Kalawani Joint CBO: Empowering Farmers through Collective Effort
Realizing the potential for greater earnings, the CBO conducted a market survey on sunflower oil and identified promising markets within Kalawani and beyond. With HIHEA’s guidance, members received training on sunflower oil extraction and certification through KIRDI, a government body specializing in value addition.
From Small Steps to Big Strides: The Journey of Mwangaza Poultry CBO
After conducting a participatory rural appraisal, the group members decided to promote the poultry value chain, specializing in egg production, chick hatching, selling, and brooding.
Oljororok Smart Climate Village: A Tale of Resilience and Transformation
The CBO’s initial focus was on the potato value chain. With guidance from HIHEA, they set up a demonstration farm to grow the Dutch Robin potato variety. The members sourced certified seeds and secured a contract with Sereni Fries as their off-taker. However, the initial attempt fell short of the required standards, prompting the CBO to adopt new learnings and techniques. HIHEA supported them with Markies certified seeds and fertilizers through the innovation fund, leading to a successful partnership with Viazi Kings, who became their off-taker and quality controller.
A Herbal Medicine of the Past with a Bright Future
HIHEA provided the CBO with a disc mill, enabling them to process, package, and brand their chamomile, significantly increasing its market value. Despite facing marketing challenges due to the need for certification, one dedicated CBO member underwent certification training at KIRDI, and their chamomile now awaits certification. This endeavor has equipped members with new skills in value addition, crop diversification, and organic farming techniques, which they have applied to their personal farms as well.
From Field to Feed: Rise of the Silage Bailing Business
Hand in Hand Eastern Africa provided the group with extensive training based on its core modules and specialized training on various nodes of the dairy value chain. Seizing this opportunity, the group began planting boma rhode grass, initially used as hay for their livestock and sold as surplus to the community.
VEGIDRY: Transforming Lives in Kivulini
The impact on their lives has been profound. The Hope Women Group has managed to generate an impressive Ksh 30,000 from the sale of dried vegetables using the solar dryer. This newfound income has enabled each member to adopt vegetable farming as their primary activity, earning an additional Ksh 4,000 each month, a significant improvement from their previous earnings.
Better Feeds, Stronger Flocks, Brighter Future
The turning point came through an intervention by Hand in Hand EA. The organization facilitated the acquisition of a feed mixer and hammer mill for Amani Phase 8.
Rabbit farming, an unexploited ‘Goldmine’ that is greatly overlooked.
For decades now, rabbit farming has been considered a trade for lads, especially in the Mt. Kenya region with cows, chickens, goats, and sheep traditionally been the primary livestock agribusiness. Social attitudes initially hindered the widespread adoption of the new type of livestock.
Catherine Wangari Mania develops a Saver Pal app to help smaller business owners
Catherine Wangari Mania has developed the Saver Pal app to help smaller business owners, those who earn less than $ 2 a day, both save a little of the profits while earning money to family expenses.Edwin Muriuki Wanjiru has started a tracking service for fresh produce using bar codes. The coding allows the consumer to […]