Agriculture Entrepreneurship

Accelerator

Unlocking Agricultural Potential through Medium-Sized Farms in Kenya

Our Purpose

We exist to transform the lives and livelihoods of our people, socially and economically, by availing them modern and inclusive financial services that maximize their opportunities.

4

PARTNERSHIPS FAST-TRACK JOURNEY TO FOOD SUFFICIENCY

Besides creating jobs and enhancing foreign exchange earnings, commercialization of agriculture is essential for

food security in this country. A lot of efforts have gone into supporting the sector but our country still remains food insecure due to many factors including low productivity, low use of technology and effects of climate change. The solution to these challenges has often been to import food, draining the country of the same foreign exchange that the sector should be benefitting from.

The main development focus has been smallholder farmers even though medium-sized farmers have the potential to support the sector faster because they have sizable land which can be used to expand production through use of technology. Most small farmers do not have the capacity to exploit this opportunity. It is against this background that Equity Group through Equity Group Foundation partnered with the Embassy of The Kingdom of The Netherlands in Nairobi to enhance the capacity of medium size farms through entrepreneurship development.

Within the broader strategy of Equity Group, agriculture is a key area of focus since it supports about 70% of the population – particularly those in rural areas – and contributes about 25% to GDP. Equity Group strives to support this sector through various interventions, one of which is capacity development in entrepreneurship. This process is complex and requires a multi-dimensional approach including stakeholders’ efforts, more so approaching it from a value chain perspective. Our partnership with the Dutch Embassy has made it much easier to attract other partners in research and mechanization, players in crop and livestock protection as well as seed companies.

The farmer support initiatives revolved around soil testing, use of high quality seeds, crop and livestock protection, storage and linkage to markets with constant farm visits from highly specialized extension staff who are graduates of schools of agriculture in various fields. The over 2,000 beneficiaries of this partnership have seen transformation in many areas. Some owners of over 20 acres could only utilize five or less but after the training on farming as a business they realized that a good business plan and the demonstration of capacity to manage a farm can attract credit for expansion. This way, they automatically became centers of excellence to be emulated by other farmers within their surroundings.

The application of technology has been a game changer as farmers who were previously doing range livestock farming can suddenly invest in a zero-grazing

“Capacity building has

therefore turned out to be the most

significant input that the Bank

has initiated in transforming

agriculture into agribusiness.”

-Dr Mwangi

Dr James Mwangi,Executive Chairman Equity Group Foundation

5

Kenya is now rated a Lower Middle Income Country, which means

that the relative role of official development aid as a driver of inclusive socio-economic growth is diminishing. The Netherlands therefore gradually shifts its focus from traditional foreign aid modalities to supporting private sector development, making the Dutch-Kenyan relationship future proof. A sense of ownership has always been important in development cooperation in order to ensure sustainability.

We are geared toward private sector parties that are interested in adopting new technologies and a new way of working in which the commercial element will be the driver of the sustainability of the projects. We are slowly moving away from the traditional development model towards a more entrepreneurial approach in which we engage private sector and government, sometimes in private-public partnerships, so as to ensure sustainability in the long term.

The entrepreneurial project implemented by Equity Group Foundation and partnering accelerators fits very well in our new strategy. The project focuses on medium-sized farmers . Traditionally, development projects were targeting small scale farmers and consequently there would be a knowledge and technology gap between the Netherlands and the Kenyan small scale farmers that was difficult to bridge. We would recruit highly paid specialists and consultants from the West providing advice to farmers, but the recipients often lacked the capacity and capital to implement this advice.

The medium-sized farmers are in a better position to take risks and are already producing for the market. They are better integrated in the value chain and more able to adapt to new technology and innovation, so that the knowledge gap is less of a concern.

In addition, when they finally adopt new technologies, there is a trickledown effect as they reach out to smaller farmers. They can be much more effective than the consultant from the West, because they speak the same language and have a better understanding of the local context.

We consider the project as successful, not only in reaching these medium-sized farmers and managing to spread the message to the smaller ones, but also in forming groups which work together and strengthen their position in the market.

EQUITY IS A KEY PARTNER IN OUR AID-TO-TRADE AGENDA

unit and produce own fodder by making silage and effectively move from eight litres per cow per day to 24 litres within one season. As a by-product of the investment the same farmer immediately invests in a biogas unit, effectively moving from use of firewood to use of gas at household level. Similarly a farmer who was producing 14 bags of maize can grow to 32 bags. These are a demonstration of the latent capacity the farmers have in transforming agriculture and making it a vehicle capable of contributing to 10% GDP growth rate as envisaged in Vision 2030.

Extending this partnership to knowledge institutions like University of Nairobi brings another perspective of exposing youth to practical management skills in agriculture. This will go a long way in demystifying the fallacy that agriculture is not profitable and cannot attract young people. The few who have served under this partnership not only supported the farmers they were attached to but also demonstrated willingness to establish their own agricultural enterprises and become employers rather than look for employment after school.

To sustainably retain the momentum the farmers have achieved, this partnership project included a market linkage component through which farmers established business groups to help them bulk their produce for markets. The farmers have also been adequately prepared to access investment capital through the bank in order to advance their business plans. The capacity development is therefore interpreted as a measure to de-risk the farmers from the major hindrance to development of agricultural enterprises. These farmers are therefore on the path towards commercial competitiveness and this is our desired position where we shall use the lessons learnt from this programme to scale up our interventions in agriculture. This way, we will support the Dutch Embassy in the aid-to-trade agenda as medium-sized farmers become commercially sustainable entrepreneurs who can compete globally.

Fransiscus Albercht Makken,Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Kenya

6

6

Our role at the moment is still one of a donor. In this transitional phase as we move from aid to trade, we are looking for implementing

partners on whose strengths we can ride. Equity Group Foundation and the objectives of this project fit perfectly into our current philosophy.

Our role is also to find partners who have certain strengths that can ensure sustainability. We need partners who are able to follow up and provide support to stakeholders in the value chain ensuring there is no hard end to our interventions. Equity Group Foundation is typically a partner that understands markets and value chains and is willing to carry this forward.

We sincerely think that we have a lot to offer Kenya in terms of innovation, technology and know-how. The Netherlands is a small country with about 17 million people. Kenya is about 17 times bigger, so if you would have the same population density you would have about 200 million people here in Kenya, which is now at 45 million.

With the ongoing rapid population growth, Kenya has to intensify its food production to ensure food security. That is a process that the Netherlands has gone through in the past. We have farms that produce so much that we are now the second largest exporter of agricultural produce after the United States, yet we are 17 times smaller than Kenya.

So much is possible with the right technology. For example, we have greenhouses that feed energy back into the grid and we are producing vegetables on substrate rather than on soil. There is a lot of experience, knowledge and technologies that we can transfer in areas such as water management, potato farming, horticulture, fisheries and food security in general. We are building strong relationships, funded with development money, which will slowly transition into initiatives that trigger trade and will be beneficial to Kenya as well as the Netherlands.

“In this transitional phase as we move from aid to trade,

we are looking for implementing

partners on whose strengths we can

ride. Equity Group Foundation and the

objectives of this project fit perfectly

into our current philosophy.”-Amb. Makken

5

The project seeks to increase on-farm profits and reinvestment in agriculture for medium-size farms in key food crops across Kenya by building their capacities to increase farm production, enhance market linkages, improve agripreneurial skills and reduce farming costs and risks. The project is funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nairobi and Equity Bank and implemented by Equity Group Foundation

Agriculture Entrepreneurship Accelerator

Scan to learn more about the programme

7

Diana Waithira took early retirement from her career as a nurse in Thika to pursue farming in her rural home of Ng’enda village in Murang’a. She had always wanted to get into farming but didn’t know how to make money from it. She breeds livestock and

grows maize with the dual purpose of producing grain for selling and for stocking silage for her animals.

“I was approached by Equity Bank. They asked about the size of my farm, because they wanted someone with five acres or more. I registered and became part of the farmers to be trained in agribusiness by Equity Group Foundation. The programme has a lot of benefits,” she says.

The farm was selected among others to pilot test new seed varieties in a demonstration plot. With the breakout of army worms in the region threatening to reduce maize production, Diana received advice on how to avert the crisis.

“We trained farmers on how to control army worms and our training had an impact because Diana was able to sell some maize,” says John Gikonyo from Pioneer Hybrid. “We also demonstrate the best way to use pesticides because some farmers do not differentiate between the planting and top dressing fertilizers.”

The training has been an eye opener for Diana on the best way to plant bananas in her farm and how to access markets for her produce. Training on book keeping has enabled her to establish what is most viable to concentrate on and invest in for increased income.

“Equity Group Foundation has trained me on how to be careful at everything I do. I now track my expenses and the profits I get from the maize, milk and bananas,” says Diana.

FARMER BEATS PEST OUTBREAK WITH NEW SEED VARIETIES

“Equity Group Foundation has trained me on how to be careful at everything I do. I now track my expenses and the profits I get.”-Diana

Scan to watch the video

Diana WaithiraMixed crop farmer

8

Nelly SumLivestock farmer

“Thanks to the Foundation, I now know the importance of

keeping records. The records

indicate when my cows give

birth and how much milk they

produce.”-Nelly

Land subdivision in high potential areas has undoubtedly led to diminishing food production in many parts of Kenya. A family in Ng’echek village, Nandi County resolved to approach the family resource differently. Four siblings and their mother established a

company to run a dairy farming business, with the matriarch holding majority stakes in Nelly’s Dairy Farm company.

Nelly, a former councillor, discovered the potential of her land when she was selected to be among 35 farmers in her village to join a programme meant to introduce farming as a business for food security in the country. In the training implemented by Equity Group Foundation, Nelly realized the advantage of keeping her land compact and involving her four children as shareholders in the farming business.

“Thanks to Equity Group Foundation, I now know the importance of keeping records. The records indicate when my cows give birth and how much milk they produce. If I want to sell a cow, I have records and the history of the animal to show,” says Nelly.

Nelly’s farm is a beneficiary of dairy farming practice applied on location by a student intern seconded to the farm by University of Nairobi. For three months, the intern trained Nelly and her workforce on the most efficient milk production methods. “I employ best practice in farming and my output per day has improved tremendously since the training,” observes the farmer, who now sells 110 litres of milk daily.

Relying on her records, Nelly made informed decisions on what animals to keep and what to sell based on milk yields. The farm gradually upgraded its herd of dairy animals to a stock of hybrids from the local market and abroad.

“Dairy business has become so lucrative that we are sourcing funds from the Bank to import more breeds of cattle from the Netherlands,” says Gilbert Sum (left), a director in the farm and one of Nelly’s sons.

Producing more feeds for the large herd was a prerequisite for increased milk production since the cows must feed well whether it rains or not. The company started making silage, a fermented mix of high-moisture grass and other green fodder which is

WORLD-CLASS CATTLE FARM IN TWO YEARS

11

9

Fredrick Kinyanjui quit his job as a long haul truck driver nine years ago and got his feet wet in mixed farming in his rural home in Kamahuha Village, Murang’a County. Having grown up in a farming community, he saw his father practice agriculture as the

source of livelihood and opted to go into farming too. Kinyanjui now specializes in fruit farming, growing custard apples and hass avocados and mangoes.

“I plan my farm in such a way that it generates income throughout the year,” Kinyanjui says, “Equity Group Foundation has trained me in record keeping, best farming practices and use of new technologies. You cannot be a farmer who does not embrace new technologies.”

Kinyanjui ventured into dairy farming to provide organic manure for his farm as well as supplement his income when the fruits are not in season. He later diversified into bee farming for honey and to accelerate pollination of the fruit trees in his orchard. So far he has installed ten hives.

Through the programme, he has implemented an integrated pest management programme with the help of agricultural experts. Crop protection partners in the area occasionally visit Kinyanjui’s farm to inspect and advise on methods to keep pests and diseases at bay.

For example, he now doesn’t have to always spray his plants to kill pests because this loads them with chemicals. There are ways to trap pests such as fruit flies.

“I have been visiting Kinyanjui and advising on how to curb pest infestation in order to increase yields,” says Esther Njoki, a field promoter at Syngenta.

Through the Equity Group Foundation programme, Kinyanjui has learnt how to keep track of his income and expenses. “I have been trained on how to keep records, organize my farming activities, use efficient methods of farming and use new technologies,” he says.

Kinyanjui encourages farmers to embrace fruit farming as it can sustain multiple generations, with his plants averaging 25 years of production.

“Farming is like building a permanent house. You build a house, live in it and leave it for future generations,” he says.

SPECIALTY CROPS TO FEED GENERATIONS

Fredrick Kinyanjui,Fruit farmer

Fredrick Kinyanjui (left) and Esther Njoki from Syngenta inspect a custard apple tree. She visits the farm to advice on the best farming methods and technologies.

Equity Group Foundation has trained me in record keeping, best farming practices and use of new technologies. You cannot be a farmer who does not embrace new technologies.”-Fredrick

Scan to watch the video

10

IRRIGATION UPTAKE DRIVES FOOD SECURITY

Noel BettMixed farmer

Training of young farmers like Noel has the benefit of encouraging other energetic young people to take up farming, which not only ensures food security but also provides an attractive income.

Scan to watch the video

diversified his farming business to include dairy cattle. He has dedicated a significant proportion of his 10-acre farm to fodder, which he threshes and complements with manufactured dairy meal for his animals.

As a father of three, two children in Form One and one in Class Seven, Noel is able to educate his children by using milk to pay school fees in kind.

He represents a new generation of youth who see the benefits of farming as a business for the country’s food security.

Speaking at the 2016 Agricultural Show of Kenya in Nairobi, President Uhuru Kenyatta urged young people to embrace agriculture: “It is a major concern that the average age of the Kenyan farmer is 65 years. More of our young people need to move into agriculture so that the skills and knowledge we have gained over the years are not lost. The Government has committed Ksh2.5 billion to support the youth and encourage them to get into agriculture.”

Training of young farmers like Noel encourages other energetic young people to take up farming, which not only ensures food security but also provides an attractive income.

The dry season often means reduced food supplies, especially for vegetables. For a seasoned farmer like

Noel Bett, this is the time to produce by irrigation to benefit from increased food prices. The young farmer has set his mind on farming as a business by growing quick maturing foods like spinach, traditional vegetables and sukuma wiki (kales).

“I used to keep cattle when I started farming, but the returns were dismal because of unreliable weather, which would lead to unavailability of animal feed. I decided then to go into growing horticultural crops, which mature fast and have high returns,” says Noel.

Noel learnt about cultivating horticultural products off season for best market prices.

“Farming during the dry season has its advantages. I do not have to depend on rainfall to water my crop, which means even during the dry season my crop does not wither as I irrigate the farm” he says.

Noel makes use of water from a stream that flows by his farm in Kabiyet, Nandi County. Crops grown during the dry season are susceptible to diseases and also attract many pests. That is why Noel keeps monitoring the crops to protect them in good time.

“We partnered with Equity Group Foundation for their training programme. We handle the agro-chemical part of the training. We are majorly concerned about the farmers’ crops so that they realize the full benefits with less costs,” says Matilda Jepleting, a technical sales assistant at Greenlife quote.

Noel has

11

stored in airtight conditions. “The company has now

entered into a contract with a farmer in Kitale to produce silage from a 10-acre piece of land. Currently we have 121,000 kilos of silage. We are expecting to double this output next year,” says Gilbert.

To increase efficiency and cut back on manual labour costs, Nelly’s Dairy Farm invested in electrical milking machines. They erected a zero-grazing unit to feed and milk the cows in. It offers a comfortable and hygienic environment for milk production and

processing. With 28 dairy animals, half of which

are producing milk at any one time, the company is guaranteed Ksh7,000 revenue from milk every day.

“Demand for milk outstripped supply in the initial stages of our farming enterprise. We were not able to produce enough milk to send to the cooperatives. Silage production has however turned things around and milk production has improved. We are now able to send over 100 litres to the cooperatives on a daily basis,” Gilbert states.

Nelly’s farm has become a reference for how to turn around land use through dairy farming and make a handsome daily income. They have achieved this feat in just two years.

“We as the government have partnered with Equity Group Foundation to provide extension advisory services to all farmers. I thank the Foundation for introducing the concept of commercialization in farming to help in unlocking the full potential of farmers,” says Esther Omayio, Livestock Production Officer in Chesumai sub-county, Nandi County.

VEGETABLE FARMER REAPS BIG FROM SUPPLYING CITY RESIDENTS

Virginia Kieya left a lucrative career in banking to delve into farming on her four acre

family farm at Red Hill in Kiambu. Virginia started out by growing maize and beans as is common among farmers in the area.

She is among medium to large scale farmers selected to join a programme aimed at introducing farming as a business for food security in Kenya. Funded by the Dutch government in collaboration with Equity Bank, the project involves training farmers on how to expand production on underutilized land and increase yields through the use of technology, equipment and diversification.

After training she ventured into quick maturing horticultural crops whose demand in the nearby city of Nairobi is insatiable. She has since turned her farm into a verdant and productive source of income.

“I grow spinach, kales, amaranth and managu (African nightshade). Thanks to the training from Equity Group Foundation, I now make about Ksh 300,000 per month. This motivates me to wake up and go to work,” she says.

The former banker of 20 years has improved her cultivation by practicing drip irrigation, which ensures she has produce all year round, come rain or drought.

He growing income has prompted her to double the farm under crops

with the aim of expanding her reach to international markets.

She says, “My plan for future growth is to do exclusive drip irrigation on all my crops and increase the size of the farm. Right now I’m doing horticulture on four acres but I will soon expand the acreage to grow my yield for the export market.”

Scan to watch the video and see more photos

Virginia Kieya Vegetable farmer

8

12

Simon Gichuru is not new to farming. He has been a farmer throughout his adult life. He practices mixed

farming, keeping dairy cows and planting cabbages and onions in his farm in Mugunda, Nyeri County.

In 2015, Simon was among medium to large scale farmers selected to join a programme aimed at introducing farming as a business for food security in Kenya.

He had changed from breeding beef cattle to open range grazing but after training by Equity Group Foundation, Simon shifted to dairy farming. He embraced zero grazing and constructed a paddock.

“There are benefits in farming because I have educated my children with the returns from my produce. I used to rear beef cattle, but after changing my herd, I now get 50 litres of milk per day as opposed to the five I used to get,” he says.

Through exchange programmes facilitated by project experts, he has been able to implement farming methods adopted by successful farmers in the area.

“Equity Group Foundation came

here i n 2015 a n d c h a n g e d the way I farm. After visiting other farmers who are successful, I learnt how to practically implement some of the things we had been taught,” he says.

The farmer has installed a drip irrigation system for seasonal crops to avert crop failure due to adverse weather conditions. Simon was first trained on soil testing and eventually adjusted the acidity levels in his farm.

He also learnt how to keep farm production records to keep track of his expenditure and income of the farming business.

“I was adviced on what type of fertilizers to use for my soil. We were also taught on record keeping, so I now separate the enterprises,” says Simon.

While it was difficult to keep track of expenses and know where the problems were, he now treats each of his farming ventures as a separate business.

“There are employment opportunities in farming and they are available to anyone. I would advice the youth to look for jobs in agriculture sector,” he says in closing.

“There are employment

opportunities in farming

and they are available

to anyone. I would advice

the youth to look for jobs

in agriculture sector.”

-Simon

FARMER ENJOYS BENEFITS OF MODERN PRACTICES

Simon Gichuru Mixed crop/livestock farmer

13

Salome Ngugi practices mixed farming at Kamirithu in Kiambu County. She got into agriculture on realizing there is good income in dairy farming and horticulture.

She is among medium to large scale farmers selected to join a programme aimed at introducing farming as a business for food security in Kenya. Funded by the Dutch government in collaboration with Equity Bank, the project involves training farmers on how to expand production on underutilized land and increase yields through the use of technology, equipment and value addition.

“I was excited to learn about the training because I knew Equity would give us knowledge and support. I have always wanted to get into farming but I needed to develop proficiency,” she says.

Through collaboration with specialists availed by Equity Group Foundation, Salome has seen her yields improve significantly.

Charles Ng’ang’a of Vital Animal Health says his organization has held the hands of many farmers in this programme: “The partnership between us and Equity started six months ago whereby Equity Group Foundation get farmers together and invite us to train them, focusing on finding solutions to the challenges each farmer faces.”

One of the areas where training has made a difference is her cattle rearing. Animal health specialists from Vital Animal Health have helped her overhaul her enterprise, and she has been rewarded with increased productivity.

“I have learnt how to feed cows. I used to have such substandard cowsheds that the cows would be knee-deep in mud during the rainy season. My calves used to die young, but since I joined the training programme, I am meticulous in caring for the cows,” she says.

Salome also ventured into rearing pigs to sell piglets after the training that made her realize there is better income in selling the animals young than keeping them to maturity. She also rears poultry. Through training on the type of feed to give her layer chicken, production has increased to eight trays of eggs daily. The training has also educated Salome on how to research on markets for specific produce.

“After the training, I plunged into chicken rearing. I keep layers and I’m happy that I now sell my eggs in the market every Saturday,” she says.

Full immersion into farming and running the farm as a business venture has proved to be profitable for the former clothes seller.

HOW KNOWLEDGE TRANSFORMED FARM

Salome NgugiLivestock Farmer

Salome (left) cleaned out her cowshed and learned how to keep it dry during the rainy season.

“I used to have such substandard cowsheds that the cows would be knee-deep in mud during the rainy season. My calves used to die young, but since I joined the training programme, I am meticulous in caring for the cows.”-Salome

Scan to watch the video

14

When John Makopi retired from employment in Nairobi, he retreated

to his idyllic village in Matunda, Trans Nzoia County where he already had established a home on his farm.

In the training implemented by Equity Group Foundation, John considered different options of crops to grow on his 30 acre farm. He realized that despite Trans Nzoia being in Rift Valley, the breadbasket of the country, there’s a yawning gap in the market between demand and supply of Irish potatoes.

Before embarking on potato farming, he needed to know the soil quality of his farm through soil testing.

“Equity Group Foundation adviced me to diversify the crops and I decided to focus on Irish potatoes and millet. My production was very low but they helped me carry out soil testing to determine what kind of fertilizer I needed to use,” he says. “It is because of this that my crops look quite healthy and I am getting good produce.”

John was surprised to learn that he had been adding acidifying fertilizers to an already acidic soil. With further analysis, the experts also advised on the right variety of maize and millet to grow on his farm.

Cyprian Wafula, a soil technician from Bungoma Mobile Soil Testing and Analysis Laboratory has walked this journey with Makopi. He recalls, “We did soil testing on finger millet, and maize and beans intercropping. On the maize and beans intercropping, we advised him to apply 700kg of lime against 800kg of composite manure on an acre. We also advised him on the kind of fertilization schedule to follow from planting to top dressing.”

Wafula notes that after liming, the one acre that would previously produce 18 bags of maize now produced 25 bags, a 28% increase in yield. Makopi is hopeful that he will get 30 bags per acre in the next season.

“I realized that every aspect of my business has to be productive for my farm to maintain continuity,” says Makopi.

The increased yield last season informed John’s decision to increase the acreage that is under maize. The realization that potatoes are always in

SOIL TESTING BOOSTS FARMER’S HARVEST

John Makopi Mixed Farmer

“My production was very low but they helped me carry out soil testing to determine what kind of fertilizer I needed to use. It is because of this that my crops look quite healthy and I am getting good produce.”-John Makopi

high demand yet mature sooner than maize also prompted him to increase their production.

“We have been involved in capacity building with Equity Group Foundation to reach out to the farmers so that we increase their knowledge on farming and encourage them to be available when the seed is available,” says Khamusini Bakari, manager for Western region, Agriseed Co. Ltd. “We have been able to structure Makopi’s farm with a farm plan that he understands.”

Bakari has guided Makopi on the kind of spacing that will give him a specific yield. This will help the farmer maximize the productivity of his farm.

In just one year John’s farm has become a demonstration centre for proper crop husbandry that farmers in the vicinity are beginning to adopt. John has now embraced farming as business and injected more resources into his farm, certain that the venture is viable.

“When you invest in farming you also get returns but you will only get returns if you follow the training and technical advice you get from extension officers. I am thankful to Equity Group Foundation because they have extended the kind of assistance farmers never used to get and I encourage other farmers to take up the training by the Foundation.” says an emphatic Makopi.

Scan to watch the video

15

Jennifer Nafula Wanga and Moses Wanga are farmers from Duka Moja in Matisi area, Kitale County. Before

deciding to settle in Kitale and do farming as a business, Jennifer was a teacher in Pangani Girls High School in Nairobi while the husband worked in Baringo as an agricultural extension officer.

The two, who have four children, practiced telephone farming before taking the plunge into agribusiness.

They bought one Ayrshire cow purposely to get milk for domestic use. Over time, their herd grew to 25 animals. They didn’t have knowledge in dairy farming and reared all these animals on free range.

“The community around is composed of dairy farmers. It is a shame to live in Kitale and buy milk from another farmer,” says Moses.

But even with the herd growing and despite the couple milking 11 of the cows, they would get less than 20 litres per day. Challenges ranged from lack of feeds for the cows, especially in the dry season, to poor management of the cows by herdsboys who did not graze the cows well, thus low production of milk.

Jennifer joined the Equity Group Foundation training programme in 2015 and has implemented numerous recommendations. The Field Officer Timoth Wafula who is attached to the farm assessed the animals and in his intervention advised them to sell them and buy breeds that would give them good returns. They sold all but four calves and with the money received from the sale bought four Friesian cows.

The programme introduced them to different animal health companies including Coopers (K) Ltd, who trained them on feeds and feed management. After the training they planted Boma Rhodes, a grass they use to make silage for the animals to ensure that the animals had food even during the dry season. Jennifer has also attended farm exchange visits where she gained knowledge from more experienced dairy farmers.

“These visits have been an eye-opener and we have implemented a lot of the things I have learnt there. For example, we built our own zero grazing unit,” she says.

From a yield of 20 litres from 11

OUR MILK PRODUCTION SPIKED AFTER TRAINING

Moses & Jennifer Wanga Livestock Farmers

Jennifer is elated with the programme because she has been able to take along her neighbours as indirect beneficiaries during field events.

cows, which translates to barely two litres per cow, the couple now records 18-30 litres from just one cow. This has seen them enter into a contract with Brookside Dairies, supplying them with 15 litres of milk daily. The rest of the milk is sold to the locals.

When asked about the outstanding impact of the project, Moses says the project has taught him how to commercialize a small farm.

Besides improving the productivity of the cows, Jennifer is elated with the programme because she has been able to take along her neighbours as indirect beneficiaries during field events. This gives the entire Duka Moja area a competitive advantage in farming.

The Wangas have cut down their expenses in several areas:

• Invested in Biogas unit – this has cut down their cooking gas budget

• They use organic manure from the farm, cutting down their spend on commercial fertilizer

• Jennifer has diversified into horticultural crops such as bananas and avocadoes for both consumption and sale

• Make silage with maize husks which they formerly disposed of

• They are managing their own animals in the zero grazing unit and only get someone to milk the cows when they are busy, since they are milking less cows. This has cut down the cost on herdsboys.

16

Feed management proved to be the missing link in Gideon Chebet’s dairy farming. Once he implemented the lessons learnt at a training programme by Equity Group Foundation, it unlocked milk production and consequently, profits.

Gideon is a dairy farmer who also grows maize on his 74 acres of land in Soy, Uasin Gishu County. The farmer learnt the importance of storage of animal feed, record keeping and crop protection methods for maximum yields. Following the training Gideon started to make silage, which he stores for up to three years.

“My cows are healthy because I made silage for them from 8.5 acres of land. I grew Boma Rhodes that I harvested in a year. That is what I feed my cattle on,” he says.

With improved feed management Gideon has seen milk production increase from 40 litres per day to 150 litres even when rains fail, thanks to increased yield per animal and rising prices due to the prevailing drought.

But Gideon has also learnt calf management and is on course to growing his herd. He intends to ramp up milk production and will sell some heifers to maintain the animal stock at the optimum level. Being involved in mixed farming, Gideon has realized the importance of crop protection as a first line of defense against pests and diseases.

“Equity Group Foundation trained us on the importance of soil tests, and the correct application of manure and pesticides. No wonder my harvest has increased from 14 to 20 bags per acre,” he says.

A regular monitor of his crop shows the onset of Fall Army Worms (FAW) eating through seemingly healthy stems of maize. Ordinarily the army worms are not noticed by farmers until the caterpillars are 10 days old and change from green to black. This early detection ensured Gideon quickly applied an appropriate pesticide to stop further damage of his maize crop. Allan Koech, a sales representative at Syngenta has been supporting Gideon with expert advice to tide him over the army worm menace.

“As Syngenta, we have products that will assist farmers control this pest that started from South Africa, came through to Tanzania, Uganda and now has found a home in Kenya’s farms,” he says.

Looking back Gideon appreciates that the programme has transformed his farming practice as a business with great promise for the future.

“I am grateful to Equity Bank because they have allowed me to use the proceeds I get from my cows and milk as security to enable me become a professional farmer,” he says.

SILAGE KEEPS COWS FED DURING ALL SEASONS

Gideon ChebetMixed farmer

Gideon practices herd management to make his dairy operations efficient and profitable.

“My cows are healthy because

I made silage for them from

8.5 acres of land. I grew

Boma Rhodes that I harvested in a year. That is

what I feed my cattle on.”

-Gideon

Scan to watch the video

17

The journey to Paul Ng’anga’s home in Endebbes shopping centre from Kitale town in Trans-Nzoia County nearly didn’t happen. The only road leading us to this story of success was almost impassable, it being the season when the rains were pounding most parts of

Kenya. The 4X4 vehicle that we used skidded and swerved for the better part of the 25km journey from Kitale town.

“Welcome to Kambue area,” said the cheerful Paul who welcomed us from his gate when we finally arrived.

Paul Ng’ang’a’s testimony is indicative of the increase in productivity that farmers who followed the recommendations from soil testing companies have had. Paul, 56, and a father of started growing tea on his father’s farm in 1990. He also did dairy farming, but his proceeds were always low.

“In Kambue, we have been doing regular farming and over the years the health of our maize crop has been declining,” says Paul.

From five acres of land, he only managed to harvest 15 bags of 90kg per acre on a good year. Accessing the market has also been a challenge due to the poor nutrition and low productivity of the crop, so he would sell to brokers at the farm gate. Paul joined the Equity Group Foundation training programme in 2015. Paul adopted the recommendations on only one acre, from which he harvested 18 bags.

He then scaled up the interventions to the other five acres and was well rewarded with a whopping 22 bags per acre, a 46% increase compared to previous harvests. From the maize, he now makes KSh40,000. Thanks to the increased productivity, Paul has consulted with the National Cereals and Produce Board and plans that once he is done harvesting, he will take his produce to the Board for storage and sale.

The programme linked Paul to VegPro, an export company that deals with horticulture. Among the lessons he learnt was that rotation was important as the beans, being legumes, fix nitrogen before the maize is planted again. After being taught the importance of diversification, he planted French beans and harvested a total of 500kg from one acre. He now earns about Sh200, 000 for every acre of French beans.

“I spend KSh80, 000 per acre and get Sh200, 000 in return,” says a thrilled Ng’ang’a. From each acre, he harvests about 400kg of French beans.

TRAINING UNLOCKS MARKETS FOR FARMER

Paul Ng’ang’aGrain farmer

Thanks to the increased productivity, Paul has consulted with the National Cereals and Produce Board and plans that once he is done harvesting, he will take his produce to the Board for storage and sale.

18

A decision to venture into agribusiness changed Doris Kariuki’s life for the better. She and her husband transformed their seven acre farm in Kanyuambora, Embu County into a land of plenty. Doris is among medium to large scale farmers selected to join a programme

aimed at upgrading farming into business with the aim of bolstering agriculture for food security in Kenya.

“We had a clothes shop but despite trying to grow the business, we did not make the profits we expected. That is why we ventured into agribusiness,” says Doris.

Funded by the Dutch government in collaboration with Equity Bank, the project involves training farmers on how to expand production on underutilized land and increase yields through the use of technology, equipment and value addition.

Doris has turned her farm around in the three years she has been partnering with Equity Bank. She now rears dairy cattle on her farm but also grows maize, beans and fruits.

The project embedded a student of Agricultural Economics from The University of Nairobi with the farmer to provide practical direction on the farm. For three months Arthur Stety worked alongside Doris helping the family to learn how to keep the farming business records.

“Equity provided me with an intern and we worked together. He showed me how to keep records. Before he came I never recorded the figures properly,” Doris says. “He showed me how to track the milk I sell in the morning and evening. I now calculate the amount of money I have earned at the end of the month to know whether I have made a profit or a loss.”

Stety notes that together they filled records for the different enterprises and created the income statements and balance sheets for each.

He was also instrumental in the improvement of animal husbandry that has resulted in increased dairy output.

He recalls, “I advised Doris to use silage and ensured there was continuous supply of mineral salts to the livestock. When livestock is comfortable production goes high.”

The scholar recommended the installation of a biogas digester to utilize excess cow dung for production of fuel for domestic lighting and cooking.

“The biogas project was introduced to utilize the manure which is a by-product from the farm. That way the farmer does not use firewood to cook,”

ONCE RELUCTANT FARMER HAS HER HANDS FULL

Doris Kariuki,Livestock farmer

Scholar Arthur Stety (centre) takes Doris Kariuki (right) and her husband through record keeping training.

“Equity provided me with an intern

and we worked together. He

showed me how to keep records... I now calculate the

amount of money I have earned at the

end of the month to know whether I have made a profit

or a loss.”-Doris

Scan to watch the video

19

19

NURSE EARNS INCOME FROM FARMNG

he says.In the course of his stay

on the farm Stety encouraged Doris to diversify into pig rearing as a new channel of income. He also advised on the best crop production practice for better yields.

“Stety showed us how to plant three maize seedlings in one hole and to use manure so that all three sprout,” says Doris.

The improved farming practices have enabled the couple to live a decent life and most importantly pay university fees for their six children. Doris proudly announces that they have not had to hold a harambee, a

commonplace appeal for financial support from wellwishers.

Professor John Kamenju, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at The University of Nairobi commended the junior extension programme where the school posts third year students as interns on farms, to get hands-on experience.

“This programme has a high transformative effect on the students, the farmers and the industry. It will help attract the youth to modern agriculture, where they use knowledge, technology and modern equipment to make money,” he says.

Etherose Nyagah is a farmer in Gaitutu village, Embu County. A nurse who ventured into part time

farming, she grows beans, maize and mangoes on her six acre farm to supplement her income.

The middle-aged farmer was among those in Gaitutu who were trained on how to protect their crops, especially with the threat of army worms’ infestation in the area.

“The army worm has been declared a national disaster due to its prevalence and we advise the farmers to use a systemic insecticide,” says Martha Waringa, a trainer from Equity Group Foundation. This kind of chemical is highly soluble in water and when applied to a plant, it’s able to move around in its tissues.

Etherose has also learnt ingenious ways of combating fruit flies in her farm using common household commodities.

“When we deal with groups, we train many farmers at a time. This way, the information spreads a lot faster than when training individuals,” says Lawrence Mbithi, sales representative at Osho Chemicals. The farmer has been taught how to keep regular records on her farm operations in order to keep track of which activities

are profitable and scale them up for even more income.

She says, “I’ve been taught how, together with other farmers, we can market our produce. I never knew I could market my produce myself so I

would wait for middlemen to buy at their preferred price.”

This is how the nurse is now able to supplement her income through agribusiness.

Etherose Nyagah inspects her maize. The government had declared army worm infestation a national disaster INSET: Record keeping was a major part of the training.

Etherose Nyagah Mixed crop farmer

18

Professor John Kamenju, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at TheUniversity of Nairobi

Scan to watch the video

20

In the 21 years that Petro Rotich has practiced maize farming in his 10-acre farm at Emkwen village in Uasin Gishu County,

he has never harvested more than 15 bags per acre. Not until he joined a programme meant to introduce farming as a business for food security in Kenya. After implementing the lessons learnt in the training, his production doubled in two years.

“Subsequent to the training, I got 18 bags per acre, and then 32 bags per acre in the following year. I have never had such a bountiful harvest in all my years of farming,” says Petro.

“I have built a homestead with a vegetable garden for my wife, and on the rest of the land I grow maize, keep chicken and do small-scale greenhouse farming.” says Petro. In addition to these, Rotich has diversified to maize shelling, transport and minimum tilling as an income channel.

In the training implemented by Equity Group Foundation, Petro realized the significance of record keeping, one of the imperatives for successful agribusiness. He also learnt why it is important to know the condition of your farm’s soil through testing.

“I realized that I was mistaken. I would consult other farmers who seemed to be more successful with harvests and

try to emulate them. I would ask how many sacks of fertilizer they used because I thought the secret was in the amount of inputs,” says Rotich, “But now I know that serious farming begins with soil testing. That way, you know what your soil needs.”

Having been puzzled by the mystery of diminishing returns with the increase of inputs such as fertilizer, he discovered minimum tillage and became an ambassador for the practice where a farmer spends less to make more.

Minimum tillage is a soil conservation system that involves ploughing with minimum soil manipulation. To achieve the desired minimum tillage, Petro has invested in a plough that strides rows calibrated to the mechanized planting proportions.

“I use a reaper to make the furrows, after which the planter goes over the furrows and places the maize seed inside,” he says.

Petro created yet another stream of income, providing a wide range of tractor services to Emkwen farmers, including transport and shelling of maize on harvesting. In the last season Petro was hired to carry out minimum tillage on 350 acres of other people’s farms and earned more than half a million shillings from the ploughing alone.

“I realized that I was mistaken... I would consult

other farmers who seemed to be more

successful with harvests and try to emulate them. But

now I know that serious farming begins with soil

testing.”-Petro

FARMER REAPS THE BENEFITS OF MECHANIZED FARMING

Petro Rotich Farmer

21

Elizabeth Chepchirchir Sang is endowed with a resource many only dream about. She owns a 100-acre farm in

Kipchemo village in Uasin Gichu County, where she grows maize, wheat, beans and vegetables and keeps cows too. Since 2009, she has grown maize on a small portion of the land with her yields dwindling over time to 15 bags per acre despite applying more fertilizer.

In the training carried out by Equity Group Foundation, Elizabeth learnt that raising the production costs doesn’t always translate to higher yields. She first needed to know the soil quality of her farm to grow the crop of her choice.

“When Equity started training groups and individuals, they introduced me to a company that came and tested my soil. They found that my soil suffered adverse acidity,” she says.

To correct the soil acidity for production of maize Elizabeth was advised to lime her farm. The liming involves simple broadcasting of the lime dust over the land.

Kevin Ouma, a marketing representative at Homalime is one of the experts that made the diagnosis that the soil had a pH of 4.6. He notes, “Lime is the product we use for soil amendment. If you have soil that has a pH that is not correct for your crop then you have to modify it. We use lime if the soil pH is less than 5 as this is too acidic for maize.”

The maize harvest in the first year of liming increased by 40% percent to 25 bags per acre, which is significant considering that her farm is large. This prompted her to increase the land under maize production with liming as the main input rather than fertilizer.

“Last year I planted maize on 30 acres and harvested 740 bags,” announces Elizabeth.

Record keeping is key to the success of mixed farming, and Elizabeth learnt how to keep records on farm operations and determine what activities to enhance based on income realized.

It was from the farm records that she deduced that chicken farming wasn’t profitable, and therefore scaled back. With dairy farming being her cash cow, Elizabeth invested in the construction of a zero-grazing cow-shed to increase

LIMING REVITALIZES MAIZE FARM YIELDS

Elizabeth Sang Farmer

“I practice farming as a business. Every venture must make business sense.”-Elizabeth

her herd of dairy animals for more efficient milk production.

Housing the dairy animals in the cow shed will also enhance production of biogas to meet the farm houses energy needs.

“I have eight in-calf heifers aged one year and eight dairy cows. When it came to record keeping I used to buy livestock feed without a plan. I did not know how to compare what I made from milk with the livestock feed expense,” she says, “After the training with Equity Group Foundation now I know how to compare. I practice farming as a business. Every venture must make business sense.”

Scan to watch the video

22

Ephraim Munyi and his wife Purity Muthoni had resigned to fate, believing their farm in Karurumo, Embu Country, could not produce much maize despite the continued application of fertilizer.

“In the last three seasons I harvested very little. I got a meagre 23 kilos per acre, then 15 and finally 10 bags in the last season,” says Munyi.

In the training offered by Equity Group Foundation, the couple realized their soil was too acidic to support a healthy maize crop. They agreed to add lime to their soil, and have been surprised by the turnaround in the farm’s productivity.

“I’m happy that this season my efforts will be rewarded with a good yield,” says Muthoni.

“For the same acreage I have been farming in the last three years, this time I’m expecting to harvest 50 to 60 bags per acre,” says an elated Munyi.

With an increased yield, the couple’s next challenge was finding market for their produce, including bananas which have this season produced a bountiful harvest thanks to the training on better crop husbandry. This challenge was overcome with the establishment of a farmers’ group to link them to the market. Collective marketing has given the farmers visibility and eliminated the hassle of selling individually.

Teresia Wegoki is the treasurer of the group, Thagaka Banana Growers. Beyond book keeping for the group, she also links the farmers to the buyers who supply retailers in Nairobi.

We supply three tonnes per delivery to supermarkets like Nakumatt, Uchumi and Tuskys. Our produce is there under the banner ‘Ndizi Tu’.

With the farm-to-market chain complete, farmers are experiencing the joys of farming as a business, and it’s potential to improve their livelihoods.

COLLECTIVE MARKETING PROVES UNITY IS STRENGTH

“I’m happy that this season my efforts will be rewarded with a good yield. For the same acreage I have been farming in the last three years, this time I’m expecting to harvest 50 to 60 bags per acre.”-Munyi

Ephraim & Purity Munyi

23

1. Silage is harvested at Nelly’s Dairy Farm.

2. Salome Ngugi (right) gets training from Charles Ng’ang’a of Vital Animal Health on how to tend to her layer chicken.

3. Farmers in Embu go through group training on how to fight the prevailing army worm infestation.

4. Mechanization of the milking process at Nelly’s Dairy Farm.

5. Salome Ngugi, who practices mixed farming, sprays her crop.6. Arthur Stety, a student at University of Nairobi, cleans the zero

grazing unit at Doris Kariuki’s farm, where he was attached.7. Fredrick Kinyanjui inspects his avocado crop.8. Elizabeth Chepchirchir collects eggs from her layer chicken.

1

3 4

5

6 7

8

2

Scan to watch the video

A publication of Equity Bank ©2017