High-value horticulture increases incomes for Kenyan farmers
The Nyamanga Horticultural Group in Nyanza Province, Kenya has come a long way since 2005, increasing income by 428 percent. The 87 members of the group used to grow maize, sorghum and other vegetables but were only making ends meet. Though the area has fertile soil and abundant water from nearby Lake Victoria, the group battled crop pests and disease, had little technical know-how about good agricultural practices (GAPs), and did not have access to market information and linkages. This left the group with low yields and returns and people in the community started abandoning horticulture.
Since March 2005, Fintrac and partner Animal Draft Power Program (ADPP) have been working with the group through the USAID-financed Kenya Horticultural Development Program (KHDP) to establish a group demonstration plot where growers get technical assistance and training in GAPs - plant nutrition, water management, pest and disease control through safe use of pesticides, and integrated pest management (IPM) techniques.
The project introduced the group to new crops such as African Bird's Eye (ABE) chilli, butternut squash, watermelon, tomatoes and peppers to increase yields and profits. The group was trained in postharvest handling, recordkeeping, marketing, and were linked to buyers from Nairobi and nearby towns. Because of these interventions the growers have better horticultural production, marketing and recordkeeping skills and, most importantly, increased income.
From the sales of their new crops, the group increased gross income from $11,146 in 2005 to $58,900 in 2006. With their increased income, growers have rented irrigation and cultivation equipment, increased production area, and improved housing. The growers also have improved food security and are better able to pay school fees for their children.
"Reflecting back, I am overjoyed by the positive transformations we have had in our lives since USAID-KHDP started assisting the group in 2005," said Raphael Orwa, the group's chairman.
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"Reflecting back, I am overjoyed by the positive transformations we have had in our lives since USAID-KHDP started assisting the group in 2005."