Meeting the Farmers with Elli Janssen from ICCO

Meeting the Farmers with Elli Janssen from ICCO
We meet the Provincial Government
Initially we met Leonard Ochieng a new deputy Provincial Director of Agriculture (PDA) in Western Province. He emphasised that we need to get approval for the scheme from the Provincial and District Agricultural Boards, we have to justify the following aspects to these committees, markets, sustainability aspects, effect on people and environmental risk assessment.
We also met the Provincial Commissioner (PC) and his deputy, they gave us the following information, there are 3 million people in Western Province and the economy is entirely agricultural, growing maize, beans, sugar cane and bananas, they also have fish from Lake Victoria. The PC emphasised the sustainability dimension, can the project continue if donor funding is withdrawn and he emphasised the need for project identity with the local people. He also made the point made previously when Jim visited, what can Farmers Own do to keep trading when donor funds are low.
Meeting the Farmers
Willi Wachilonge, Chepkwabi, Bungoma
Later we meet the farmers in Bungoma, we go to Kililili to meet Willi Wachilonge and his Farmers Action Association (FAA) with a leader and 2 assistant leaders together with leaders from 15 self help groups (SHGs) representing about 400 farmers; quite a number of the leaders are women. We are welcomed by Willi and Stanley Kibasa, the local chief. As we arrive so do the rains, a large black cloud covers the area and suddenly the rains that they have been waiting for arrive big time. The drops descend with a deafening noise on the roof of the church where we are meeting, we have to stop the meeting because of the noise but our hosts are really happy because they say that it is good when visitors arrive and bring rain.
We ask what do they really need now and the answer is provision of sunflower seed to the SHGs right now. The farmers cannot get the right seed at the point of use without the help of Farmers Own (FO). The other big problem is lack of market; once the seed is grown they need FO to move the product to market.
We discuss the advantages of Farmers Own
A key point is that when growing only maize and beans then as they say the stomach is full but the pocket is empty. These crops produce food and not cash, so they need to grow cash crops to provide money to clothe their children, send children to school, rent land, build houses buy animals, buy medicines and the other essential requirements which only money can bring.
Other advantages are food security and increased nutrition as some of the cash crop is retained for use in the community. Other plus points are; the provincial government is involved, FO gives training, FO provide contracts and FO provides seed at point of use and supervises planting. An indicator is that once groups become established then other groups want to join because FO is trusted in the area.
Talking to the women they are keen to use the money to increase the size of the business by renting more land or expanding into group projects to make bricks, build a shop, sell clothes, making clothes etc, so there is a real vision within the groups.
Issues and problems
We discussed the issue of other buyers in the market, this happened in 2004 and can cause confusion, but an important point came out that the farmers recognised that these operators had poor weighing scales, when tested a 50 kg sack weighed 38kg on their scales, so they are reluctant to use these middlemen. The FO weigh scales are properly calibrated and have a government certificate.
Group needs
The following are further needs; more training, training workshops, help with FAA organisation matters, easier access to FO agricultural staff to solve problems, request for FO to have a local office in Bungoma.
The groups need help with the banks, particularly opening and managing bank accounts and the problem of bank charges when the amount of money gets low; they would like bank loans to help buy equipment.
Abdi’s Group in Vuyika, Lugari
We meet Anna, Beatrice, Patrick, Ibrahim, Roland, Albert, Roger, Abraham, Phillip and Abdi, all leaders of SHG’s in the FAA. Again their main immediate need this year is sunflower seed for farmers. They are a very go ahead group wanting to raise money and buy equipment for the group. They are keen on more training seminars on organic marking techniques. They are very much looking forward to moving into passion, pineapple and avocado. This group is a leading group and their ideas and activities act as a catalyst for others. For example they are keen to start to cultivate their own seed instead of buying from the seed company. They have bought a hand press for sunflower oil and they would like 2 more presses. They now have electrical power so they may be able to get a power press in future.
This group have trust in FO, they would like FO to have a local office. They emphasised the benefits of growing soya and its use to improve nutrition for children and for AIDS victims and thanked FO for introducing them to this crop.
One issue in 2004 at the time of harvesting BIDCO the sunflower processor in Nakuru came into the market offering farmers more money per kilo, this caused a lot of confusion, but in fact they never came to collect so the farmers don’t trust them, but in future FO needs to negotiate with BIDCO to try to avoid this confusion.
Paul Mlulu’s Group in Mbakalu, Bungoma
This is a very poor area, the children have very poor clothes, and the FAA members themselves are not well clothed. Again the key need now is sunflower seed for farmers at point of use. In this area transport is a problem and it will help if FO can allow cycles to be used to deliver seed. We discussed the problem of middlemen trying to buy crop and the confusion this can bring, but the key point about the weighing machine was well understood and again we saw the trust that FO has built up. The Group are looking forward to growing sunflower, soya and groundnuts. Issues include the problem of a local FO office for training, advice and support. There are a lot of farmers in this area; FO can grow rapidly here in future.