On 11th October 2018, the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) hosted a Grain and

Pulses Conclave in Meru County Under the theme “Grans & Pulses For Food Security,

Nutrition & Prosperity”. The Meru edition marked a series of conclaves that The

Council has aimed at promoting the production and consumption of pulses in several

Kenyan counties to reduce the over reliance on maize and other cereals as staple foods.

The global demand for pulses has been growing rapidly over the years and is forecasted

to remain strong for the foreseeable future. This has been mainly driven by the growing

population, rising incomes and increased awareness of pulses nutritional values

EAGC together with its partners have been promoting the marketing and production of

pulses through several interventions such as the GSoko trading platform, promoting

aggregation, provision of market intelligence, policy advocacy and capacity building of

stakeholders. Therefore, it is with this background that EAGC has taken up the role of

being the implementing partner with International Trade Centre, targeting the Kenyan

pulses value chain through a project dubbed “Supporting Indian Trade and Investment

for Africa” (SITA)

PREAMBLE

The Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) is a membership-based organization

representing the grain sector in Eastern and Southern Africa. The Council exists to

facilitate efficient, structured, profitable and inclusive grain trade in its 10 mandate

countries, namely Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Burundi, Rwanda,

Zambia, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. EAGC draws its membership

from grain sector value chain actors in its Member States, which include farmers,

traders and processors. Support service providers and complimentary sectors such as

agro-input suppliers, financial services and animal feed manufacturers also form part of

the Membership.

EAGC hosts exhibition to expose farmers ,to the best practices for enhanced production

of crops, correct time for planting and harvesting, create awareness campaigns on the

East African Standards for food staples and the Post-Harvest Management practices. In

addition, the event also targeted to demonstrate best practices in value addition and

food processing. The Meru Grains & Pulses Conclaves brought together members of

EAGC directly involved in value addition of pulses, input companies and machinery

service providers, financial institutions, technology service providers as well as county

representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock & Fisheries.

OUTCOMES OF THE MERU GRAINS & PULSES CONCLAVE

Technologies &

Innovations showcased by exhibitors

20 exhibitors attended the Grains &

Pulses Conclave with different products

and services that were the highlights of

the exhibition arena during the Grains &

Pulses Conclave. The exhibition

emphatically conceptualized the farm to

fork actors sensitizing approximately 500

small holder farmers on the requirements

at each level of the value chain from production, storage and postharvest

management, trade and value addition. The exhibitors included input

companies, machinery service providers, value addition actors, traders and

processors, technology companies (flying sensors and solar pumps), financial

loan products and services.

Sales worth Ksh 195700 were made at

the exhibition arena (See Annex 1 below)

Interactive Farmer Training

During the one-day event, more than 600 farmers were trained on the

importance of quality management throughout the farm to fork value chain.

Essentially this included sensitization on certified inputs for good agronomical

practices, compliance to the harmonized EA Standards & proper Post-Harvest

Handling practices. The training was supplemented by distribution of copies of

post-harvest management materials for the farmers’ future reference.

Trade Facilitation Forum

In line with EAGC’s mandate of

facilitating structured grain trade, the

Grains & Pulses Conclave was highlighted

by a B2B forum between traders mostly

drawn from EAGC’s membership &

farmer based organizations. The forum

was attended by East Africa Maltings

Limited, Shalem Investments, Gichangi

Cereals & Spices, Getranke Afrique & Afya

Maize Millers. The Farmer groups

represented included: Gakiuma CBO, Tharaka Poultry CBO, Kaza Moyo CBO,

MCK Mukothima, Tunyai CBO, Kamacabi CBO, Igarii CBO

11 nonbinding trade contracts were signed up between 11 stakeholders (4 traders

and 11 FBOs), with the commodities committed for trade included: soya beans,

sorghum and millet,

The volume of contracts signed in 5 of the contracts being 270 MTs at a valued

cost of USD 88,590 with the remaining 6 contracts to be quantified by the traders

and buyers in the course of the next 6 months.

The quantity of sales made by the exhibitors during the event was valued at USD

2,472. The input products for sale included certified seeds, insecticides and

pesticides, fertilizers, value added products (maize & bean flours)

REMARKS BY THE HIGH LEVEL GUESTS DURING THE CONCLAVE

Opening remarks by The Principal Kaguru ATC – Mr Paul Kirinya :

OFFICIALY welcomed the stakeholders to the Grains & Pulses Conclave

expressing gratitude and willingness to foster the partnership between the ATC

& EAGC in capacity building farmers through similar strategic interventions.

OBSERVED that the demonstration farms, livestock sections, farm inputs and

different technologies (drones’/flying sensors to support farmers’ decision

making & solar water harvesting) on show were timely since the farmers would

implement lessons learnt in the coming planting

season to adopt agribusiness.

Remarks by EAGC Executive Director – Mr

Gerald Masila :

THANKED the stakeholders for

taking part in the Grains & Pulses Conclave

noting that the demonstration plots and other

technologies on display were strategic to

improving the production capacity of farmers.

HIGHLIGHTED EAGC’s role in

promoting structured trade systems across the

Eastern Africa region noting that the Grain &

Pulses Conclave would feature a trade

facilitation forum for the farmer groups.

EMPHASIZED the importance of having:

I. Grain sector policies that would facilitate an enabled trade environment for

stakeholders. He noted that the sector policy framework should encompass

efficiency in the farm to fork value chain i.e. input linkages and production,

research and markets for agricultural commodities.

II. Market Information Systems for agricultural commodities, inputs and technical

skills through capacity building to increase production and trade.

III. A structured trade system that assures producers (framers) of off takers and

markets through trade contracts in trade facilitation forums

IV. Increased production of pulses in the region due to their drought resistant

nature, short maturity period, high protein & nutrition component as well as a

being a relative steady source of income compared to other grains e.g. maize.

Remarks from the Meru County Government

– Crops Officer Mrs. Phyllis Mutungi :

NOTED the importance of agribusiness

initiatives in the County to ensure economic

development through food security.

ACKNOWLEDGED the potential of

pulses to diversify Kenya’s food reserves and

hence a clarion call for their increased adoption

and production.

ALLUDED to the government’s Big 4

agenda on food security by emphasizing the

County’s commitment in the promotion of

grains and pulses production.

POINTED OUT on the need to increase

subsidies to pulses production.

HIGHLIGHTED the key challenges to the development of the County’s

agricultural sector as being:

I. Inadequate large storage facilities with only 2 NCPB depots in Meru & Maua

leading to high post-harvest losses and by extension low prices to farmers

without proper storage facilities at individual level.

II. Market accessibility for farmers that can be resolved through trade facilitation

arrangements, contract farming, value addition and structured trade systems.

III. Pests and diseases (FAW & aflatoxin) that affect quality and quantity of yields

after the cropping seasons.

CALLED for strategic agricultural investments and stakeholder partnerships to bolster

the County’s efforts in mitigating these challenges to complement the established

agricultural developments such as:

I. The Meru County mega dam that will promote irrigation for farming.

II. Input support/subsidies in production of pulses by supplying farmers with over

100 MTs of certified green gram seed. The Meru MoALF has also offered

logistical support (transport) for farmer groups that procured over 200 bags of

subsidized fertilizer

III. Procurement of four hulling machines for upland rice grown in Mitunguu,

Tigania West & East plus Imenti North areas.

IV. Capacity building of farmers in flagship projects that have encompassed the

production of macadamia and avocadoes.

STAKEHOLDERS’ OBSERVATIONS

The Grains & Pulses Conclave was well received by farmers and stakeholders. In so

doing, farmers’ representatives from Ng’arua Cereals & Marketing Cooperative,

Gakiuma CBO, Kazamoyo CBO urged EAGC to:

a) Intervene in lobbying for lower production costs (inputs) and improved market

prices for maize considering the current glut of grains in the market

b) Ensure fruitful trade facilitation between producers and traders through the

trade facilitation forums.

c) Expand the scope of EAGC Grains & Pulses conclaves & exhibitions to other

counties e.g. Bomet

WAY FORWARD & RECOMMENDATIONS

The following were agreed as the next steps following the Conclave

1. EAGC to take up and lobby for the review of the government directive on the

retail price for a 2 kg packet of maize flour that is Ksh. 75 since its repercussions

will eventually affect farmers’ welfare through different value chain actors.

2. EAGC to increase the scope of its interventions by onboarding more farmer

based organizations from Upper Eastern onto the Grain Trade Business Hub

Model to resolve input requirements as well as structured markets for small scale

farmers

3. EAGC to embark on following up trade agreements that were signed up during

the trade facilitation forum.

For more information, please feel free to contact the EAGC

Secretariat through the addresses below:

EASTERN AFRICA GRAIN COUNCIL

REGIONAL OFFICE

Mbaazi Avenue, off Kingara Road, Lavington,

P.O. Box 218-00606, NAIROBI, KENYA

Tel: +254 20 374 5840/733 444 035/710 607 313

Email: grains@eagc.org Web: grains@eagc.org/www.ratin.net

Table 1: Annex 1

LIST OF STAKEHOLDERS & PRODUCTS SHOWCASED

No Name Organization Products/Services Benefits

1 Mathew Kirema

Juanco SPS Crop protection products (herbicides – wipeout, Insecticide –Bestox & Marshal, Fungicide – fosthye & Mancolax, Foliear fertilizer – Synergizer, pesticides - Domimex)

Non generic products with no chances of pest resistance & fairly priced for farmers

2 Eric Guantai

Eurochem Ltd Crop protection products – (Herbicides – Tingatinga, Bean screen: Foliar – Green super: Insecticides – Tripso, Mitecides – Mitekill)

Effective products that guarantee 100% pest elimination & proper plant growth

3 Dennis Kiogora

Toyota Tsusho/Baraka fertilizer

Fertilizers used across the demo plots (five, 4x4 plots)

Crop specific fertilizers,

4 Fredrick Gatobu

Meru Multipurpose

Afya processed products – ugali maize meal, Afya - chapati maize meal (5, 2 and I kg)

Nutritious products, Easily available in local markets – Tharaka, Embu, Meru & Marsabit

5 David Maina

Safari Seeds Certified seeds – Tomato president F1, cabbage millet F1, Onion red superior, Garden peas safari wonder, cauliflower bella F1, Brocholi Titanic F1, Carrot Nantes

High yielding, pest & disease tolerant varieties

6 Uwe Ohmstedt

CIAT/SNV Grasses – Panicum cultivars, Mombassa, Tanzania, Massai, Brachiaria hybrids, Mulati, Cayman, Cobra – planted in 10 demoplots

Provides quality feeds (fodder), Cost effective fodder for farmers, enhanced milk production Increased awareness on their product cultivars

7 Jamleck Kithinji

Thima Machinery

Machinery – chaff cutter, chopper crusher, chopper 3 in 1

Reduces wastages, Makes it easy to store animal feed, Do-It-Yourself animal feed to reduces costs

8 Pamela Dryland Seed Certified seeds (Maize – KDV4, Drought tolerant and high

Mwangi Sawa, Viga: Beans – KB1: Green grams – N26)

yielding varieties

9 Michael Ndegwa

Pioneer Seeds Certified Seeds on a 20x5m demo plot (3253, 30G19.P2859)

High yielding variety, can withstand drought

10 Faustine Kiogora

Third Eye Flying sensors Supports farmers in decision making and crop management

11 Martin Nyaga

AFC Chogoria Loan products & services Working capital for crop production, land purchase, pesticide & water development

12 Martin Ndirangu

Marchlyn Green Forest Farm

Consultants who provide information on improved livestock production (booklets)

Farmers gain skills on how to venture to dairy farming as a business for improved production

13 Eunice Mbuye

F & S Scientific Service providers/ Moisture & Aflatoxin testing & lab services

Improved qualitative storage of grains by farmers/ traders

14 Veronicah Mugo

Elite Innovations

Hermetic bags Improved quality of grains during storage, prevents pest infestation

15 Elizapham Mahinda

Gichangi Cereals

Value added grains – popped cereals, sorghum, millet

Creates good markets for farmers, Nutritious products, Creates employment

16 Banice Gatwiri

Shalem Investments

Processed maize (Ugali & Uji flour) Animal Feed, Aflasafe, Certified seed

Processed products have high levels of nutritional value, Aflasafe is a biocontrol that protects maize (grains) from aflatoxin

17 Kenneth Gitonga

Capital Sacco Loan products & services – Kilimo Tosha, Dairy farmers, Akiba

These products are targeted for horticulture and dairy livestock production while Akiba savings is an incentive for farmers to take up saving as a culture

18 Peter Monsanto Certified seeds (Maize – DKC Tailor made for dry, mid to

Kiburih 9089, DKC 8033, DKC 8031, DKC 777)

high altitudes

19 Martin Muthomi

Getranke Afrique

Animal Feeds/Soya blends High in protein content hence increased animal productivity

20 Japheth Ndege

Kibendera Machinery (Macadamia dehusker)

Easy to husk a large amount of macadamia with minimal loss

21 Japheth Kisu

Kenya Seed/Simlaw

Certified seeds on a 12mx16m demo plot (Maize DH04, H517, H513, Sunflower – Kenya fedha, Beans – Rosecoco, Wairimu, Mwitemania, Kenya Tamu, Cowpeas – Kenkunde 1, Cabbage – Pruktor F1, Serena , Collard – Simalw select, Corriander - Simalw Kachumbari, Spinach – Fordhook giant, Indigenous vegetables & Onions – Siran F1, Tomatoes - Nyota F1, Pasture – green leaf desmodium, bhoma rhodes, lucerne)

High yielding crops High demand for vegetables, especially onions