By Calvins Odoyo | Project Leader
Enable 1500 Kenyan Rural Farmers for Agribusiness
Global Giving Project Progress Report
14th December 2018
The Mango Tree Trust Fund -Kenya has been implementing achievable ambitious plan of improving the livelihood of 1500 rural farmers through agribusiness. Over the last one year, the organization received £9530 and focused it on the following key activities: Construction of the grain store, mobilizing and registering farmers into a cooperative, and training farmers on modern agribusiness techniques. For the quarter under review, the organization planned and accomplished the following activities.
1. Completion of the Grain Store
The organization has so far completed the flooring, walling, roofing and plastering the inner wall of the grain store at the famers training center located in Mawego as indicated in the pictures attached. All these have been inspected by the relevant Authorities and certified as having met the standards. The grain store design was modified to include a records office and a caretaker’s room to ease the operations of the cooperative society. The contractor will deliver the project by 31st December 2018.
2. Operationalizing the Famers’ Cooperative Society.
Having successfully registered 350 famers over the last six months the organization supported the cooperative society to hold its special general meeting during which the members confirmed the interim officials and also adopted the constitution. The annual General meeting took place on 14th December 2018 which resolved that beginning next year (January 2019), the cooperative will have its offices open throughout the week and that member will begin to take loan by April 2019.
The organization seconded a staff to support in the management of records and accounts of the cooperative.
3. Training of Farmers
The organization conducted three onsite training session for bee and aquaculture farmers. The trainings were done at the village level reaching 63 farmers (47 bee keepers and 16 aquaculture farmers). The trainings covered pond management, value addition, and bee keeping. As a result the organization will support eight (8) farmers restock their ponds which were washed away by the floods.
4. Improved Crop Production
Following the continuous sensitization sessions with the farmers, the organization has noticed an increased land tillage in the ongoing short rains. This will subsequently lead to increased harvest which will then be stored in the near completed grain store awaiting sales next year when the prices are high.
5. Linkages with other cooperative societies
The organization supported the Farmers’ Cooperative Society officials to the annual County Cooperative Society meeting. The meeting was organized by the County Government of Homabay in collaboration with Kenya Union of Saving and Credit cooperative limited. The meeting focused on how to grow the cooperative societies within the county.
Besides, The Mango Tree in collaboration with the Ushuru Sacco from Kisumu, held an end of year party to 437 children. These children were identified from the 350 farmers who are part of the 1500 farmers earmarked with this livelihood project (photos attached separately)
Innovations
Taking into consideration the flow of the donations from our valuable donors, the organization decided to modify the grain store to include a cooperative office to enhance operations rather than wait until a separate office is done.
The organization linked the Famers cooperative society to the umbrella body of cooperative societies in Kenya to continuous coaching and support. Two of its members (the chair person and the record officer were also trained on saving and loaning. This will foster independence of the farmers’ cooperative society.
Challenges
Funding remains a key challenge to implementing this project, organizations is constantly engaging its donors for continuous support and for a timely completion of the project. Meanwhile, the organization is coming up with innovating ways of continuity of the project.
Plans for the Next Quarter
1. Mobilize farmers towards timely ploughing and plantation
2. Stock the ponds for the aquaculture farmers
3. Onsite training for goat, poultry and bee keepers
4. Identify markets and sell the grains on behalf of farmers.
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