MAMA MBOGA AFRICAN LEAFY VEGETABLES OUTGROWER

PROJECT

A Market Led Social Horticultural Enterprise Model by Horti Grid LTD

PROJECT FORMULATORS

Vision: To enable more rural women get integrated into agri-enterprise value chains through social entrepreneurship,

triggering wider reception and its practice as an economic activity

Patricia LagatJoan Malel

CONTEXT (Current Situation)

Rural women smallholder farmers At base of the economic pyramid in agri-enterprise Mainly subsistence farmers on small land parcels Lack adequate capital, capacity and horticultural knowledge

African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) Favored over exotic counterparts – highly nutritious staple Easy to produce (very short term crops) and yields could be

improved by application of modern cultivation methods Production possible all year round Current supply does not match demand

MarketsControlled by middlemen

CALL TO ACTION

Rural Women need integration into horticultural value chains by supporting participation in production and marketing of commercially viable vegetable crops .

Current production methods not sustainable

PROJECT AIM - Triggering demand for, production and marketing of ALVs, economically empowering rural farmers and improving on nutrition

 PROJECT LOCATION - Uasin Gishu County (Ngeria Ward)Proximity to cosmopolitan market, accessibility , good water

supply, land availability and suitability, agricultural history, growing interest in horticulture

INTERVENTION  Identification of priority species of ALVs that can be

cultivated in target area Impartation of basic agribusiness knowledge Setting up of production units with GAPs Linkage to existing market systems Documentation and dissemination of knowledge

PROPOSED VEGETABLES

These varieties are in most demand; with easy production and marketing

Black nightshade will be cultivated in the pilot stage commencing in Oct 2015

Production units: 10 farms each on ¼ acre = 2.5 acres total Each plot managed by one woman with full responsibility

over all labor, crop husbandry and farm operations Supervision and extension from a horticultural assistantMode of production: A mix of organic and inorganic methodsWater sources: Shallow wells with simple water pumps

MODALITIES

Shallow Wells as Water SourceChallenges: Lack of pumps to ease drawing water for irrigation

The farmer should

Be of female gender with dependantsHave prior knowledge on agricultural practice in any fieldHave access to ¼ of an acre and a water sourceDemonstrate ability to provide all labor requirementsBe willing and show capacity to learn basic agribusiness

and crop husbandryBe willing to be part of a group working with at least two

other team playersBe willing to take up a government health cover with NHIF

The farmer will be responsible for all labor and daya to day management of the ¼ acre plots with periodic supervision by a horticultural assistant designated to offer extension services

FARMER’S ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Focused Farmer Engagement while interpreting the project to them

Having a discussion with the farmers and their representatives and getting

feedback from them on their expectations

They expressed readiness to embark on the project as the pioneers in their area of influence

FARMERS WILL GET:

All input – seeds, fertilizers and agrochemicalsSimple water pumping and irrigation systemsMarket linkageGlobalGAP and KenGAP sensitizationBasic agribusiness skillsFacilitation of registration to Health Insurance (NHIF)

Extension services to be offered by Horti Grid Limited aim at increasing capacity and farmer knowledge base as regards horticultural production with Globally accepted standards which can be replicated for other crops apart from ALVs

Farmers were a good representation of the major communities in the areawhich had been affected by the tribal post election violence of 2008.

In the initial team is a blind woman too, who has dependants and is ready To take on the challenge with support from the rest and her family

Production CycleThe ALVs will have three production cycles in order to have an all year supply.

Production capacity per cycleThe ten farmers’ total acreage - 2.5 acres per cycle Approximate production - 25,000 Kg per cycle of production Consider 20% losses - Nett production is 20,000 Kg per cycle

PricesALVs supplied to the available markets will fetch a price of KSh 40 per Kg, KSh 50 per Kg and KSh 30 per Kg in the three production cycles; November to February, March to June and July to October, respectively

Remuneration Farmers will be given a 70% stake in the profit margins accrued after all expenses have been deducted

PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF ALVs

EXPECTED OUTCOME:

Improved food security and health Increased rural participation in the horticulture Reduced unemployment rateIncreased and renewed interest in commercial horticulture Improved smallholder farmer capacity and knowledgeIncreased quality and quantity of marketable ALVsMore women taking up health insurance (NHIF)

POTENTIAL IMPACT AND SCALE  Up scaled intensive commercial productionBetter market opportunities globally.Replication of enterprise model by other fields of agricultureAgriculture will be an attractive career option.Initiative will create a practical and real time knowledge hub in as far as social entrepreneurship for relevant bodies