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Farmers Own will empower and enable Kenyan farmers to engage in sustainable
farming. We have identified three core areas where farmers need support.
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| Access to seeds and planting materials. |
It is difficult to find seeds for various types of crops and evn when the
seeds exist they are either in short supply or of varying quality. To combat
this problem Farmers Own has enlisted KARI and a local seed company (Hortitec)
as partners.They have produced a first project document based upon farmers
bulking up and developing supply businesses.
In addition we plan to commence nursery operations within one year of start up
of an FAA. Each Division would have at least 5 nurseries started with limited
grant investment. After two years of establishment these would then make
transition to self financing.
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| Business Education |
Shortfalls in information provision and access is a huge problem.
The farmer, the front line extension, and all other development agents do not
have what they need.For crop agronomy there are guidelines for most crops.
These guidelines will emphasise fertilizers and chemical P+D controls.
However poor farmers with no cash do not use these guidelines.
They are often organic by default and organic production does have manuring
technologies and P+D controls but you will not find guidelines.
Farmers Own is working on developing a basic curriculum for organic produce,
a modular database and systems that enable access at least down to the level
of chiefs camps.
In the FAA’s are developed leaders and trainers. These people and all others
would access the data base at a chiefs camp, using a CD reader.
Upgrading of the system will be handled by a small team, preferably in the
private sector. As internet is coming to the smallest townships; the CD
information would also be accessible on a website. Financial sustainability
is gained by subscription fees for the data base, and by very tiny viewing
fees for individuals. It is expected that printers will be with the readers,
so that modules can be printed at small cost. This business
would be in charge of one or more people of the community.
Another component of this project is the use of cell phones to reduce
transaction costs and improve information flow (e.g. market information,
situation reports, instructions)
With cell phones it is also planned to improve security and speed with
payments to farmers by developing a coded payments system that can be used by
texting. A cell phone company has indicated preliminary interest in being a
partner in this venture.
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| Community Goals |
Each FAA will choose the social goals that ought to be addressed
immediately. The priorites are usually similar and the need is
always urgent. The first three FAA's Mbakhalo, Chebukwabi and
Vuyika chose their goals as follows:
- A clinic cum dispensary;
- A financed system to care for orphans (Thier parents died of HIV);
- Mosqutio nets for each family;
- Protection of water springs/sinking of boreholes;
Farmers Own recognises the need to address these issues in parellel with
developing the business model. We will partner with any interested donors
to ensure that funds are chanelled towards acheiving these goals.
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