Western Kenya through a mentorship model to increase youth engagement in the agriculture sector. The program will be implemented in the nine counties of Kisumu, Homabay, …
UK charity project to benefit 100,000 Western Kenya youth in agribusiness Read More »
Better access to irrigation for farmers is key for climate change adaptation. Until recently, irrigation had never taken off in Africa for multiple reasons from poor maintenance planning to lack of inputs and market access. Many donor and government-funded large and small-scale irrigation schemes lay dry after a few years of exploitation. Water experts estimate …
The Key Role of Improved Irrigation for Climate Change Adaptation Read More »
Farmers have doubled their maize yield through the USAID-sponsored Kilima Tumaini (Mount Hope) youth group in western Kenya. They have also obtained a ready market for their grain in the World Food Program (WFP) and the Kenya National Cereals and Produce Board. Stanley Kimeli’s Success Story One such farmer, Stanley Kimeli has seen his harvest …
Western youth farmers double yield, access ready markets through USAID program Read More »
One woman’s innovative farming practices and dedication to feeding her family have sparked a movement towards modern and cost-effective farm management in Matisi Village of Bungoma County. By embracing crop rotation and constructing a homemade greenhouse, Susan Nyongesa has not only improved her livelihood but has also inspired thousands of farmers to adopt sustainable farming …
Bungoma Woman’s Sustainable Farming Efforts Inspire Transformation Read More »
The African Guarantee Fund and responsAbility Investments have partnered to create a Sh607 million ($5M) fund to finance Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the agricultural value chain with a focus on businesses engaged in activities related to crops and farming products or commodities. Most lenders have stayed away from Africa’s farming sector as it …
Sh607M fund set up to finance African agriculture SMEs Read More »
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 …
EABL seeking 4,000 Homa-Bay sorghum growers with ready market Read More »
By George Munene Former tobacco farmers in Migori county are shifting to planting high-iron beans under the World Health Organization (WHO) Tobacco-Free Farms project that provides a ready market for their harvest, inputs in seeds and fertilizers as well as farmer training. Farmer groups participating in the project have thus far sold 135 metric tons …
Ready market & higher returns encourage tobacco farmers shift to beans Read More »
Joseph Maweu, a mango farmer from Kanzokoea Sub-location in Kathonzweni, Makueni County has doubled his income per season from Sh12, 800 about eight years ago to over Sh121, 000 currently thanks to a farmers’ group he joined which has helped him access, training, inputs and market. Before 2011, Maweu had 18 mango trees that were …
Makueni mango farmer raises income through cooperative Read More »
By George Munene Kagoka Foods, an Agritech startup and social enterprise is partnering with small-scale farmers to promote the growing of tuber, root and banana crops in Kenya by giving them a market for yams, arrow roots, pumpkins, sweet potato and bananas. The company has a focus on promoting the growing, processing, value addition, packaging and …
