Integrated pest and disease management in tree tomato

By Bob Aston

Tree tomato is moderately resistant to pests although minimizing spread of pests and diseases can ensure better returns. Speaking during a Tree Tomato Value Chain Workshop at Sipili Catholic Church Hall, Laikipia West Sub County on September 23-24, 2015, Mrs. Elcy Kigano, Ol-Moran Ward Agribusiness officer said that adopting an integrated pest and disease management could ensure farmers minimize losses due to pest and disease infestation.

“It is always possible to reduce the progress of diseases and keep them at an acceptable level as it is not possible to completely eradicate diseases,” said Mrs. Kigano.

A farmer examining her tree tomato fruits

The two days’ workshop brought together more than 70 farmers drawn from Ol-Moran Ward who had come together to discuss and share best practices on how to enhance farmers production skills on Tree Tomato.

The Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) through Ng’arua Maarifa Centre organized the workshop in collaboration with Kilimo Biashara Promoters and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MOALF).

She noted that the fast growing tree tomato or “matunda ya damu” in Kiswahili, prefers sub-tropical climate. She took farmers through control of tree tomato pests and diseases.

Tree tomato pests

Fruit flies are one of the most serious pests in Kenya. They feed on the fruits and other parts of tree tomato. They also lay eggs in fruits. Control is through field sanitation, quarantine and baiting by use of delude mixture of Naturalure with water.

Nematodes are a big problem on sandy soils. They cause serious damage on young trees and can be vectors of viruses. They lead to stunted growth and swelling or knot on roots. Prevention is by removing affected plants, soil fumigation, or soil solarization, keeping the field weed free, planting marigold beside the rows to reduce nematode numbers, practicing crop rotation, rouging, and use of nematicide or extract from neem cake.

Tree tomato worm feeds on the fruits and cause heavy losses. Control is by rigorous spraying and sanitary measures. Biological control is also essential. Green Aphids sac saps on the leaves and flowers. Chemical control can prevent spread of the pest.

Tree tomato diseases

Farmers being taken through tree tomato pests and diseases

A fungus Erysiphe Polygani causes powdery mildew and it results in serious defoliation. A white powdery mould appears on the upper surface of the leaves. The tissue beneath the affected plant becomes reddish brown while leaves turn yellow and eventually fall off. Control is through removing and destroying infected plant parts, spraying 10 percent cow milk, and improving air circulation by thinning and pruning.

Sclerelotinia disease causes black lesions, which girdle stems and cause terminal wilting. Field hygiene and use of fungicide such as Ridomi, Daconil, and Ortiva are ideal ways of controlling the disease.

Ascochyta disease appears as small, round black dead areas on leaves especially mature ones. Black lesions, which girdle stems and cause terminal wilting, are some characteristics of the disease. Field hygiene and use of fungicide such as Thiovit, Ridomil, and Ortiva are ideal ways of controlling the disease.

Tree tomato mosaic virus causes stunted growth, as well as pale mottling on leaves and sometimes fruits. Pulling up and destroying infected plants can prevent spread of the disease.

The farmers were addressing various interventions in Tree Tomato Value Chain that included crop risk mitigation, post-harvest handling, local value addition, linkages to markets, aggregation, and value chain linkages.

Promoting tree tomato value chain in arid areas

Bob Aston

The 1^st Tree Tomato Value Chain Workshop, which took place at Sipili Catholic Church Hall, Ol-Moran Ward in Laikipia West Sub County in September 23-24, 2015 agreed on ways of increasing production amongst smallholder farmers in the region.

The convergence of more than 70 farmers enabled discussions on how to share best practices and enhancing farmer’s production skills on Tree tomato. They deliberated on tree tomato record keeping system and marketing of their produce.

Elcy Kigano from MOALF facilitating one of the sessions

The Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) through Ng’arua Maarifa Centre organized the workshop in collaboration with Kilimo Biashara Promoters and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MOALF).

ALIN and partners organized the workshop in order to address various interventions in Tree Tomato Value Chain that include crop risk mitigation, post-harvest handling, local value addition, linkages to markets, aggregation, and value chain linkages.

ALIN is keen in promoting the value chain approach as this can promote inclusive economic growth as it allows the identification of specific advantage points along a chain, reducing the average cost per unit by increasing the number of units produced.

The workshop discussed a myriad of issues that included production practices, agribusiness, soil management, marketing, record keeping, Integrated pests and disease management, harvesting and post-harvest management, cost benefit analysis, value addition and SOKO+ sms platform.

At the beginning of the workshop, the farmers had listed challenges that included scarcity of water, pests and diseases, marketing, tree tomato varieties, lack of good agricultural practices, limited capital, climate change and human-wildlife conflict as some of the issues affecting the value chain.

However, at the end of the workshop they had managed to come up with solutions that will enable the value chain not only to benefit many farmers but also to attract youths.

Farmers being taken through tree tomato pests and diseases

After the two days of engrossing training and deliberations, the workshop ended with set resolutions as the farmers agreed that they will each ensure that they have a minimum of a quarter an acre under tree tomato production.

The farmers agreed to involve youths in value addition to ensure that they also play an active role in the value chain.  

 Farmers in the area have not been adding value to their produce hence realizing low returns. The farmers will again meet on October 22, 2015 for a field day on tree tomato.

Production of the fast growing Tree tomato or “matunda ya damu” in Kiswahili has been on the increase in Ol-Moran Ward. Most farmers have diversified to fruit farming, as they are able to get better returns.

ALIN has strategically focused its efforts to improve the livelihoods of arid lands communities in East Africa through delivery of practical information using modern technologies. The organization has been organizing various capacity building trainings for Ol-Moran Ward farmers.

Kenyan pastoralist women find new economic freedom - from pawpaws

By Kagondu Njagi, BRACED

KIBARTANE, Kenya - It is said among the Samburu people of Kenya that if a woman is not beaten by her husband then she is not loved. Naserian Lyengulai is working to bring that idea to an end.

The 59-year-old has been hit several times by her husband for borrowing money to buy food or medicine for her family, she says. But these days, she has her own source of income - and the beatings have stopped.

The mother of six, a member of the Kibartane Women's Group in northern Kenya, now works with other village mothers to grow vegetables and fruit such as pawpaws on a one-acre plot of land in the village.

Farming fresh produce is something new for women in this hot, dry region dominated by cattle and goat herding.

"The place of the Maasai woman is to raise children," Lyengulai says, adding that taking care of the family wealth is the business of the man.

But the new economic freedom that has come from raising and selling fruit and vegetables is also buying her others freedoms, particularly the ability to spend money, without risk, while her husband is away for weeks at a time herding his animals.

A member of the group working in women’s garden. TRF/Kagondu Njagi

"Sometimes he does not leave money in the house," Lyengulai said. "I have to feed the children on stored milk. When they fall sick, I treat them with herbs collected from the wild."

The February edition of the Samburu County Drought Monthly Bulletin says that children under five years old in families that only herd livestock are more likely to suffer nutritional problems during droughts than children from families that mix cattle herding and growing vegetables and legumes.

That reality - and a desire to improve meals for their own children - is one of the things that inspired Lyengulai and other women to form the Kibartane Women Group.

Before the project began, "it was difficult for me to obtain greens because the nearest shopping center is 20 kilometers away," she said. "All that I need to do now is to join my colleagues at the kitchen garden to get my share of fruits and vegetables."

The surplus, she adds, is taken to the market for sale, earning her and members of the group extra income.

Read the full story at Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters (BRACED)

Healthy profit for Kenyan women selling aloe

By Leopold Obi, BRACED

NANYUKI, Kenya - Women herders in Kenya's semi-arid Laikipia County have broken with tradition to export the leaves of a desert plant to Europe, boosting their incomes. Three hundred women in El Poloi have switched from the age-old occupation of goat-keeping to the new and far more lucrative activity of farming aloe, a plant with healing properties.

Along the way, they are transforming their economic status and creating educational opportunities for their daughters.

Drought-prone El Poloi lies to the northwest of snow-capped Mount Kenya in the Great Rift Valley. According to the Kenya Meteorological Department, the area receives less than 400 mm (16 inches) of rainfall annually.

Only a few hardy shrubs and savannah grass can survive on the harsh terrain. The community's women say their men used to journey miles to Mount Kenya in the dry season seeking grazing for their herds, while the women and children stayed behind without enough food.

Knowing maize and vegetables would not produce good harvests in this climate, the women decided six years ago to cultivate Aloe secundiflora, a plant common to semi-arid parts of Kenya.

The women preparing cosmetics made with aloe, Laikipia County, TRF/Leopold Obi

They formed four groups tasked with fighting poverty and gender inequality. Each group farms at least 3 acres (1.2 hectares) of the short-stemmed succulent plant.

Rosemary Putunoi, a leader of Twala Cultural Manyatta Women, said her group was given 40 acres (16 hectares) of dry, eroded land to farm by the men of the community in 2008.

"We then saw an income opportunity in growing osunguroi (aloe), which we traded for goats from our men. We planted aloes on 2 acres to start, and 12 roots of the plant (could be) exchanged for a goat," Putunoi said.

The men used the aloe to brew a traditional fermented wine made of the pounded roots mixed with water, sugar and honey.But the benefits of aloe cultivation did not end there.

The women discovered the plants reduced erosion and improved the soil, enabling grass to grow. So they decided to charge fees to herders who wanted to graze animals on their land. They used that money and proceeds from their aloe sales to pay for their daughters to be educated.

Read the full story at Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters (BRACED)

The Most Interesting Disaster is the One that does not happen

By Roop Singh, RCCC

Climate extremes like floods, droughts, and landslides occur constantly around the world. Yet we very rarely hear about the instances when an extreme climate event happens, and there is no mass suffering or casualty.  

These “non disasters” are crucial moments in which we can learn more about what makes people resilient to climate shocks. By studying these non-disasters, we can better understand the social mechanisms, infrastructure, government programs, policies, or other coping mechanisms that make one population more resilient to climate shocks than another.

To exemplify how some populations are more resilient than others, consider the scenario in which two cities are hit with a rainfall of similar magnitude, but only one of them becomes devastated by flooding. This would be an opportunity to learn how the ability of people to anticipate, adapt to, and absorb climate shocks differs from place to place.

We have exactly this case study if we compare the floods earlier this summer in Brooklyn, New York and Nairobi, Kenya.

Kenyan school boy/ Viktor Dobai

Although both floods received news coverage because they occurred in major cities, the coverage in Nairobi was more extensive, even attracting international media such as Al Jazeera and the BBC, and resulted in a rousing #Nairobifloods hashtag on twitter where residents shared information and their frustrations.

In Brooklyn, the news coverage was local and relatively superficial because there was minimal damage and no casualties to talk about.

There was something missing in the coverage of these two events: why was the Brooklyn flood only a minor nuisance, and why wasn’t the Nairobi flooding an even bigger disaster?

One reason could be the early warnings issued in Brooklyn by the New York National Weather Service. The warnings urged residents to “move to higher ground now” and “act to quickly save your life.” Drivers were advised to “turn around, don’t drown” when faced with even shallow floodwaters.

Read the full story at Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters (BRACED)

Improving market access for smallholder farmers

By Samuel Nyaga

Access to timely and accurate market information is possible through use of SOKO+. Speaking during a Tree Tomato Value Chain Workshop at Sipili Catholic Church Hall, in Ol-Moran Ward, Laikipia West Sub County on September 23, 2015, Mr. Bob Aston from Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) said that SOKO+ enables traders, farmers, and other users to buy, sell, and get information using SMS.

He said that the market access and knowledge management system has harnessed the power of information and communication technologies (ICT) by enabling farmers to efficiently reach and exploit a fair market for their produce through use of mobile phones.

Mr. Aston facilitating the training

“The net effect of use of the service is that farmers can reduce their transaction costs and further reach into desirable markets. The system also links small-scale farmers to end retailers,” said Mr. Aston.

ALIN through Ng’arua Maarifa Centre organized the workshop in collaboration with Kilimo Biashara Promoters and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. 

Sokopepe, a social enterprise established by ALIN to offer services based on online and mobile-based ICT platforms, provides SOKO+ service.

He said that the platform enables farmers to query commodity prices and farming tips using a mobile short code 20245. Farmers also receive SMS-based alerts with farming tips; weather updates and alerts relating to trading opportunities and early warning alerts related to climate, diseases and other hazards.

 “The platform provides commodity prices from major markets around the areas of operation and beyond, e-extension services and a listing of various technical and logistical support providers,” said Mr. Aston.

He said that ALIN has also collaborated with SNV- Netherlands Development Organization to demonstrate and train farmers, teachers, and education officials on how to make use of SOKO+ to harness their linkages and therefore enable schools to provide a consistent; organized and fair market for their produce.

Mr. Charles Keru,Ol-Moran Ward Administrator addressing the participants

SNV is keen to ensure farmers, schools, and the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology harness the power of ICT, to enhance efficiency of trade in farmers’ commodities through Home Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP) by use of SOKO+.

To register to SOKO+; Send SMS: REG#IDNumber#FirstName#LastName and LOC#County#Constituency#Ward to 20245: to inquire for market prices; Send SMS: Price#Commodity#Town, to 20245; and to receive farming tips, Send SMS: Tip#ProductName to 20245.

The two days’ workshop brought together more than 70 farmers drawn from Ol-Moran Ward who had come together to discuss and share best practices on how to enhance farmers production skills on Tree Tomato.

The farmers were addressing various interventions in Tree Tomato Value Chain that included crop risk mitigation, post-harvest handling, local value addition, linkages to markets, aggregation, and value chain linkages.

As droughts worsen, joined-up adaptations build resilience in Kenya

By Sophie Mbugua, BRACED

YAMICHA, Kenya - Gusts of wind blow the dust coming from thousands of animals as they make their way to Urura borehole in Kenya's arid northern Merti ward.

The well is set in a grazing area reserved for use only during severe drought periods. This dry month, about 3,000 cows, 12,000 goats and 1,800 donkeys access the strategic water reserve every day.

Abdi Matoiye from Biligi village and his 100 cows have walked for about 20 kilometres (12 miles) to get here - and it's not just the water that is the attraction.

Matoiye recently lost a cow after it was bitten by wild dogs infected with rabies. Now he is worried that the calf is showing signs of the disease too. Fortunately, a veterinarian is available to answer this distress call.

"A cow gets infected by sniffing bites from the bitten cow," Matoiye believes. "We are worried that more cows might die since we are sharing the grazing area and the borehole."

Matoiye and his cattle drink at the Urura well in Kenya’s Isiolo County. TRF/Sohie Mbugua

Northern Kenya, an arid region inhabited by nomadic pastoralists, is increasingly prone to droughts, a problem that has depleted livestock, water and pasture. Migration during drought periods exposes animals to diseases as they converge on remaining grazing land and watering points.

And pasture and water scarcity continue to be a key driving force for conflict between communities as livestock and people move around the counties of Marsabit, Moyale, Garissa, Isiolo and Wajir, locals say.

But a two-year effort to bring together a range of adaptations to the worsening drought - including new wells and other water sources, carefully managed grazing reserves and better veterinary care - is helping pastoralists such as Matoiye manage drought better and protect their animals, incomes and families.

Read the full story at Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters (BRACED)

Increasing Tree tomato production in Ol-Moran Ward

Bob Aston

The first Tree Tomato Value Chain Workshop taking place at Sipili Catholic Church Hall, in Ol-Moran Ward, Laikipia West Sub County got underway on September 23, 2015. More than 70 farmers drawn from Ol-Moran Ward have come together to discuss and share best practices on how to enhance farmers production skills on Tree Tomato.

The Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) has organized the workshop in collaboration with Kilimo Biashara Promoters and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.

The farmers seek to address various interventions in Tree Tomato Value Chain that include crop risk mitigation, post-harvest handling, local value addition, linkages to markets, aggregation, and value chain linkages.

Farmers being trained on Agribusiness during the workshop

Apart from enhancing farmer’s production skills on tree tomato value chain, the farmers are also sharing ideas on its production and marketing experiences. 

They are also learning about systematic record keeping. The farmers aim to catalyze the formation of tree tomato value chain business group in Ol-Moran Ward at the end of the workshop.

Speaking during the workshop, Mr. Gachara Gikungu from Kilimo Biashara Promoters noted that despite the high number of farmers in the Country, very few are practicing Agribusiness. 

“Most of us are poor because we do not know. We should realize that wealth is a function of quality goods and services hence as farmers you should ensure that you produce quality farm products,” said Mr. Gachara.

He urged farmers to change their perception and learn that they can be economically empowered through agriculture. He noted that the problem with most farmers is that they do not want to accept new farming methods and requirements.

“You will have a miserable life if you do not follow proper planting methods’’ said Gachara. Adding that there is money in agriculture but people do not realize that.

He noted that soil is a life hence farmers should take good care of their soil.  He said that achieving and maintaining appropriate levels of soil fertility, especially plant nutrient availability, is of paramount importance if agricultural land is to remain capable of sustaining crop production at an acceptable level.

Farmers being shown how SOKO+ SMS service works

“We must preserve and protect our soil. Most of us are abusing our soil by using fertilizer without knowing the quantity required in their soil.  We need to reduce wastage of fertilizer,” said Mr. Gachara.

ALIN is keen in promoting the value chain approach as this can promote inclusive economic growth as it allows the identification of specific advantage points along a chain, reducing the average cost per unit by increasing the number of units produced.

The first day of the workshop provided the farmers with an opportunity to learn about agribusiness, marketing, SOKO+ sms service, tree tomato production, and soil management.

On SOKO+ sms service, the farmers learned that the knowledge exchange and market access solution enables traders, farmers and other users to buy, sell, and get information using SMS.

The fast growing tree tomato or “matunda ya damu” in Kiswahili are resistant to most diseases and pests. Its production has been on the increase in Sipili area as most farmers diversify to fruit farming.

ALIN has strategically focused its efforts to improve the livelihoods of arid lands communities in East Africa through delivery of practical information using modern technologies. The organization has been organizing various capacity building trainings for Ol-Moran Ward farmers.

Maarifa Centre enables student to undertake online study

By Moses Ndungu

Online education has become one of the of the most popular higher education alternatives. The continuously improving reputation of online learning has also helped fuel its expansion. Many people now opt for online study due to other commitments.

James Mwai, a youth residing in Sipili town in Laikipia County had always wanted to undertake an online study but he never got an opportunity to pursue one. In 2013, he was at Ng’arua Maarifa Centre in Ol-Moran Ward accessing the internet when the field officer informed him about a model of education referred to as ALISON.

He learned that it was possible to undertake the course at the Maarifa Centre without incurring any cost. After researching about the institution, he learned that since its launch in April 2007, it has developed relationships with some of the largest and most prestigious institutions involved in promoting education and learning. The institution also enjoys a global reputation for delivering quality education and training online.

He decided to sign up for Diploma in Business Management and Entrepreneurship.  He also signed up for Diploma in Carpentry. The online studies have been made possible with the believe that all certifiable or standards-based learning for every subject can be made available free online. 

Mwai accessing information at the Maarifa Centre

ALISON’s mission is to enable anyone, anywhere, to educate themselves for free via interactive multimedia courseware for certification and standards-based learning. It is believed that through ALISON, the cost of access to high-quality education can be removed, thereby creating a more equitable and sustainable global society.

“When I cleared high school I did not see any hope for higher education due to financial constraints at home. The online study provided me with an avenue to further my education.  I am not only able to use free internet at the Maarifa for long duration when studying but the Maarifa staff usually even print for me my course work,” said Mwai.

Mwai noted that using the ALISON online platform dashboard is easy. Through the dashboard, a student is able to see the number of course undertaken, the cumulative points attained, and the average percentage of the covered coursework.

He has so far covered 79.6 percent of the course work and attained 29 points in Business Management and Entrepreneurship. He has also covered 60 percent of the course work in Diploma in Carpentry and attained 19 points.

He noted that in the event a student of ALISON has received the Certificate of merit prior to completion of the studies, the Kenya National Examinations council (KNEC) could also equalize such certificates with Kenya Certification System.

“It is my hope that by the end of this year, I will receive my two Diploma certificates. I have not only learned that online study is possible but I am a testament of that,” said Mwai.

Established in 2007 by the Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN), the Maarifa Centre has been offering free services that include; Library services, E-government services, multimedia content, internet access, citizen journalism training, ICT training, advisory services, publications like Baobab, Joto Afrika, and Laikipia Mali Asili, as well as Sokopepe.

ALIN realized that many rural communities lack the skills to tap into the potential Information and Communication Technology (ICT) field hence it has focused in the development of ICT resources at the Maarifa Centre. This empowers people to use technology to promote community development and bring services such as e-learning closer to the people.

Observing procurement guidelines in cooperatives

By Bob Aston

Observing public procurement guidelines can enhance transparency in Laikipia Produce and Marketing Cooperative Society. Mr. Joseph Chege, Ol-Jorok Sub County Cooperative officer said that public procurement covers all types of acquisitions made by or on behalf of public entities in Kenya. 

He was speaking during a two days Financial and Procurement Policy Workshop organized by Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) for the cooperative committee members at Ng’arua Maarifa Centre, Laikipia West Sub County on September 10-11, 2015.

Some of the committee members during discussions

The Public Procurement and Disposal Act 2005 (Act) in conjunction with the Public Procurement and Disposal Regulations 2006 (Regulations) governs the operation of the cooperative.

The Act established the Public Procurement Oversight Authority (PPOA) to ensure compliance with the procurement procedures under the Act, to monitor the public procurement system and assist in its implementation.  Under the Act, co-operatives are Class B Procuring Entities. 

“Each procurement should have its own lines, one for the plan and the second for actual outcome. All procurement must be included in the plan.  Public money should be spent prudently,” said Mr. Chege.

He said that they should observe the six “rights” of procurement. They include: right item; right quality; right quantity; right time; right place; and right price. The five pillars of procurement namely accountability, transparency, integrity, value for money, impartiality, and fare competition should also guide the procurement process.

He said that the cooperative premises and other information dissemination channels are ideal when advertising for tenders. The main procedures for public procurement are Open Tendering, with Request for Quotations (RFQ) for lower value orders. 

For a major procurement, pre-qualification may save the cooperative time by allowing identification of suitable suppliers while the specification is not yet ready. It can reduce the workload of both suppliers and the cooperative.

Mr. Chege taking the committee through the procurement policy

He noted that the tender/procurement committee should always ascertain that the tendering process is transparent. 

They also approve procurement methods, award tenders, and procurement contracts, carry out quarterly reviews on quotations by tender committees, as well as amendment of contracts.

He said that all committees involved in procurement should attempt to reach consensus on their decisions. 

However, if consensus cannot be achieved a vote should be taken.  The cooperative is required to produce an annual plan of all the procurements it intends to carry out in the following financial year.

In the event of a cancelled procurement, the cooperative should refund all fees paid by tenderers. The cooperative must monitor the contractor’s progress in delivering the contract regularly and take action in accordance with the contract when a problem arises.

“The cooperative should observe the farming calendar to ensure procurements are timely to avert delays and holding stocks, works or services. Proper procurements records for a period of six years from the date of contract or order should be available,” said Mr. Chege.

ALIN has been offering various capacity building trainings to the cooperative members since its formation in 2013. This has enabled the cooperative to be among the leading cereal cooperatives in Laikipia West Sub County.

Adherence to financial management policies key to cooperative growth

By Bob Aston

Financial management process and policy adherence is key to growth of Laikipia Produce and Marketing Cooperative Society. Mr. Joseph Chege, Ol-Jorok Sub County Cooperative officer said that the policy serves to establish uniformity in the manner in which sections submit accounts, thereby facilitating consolidation.

He was speaking during a two days Financial and Procurement Policy Workshop organized by Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) for the cooperative committee members at Ng’arua Maarifa Centre, Laikipia West Sub County on September 10-11, 2015.

Mr. Chege taking the committee through financial management policy

He said that the financial policies adopted by the society should conform, where applicable, to International Financial Reporting Standards and the provisions of the Cooperative Society’s Act, No. 12 of 1997 as Amended, in 2004, and its regulations.

“The accounting procedures used by the society in accounting for assets, liabilities, revenues, expenditure, fund balances and year-end financial statements must follow internationally accepted accounting principles,” said Mr. Chege.

He said that financial policy provides a reference for staff in their daily activities as well as a reference for management and auditors. To operate effectively, he said the cooperative must maintain a liquidity position consistent with normal operating requirements.

He urged the cooperative to ensure that before any payment is made the expenditure is within budget, the activities for which the funds are required has been carried out, the payment request is properly supported and there are sufficient funds available.

He noted that incurred expenditure should further the aims of approved work plan and should be within an approved budget. It is also not advisable to re-allocate cost over runs on individual budget lines to under spent budget lines.

“It is important to minimize cash payments and a third party voucher should be obtained to support all payments to retailers,” said Mr. Chege.

Some committee members during discussions

He said the ownership of all fixed assets remains with the society and must be inventoried and controlled individually by tagging and maintaining detailed records, combined with a periodic physical check. All acquisitions of fixed assets should also receive budget clearance.

He noted that there is no need of a budget clearance for the purchase of low value supplies and consumables or for the hiring of casual labour provided such expenses have received budget approval in principle.

“Periodic monitoring of budgets is important. Budgets should contain a summarized comparison of budgeted and actual expenditure. Changes in the system, procedures, controls, or responsibilities should also be set out in writing,” said Mr. Chege.

The Laikipia Produce and Marketing cooperative society emerged from the work undertaken by ALIN through Ng’arua Maarifa Centre with the support of the Ford Foundation’s Expanding Livelihoods for Poor Households Initiative (ELOPHI).

ALIN has been offering various capacity building trainings to the cooperative members since its formation in 2013. This has enabled the cooperative to be among the leading cereal cooperatives in Laikipia West Sub County.

Farmers in Sipili to benefit through value chain workshop

Bob Aston

The Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and Kilimo Biashara Promoters, will hold a tree tomato and tomato value chain workshop on September 23-24, 2015 at Sipili Catholic Church Hall in Laikipia West Sub County.

The value chain workshop will seek to address various interventions in the two value chains that include; crop risk mitigation, post-harvest handling, warehouse receipts linked to loans, local value addition, linkages to markets, aggregation, and value chain linkages.

ALIN is keen in promoting the value chain approach as this can promote inclusive economic growth as it allows the identification of specific advantage points along a chain, reducing the average cost per unit by increasing the number of units produced.

Farmers in Matwiku area of  Githiga Ward packing tomatoes

Promotion of Tomato Value Chain is particularly important for farmers in Wangwachi area who are not reaping maximum benefit from the value chain. 

The workshop will also enable farmers to learn how to use SOKO+ sms service to trade. The knowledge exchange and market access solution enables traders, farmers and other users to buy sell, and get information using SMS.

The fast growing tree tomato or “matunda ya damu” in Kiswahili are resistant to most diseases and pests. Its production has been on the increase in Sipili area as most farmers diversify to fruit farming. The workshop will help farmers to embrace best agricultural practices that can enable them to get better returns in tomato and tree tomato farming.

ALIN has strategically focused its efforts to improve the livelihoods of arid lands communities in East Africa through delivery of practical information using modern technologies.

On behalf of ALIN, we would like to welcome farmers to the tree tomato and tomato value chain workshop on September 23-24, 2015 at Sipili Catholic Church Hall from 9:00 am.

Resource Centre proves beneficial to youths

By James Mwai

Ng’arua Maarifa Centre located in Ol-Moran ward of Laikipia County has been an important resource Centre for many students in Sipili town who have been able to utilize their free time studying and accessing information at the Centre.

Established in 2007 by the Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN), the Maarifa Centre has been offering free services that include; Library services, E-government services, multimedia content, internet access, citizen journalism training, ICT training, advisory services, publications like Joto Afrika, Baobab and Laikipia Mali Asili as well as Sokopepe.

After clearing high School, Moses Ndungu spent most of his time at the Maarifa Centre while awaiting to join University. At the Centre, he learned basic journalism skills such as news writing, feature writing, creating writing, photojournalism, interviewing, blogging and media laws, and ethics.

This knowledge enabled him to spend most of his free time at the Centre documenting and disseminating information through Laikipia Rural Voices blog. He also worked on two novels and poems.

Youths accessing information at the Maarifa Centre

He dedicated part of his time at the Maarifa Centre volunteering by helping community members access various types of information. 

He noted that the Centre provided an opportunity that left a lasting impression on him. Despite having joined University in September, he is following up on what is happening at the Centre through Laikipia Rural Voices blog.

“Ng’arua Maarifa Centre helped to mold my computing skills in a forthrightly free manner that allowed me access priceless competence at zero cost. It allowed me real experience on journalism. This inculcated in me an inquisitive nature that most journalists possess,” said Moses.

On his part, James Mwangi, a student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) spent most of his holiday at the Maarifa Centre learning PHP, HTML and JavaScript programming. Access to information at the Centre proved vital as he was not only able to research online but he was also able to read many programming books at the centre.

“I managed to read Macs All in one Desk Reference for Dummies and AQUA computing. The library at the centre helped to broaden my knowledge in command driven programming,” said James.

On her part, Eunice Nyambura, a Soil and Water Conservation Engineering student at JKUAT noted that the Maarifa Centre provided her with a conducive environment for researching on Rain Water harvesting.

She has been travelling from Kaharati to the Maarifa Centre, a distance of 1.5 kilometres to access various materials for her project. She is keen in ensuring community members are able to adopt various water harvesting technologies.

“I hope my research will benefit the community. People are not managing the scarce water resources and others have not even invested in water harvesting equipment’s in their homesteads,” said Eunice.

Peter Nderitu noted that after clearing his University degree he has been frequenting the Maarifa Centre to search for online jobs and at the same time to research on poultry and mango farming.

In early August, he managed to purchase 10 mango seedlings from the Laikipia County Government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries at the Maarifa Centre. He is confident that the agricultural advisories services that he has been receiving at the Centre will make him a better farmer.

“I have been able to spend my free time productively through the Maarifa Centre at no cost.  Of late I have been seeking for market information about Thorny Melon and I am glad that I managed to obtain the information at the Maarifa Centre,” said Nderitu.

ALIN has strategically focused its efforts to improve the livelihoods of arid lands communities in East Africa through delivery of practical information using modern technologies with emphasis on small-scale sustainable agriculture, climate change adaptation, natural resources management, climate smart agriculture, and sustainable land management (SLM) through Ng’arua Maarifa Centre.

Meru and Laikipia farmers embrace use of SOKO+ to trade

By Anthony Mugo

Farmers from Laikipia and Meru counties this week received training on how to make use of all the features of Sokopepe’s market access and knowledge management system SOKO+. The training took place at Ibis Hotel in Nanyuki on September 8, 2015.

It focused on demonstrating and training farmers, teachers, and education officials how to make use of SOKO+ to harness their linkages and therefore enable schools to provide a consistent; organized and fair market for their produce. More than twenty people benefited from the training.

Sokopepe is a social enterprise established by Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) to offer services based on online and mobile-based ICT platforms.

The training was undertaken in the context of the Home Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP) being implemented in various counties by SNV- Netherlands Development Organization with support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Sokopepe Technical Officer, Kibe Muthiora facilitating the training

Sokopepe’s involvement in the HGSFP is to enable farmers, schools and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to harness the power of information and communication and technology (ICT) to enhance efficiency of trade in farmers’ commodities.

It enables farmers to benefit from their farming activities and therefore encourage more farmers to take up farming as a business.

The other objective of the HGSFP is to ensure that children, particularly those living in arid and semi -arid areas, to get at least one meal a day and therefore the nutrition they need to remain in school.

Kibe Muthiora, Sokopepe’s technical officer, facilitated the SOKO+ training. On hand from SNV was David Makongo SNV’s Business Development Advisor who is part of the team implementing the programme.  The other facilitator was Gachara Gikungu of Timau-based Kilimo Biashara Promoters.

The farmers were drawn from two farmers’ groups namely Mount Kenya North Produce and Marketing Organisation, a farmer’ group based in Timau and Laikipia Produce and Marketing Cooperative, based in Sipili Township, Laikipia West.

The platform SOKO+ enables farmers to query commodity prices and farming tips using a mobile short code 20245. Farmers also receive SMS-based alerts with farming tips; weather updates and alerts relating to trading opportunities and early warning alerts related to climate, diseases and other hazards.

Cooperative receives post-harvest handling equipment

By Bob Aston

The Laikipia Produce and Marketing Co-operative Society on September 7, 2015 received a Digital Platform Weighing scale (PS-600) and Super Pro Moisture Analyzer from the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC). Representatives from SNV- Netherlands Development Organization and Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) witnessed the handover by EAGC at the cooperative store in Sipili town, Ol-Moran Ward.

The EAGC support is towards enhancing the capacity of the cooperative towards managing members and other smallholder farmer’s cereal produce. The basic post-harvest handling equipment’s will help the members reduce post-harvest losses.

The digital weighing scale being set up

Speaking while receiving the equipment’s, Mr. Waweru Kanja, Chairman, Laikipia Produce, and Marketing Cooperative Society, thanked EAGC for the kind gesture and the support that it is giving the cooperative towards ensuring that it succeeds as SNV’s Grain Business Hub (GBH).

A GBH is a business characterized by amalgamation of supportive businesses/services linked to grain business that enables an organization to trade in grains efficiently, effectively and sustainably.

“ The basic post-harvest handling equipment’s will not only ensure that members of the cooperative reduce post-harvest losses but that the cooperative is able to store grains to a standard required by most structured markets,” said Mr. Kanja.

Mr. Kanja noted that the super Pro Moisture Analyzer would benefit the cooperative in measuring the moisture content of member’s cereals during the drying process and during storage to avoid deterioration of quality or spoilage.

It is easy to operate, allows calibrations, and has shockproof carrying case. The built in automatic temperature compensation and averaging facility leads to results that are more reliable.

The Bluetooth enabled indicator Digital Platform Weighing scale provides an accurate, fast, and versatile series of general purpose weighing scale with check-weighing functions. It includes automatic zero tracking, audible alarm for pre-set weights, and an accumulation facility that allows the individual weights to be stored and recalled as an accumulated total.

The support is also towards ensuring that the cooperative becomes a village aggregation centre. 

Mr. Kanja (In suit) receiving the equipments on behalf of the cooperative

This will enable the cooperative to buy cereals in bulk from members and then distribute and sell them to schools and other structured markets.

Formed in 2013, the cooperative emerged from the work undertaken by ALIN through Ng’arua Maarifa Centre with the support of the Ford Foundation’s Expanding Livelihoods for Poor Households Initiative (ELOPHI).

Its mandate is mainly to aggregate the farming communities by pooling them together and empowering them to take control of their farm’s enterprises, aggregation of farm produce and collective marketing to enhance their bargaining power and profit margins.

EAGC is a membership organization of the grain stakeholders in Eastern Africa. The stakeholders represent the three main sectors of the grain value chain including traders, farmers, and processors. They have been supporting grain aggregation, information sharing and market linkages.