Oljororok Smart Climate Village: A Tale of Resilience and Transformation
In the serene landscapes of Nyandarua County, nestled within the Gatimu Ward, lies the vibrant community of Kanguo. This is the home of the Oljororok Smart Climate Village (OCSV) CBO, a beacon of hope and resilience for many local farmers. Established in 2019 with an initial membership of 87 (71 women and 16 men), the CBO has blossomed to include 250 members, comprising 211 women and 57 men. Their journey is a testament to the transformative power of community effort and strategic support from Hand in Hand Eastern Africa (HIHEA).
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.
To mitigate risks associated with climatic changes, the members partnered with APA Insurance, ensuring their crops were cushioned against unforeseen calamities. Collective responsibility and commitment enabled the CBO to sell their produce at a standard price of Ksh 35 per kg, achieving a total income of Ksh 800,030 from 22,858 kg of potatoes, a significant improvement from the previous season.
Understanding the importance of income diversification, the CBO ventured into various enterprises. Each member was required to have at least 100 chickens, and they partnered with Silver Lands, who supplied hybrid chickens and off-took the produce. This venture included a contract for selling 2 kg chickens at Ksh 800 and eggs at Ksh 750 per tray, significantly boosting their income.
The CBO also delved into agro-processing to reduce the cost of poultry production. By formulating their own feeds from locally available materials, they reduced costs from Ksh 100 per kilo to Ksh 60 per kilo. This initiative increased their profit margins and daily income, while surplus feeds were sold to the neighboring community.
Strong leadership and governance have been critical to the CBO’s success. Leadership committees received extensive training, which strengthened group cohesiveness and facilitated the transition to a cooperative, spearheading the potato value chain in three wards of Oljororok Sub-County.
The CBO set up a cooling store with a capacity of 40 tonnes, used for storing potatoes and seeds, allowing them to fetch higher prices. This store also serves as an aggregation center where members can loan inputs and repay with interest, ensuring sustainability.
Through strategic partnerships with HIHEA, the Ministry of Agriculture, Equity Bank, and various other organizations, the CBO has secured markets and contracts for their produce. They also received digital marketing training, helping them boost sales online and raise awareness about their products.
Looking ahead, the cooperative aims to establish a value addition unit for packaging and branding processed potatoes and crisps. They plan to process at least 1 ton of feeds per day and continue working with APA Insurance to mitigate risks. With a focus on expanding potato acreage and ensuring year-round production, the future looks promising.
The members of the Oljororok Smart Climate Village CBO express heartfelt gratitude to Hand in Hand Eastern Africa for the transformative support provided through capacity building, infrastructure development, exposure visits, and mentorship. Their lives have changed remarkably, with sustainable enterprises now providing income, enabling them to cater for daily needs, pay school fees, save, and invest.
“Long live Hand in Hand,” echoes the sentiment of the CBO chair, encapsulating the profound impact HIHEA has had on this resilient community.