Day: June 12, 2024

The New Kenya Planters Co-operative Union (KPCU) has announced an infrastructural and human resource re-structure to improve its service delivery to coffee farmers in the country.

Speaking during a sensitization and consultative meeting with Tharaka Nithi Estate farmers and Society leaders at Chuka Picnic Grounds, New KPCU Managing Director (MD) Timothy Mirugi noted that the organization was currently on a transitional phase, with major changes set to be witnessed including the introduction of a marketing department.

According to the MD, new positions in the department and the signing of new contracts would aid changes in service delivery as well as increase experienced staff to ensure the success in milling and marketing of coffee.

‘The new marketing department will be tasked with ensuring we deliver markets to our coffee farmers. In the next two months, we will bring in more manpower and revamped personnel with the necessary experience to ensure effective service delivery and solve issues in record time,
‘ he said.

To address issues in coffee milling, the Managing Director announced an overhaul of milling machines including the purchase of generators, with the boost expected to offer a seamless 24-hour operation despite power blackouts.

Additionally, Mirugi announced that the New KPCU had applied for the Direct Sales Agency License after the waiting period ended to allow the organization participate directly in the sale of coffee.

‘The waiting period lapsed on 8th June and we are hoping the coffee directorate is going to issue us with Agency License to be able to participate in the direct sale of coffee as New KPCU,’ he said.

He further revealed that the government had waived historical debts amounting to Sh6.8 billion owed by coffee farmers nationwide.

In the meeting, coffee farmers were asked to take advantage of the Coffee Advance Revolving Fund to increase and improve their coffee production.

Between 3rd and 7th June 2024, New KPCU disbursed Sh18, 415,930 to 4,281 beneficiaries in 11 counties includ
ing Tharaka Nithi which recorded the second highest number of beneficiaries during the week. A total of 166 farmers benefitted with a total amount of Sh2, 154,800.

So far, Sh24, 225,030 has been disbursed in the county where 1,987 farmers have benefited from the fund.

Among other changes discussed include the hiring of additional field services and the provision of subsidized coffee farming inputs to farmers to increase coffee production.

President William Ruto on Madaraka Day announced that measures were in place to boost coffee productivity from 2kg to 10kg per tree and from 50,000 metric tonnes to 102,000 metric tonnes a year by 2027.

By David Mutwiri and Blaise Gitonga

Source: Kenya News Agency

A 64-year-old ailing woman is sleeping in the cold hungry in Kiirungi sub location Gikondi division, Mukurwe-ini sub-county.

Lucy Wambui Wambugu who is HIV+ has been sleeping on the weed within her small undeveloped land bequeathed to her by late parents Benson Wambugu and Mary Theru.

‘I have been sleeping here for the past 16 days since my arrival from Nyeri after my third marriage to a Muslim collapsed, when I declined to convert to Islam as my husband and his relatives demanded,’ Wambui told KNA pointing at the place she slept until Saturday, June 9, 2024.

Currently and despite the cold weather and her poor health status, Wambui is sleeping hungry in a ramshackle structure she constructed using polythene bags and sacks donated to her by an empathetic, but needy neighbour.

She lamented that many are the times she was sleeping hungry and she would sometimes suffer severe dizziness and even faint after taking the many anti-retroviral drugs on empty stomach.

Wambui said she had been married three times ad
ding the first two unions collapsed after she failed to give birth.

‘Children are very much valued in Kikuyu land. My first marriage in Kirinyaga County lasted for ten years and when it became crystal clear I could not conceive, I was chased away with nothing,’ she said, while fighting tears.

She said the second marriage in Tetu, Nyeri County could also not work after the husband demanded she brings forth children for him. ‘As was the case with the first marriage, this one too did not work and once again I was forced out with nothing after several years,’ she regretted.

Wambui is now appealing to well-wishers to come to her rescue by constructing a small house to shield her from the chilling weather vis-à-vis her poor health.

‘I also need foodstuffs as I take many drugs to keep me alive, as well as beddings and some cash for bus fare to hospital for drugs and treatment,’ she stressed, adding she had previously been admitted to Othaya level 6 and Nyeri referral hospitals.

Wambui could be reached via her i
mmediate neighbour, Elizatheth Wamuyu, Mobile No. 0723361903.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Farmers in Juja Sub-County, Kiambu County have benefited from a three-day training on Mushrooms to boost local agriculture and enhance food security.

The training workshop marks a significant step towards empowering farmers in Juja, with the knowledge and resources needed to venture into mushroom farming successfully.

The workshop the first ever to be conducted in Juja was done by the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Enterprises (JKUATES), in partnership with Tumikia Mtoto under United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Juja Administration and UNAITAS.

According to the organizers, the workshop, held at JKUATES, aimed to educate farmers on the various aspects of mushroom farming, including production, value addition, marketing, and utilization of mushroom products.

This initiative is part of JKUATES’s broader objective to strengthen community livelihoods through improved food security, nutrition, and health resilience.

Patrick Kanyi, founder and Senior Technician at
JKUAT said that the sensitization workshop provided valuable information and practical insights into mushroom cultivation techniques, the economic benefits of mushroom farming, and the potential for mushrooms to contribute to a healthier diet and sustainable income.

‘We are excited about this partnership and the potential it holds for our farmers. Mushroom farming can significantly improve food security and provide a sustainable income source, and we are committed to supporting our farmers every step along the way,’ Kanyi added.

Assistant County Commissioner of Witeithie division, Cecilia Mbugua, appreciated the residents of Juja for participating in the workshop and appreciated the efforts of USAID and JKUAT to empower them.

The training that the farmers will gain here, will not only see the country address food security, but the farmers themselves will see their lives improved economically, she added.

‘I am grateful to the collaboration that has come to empower parents, youth and community at large and
educate them on mushroom farming,’ Mbugua said.

‘Through such efforts, we aim to channel the energy and potential of the youth towards building a safer and more prosperous society,’ she said.

The participants, who came from various farming backgrounds, were enthusiastic about the new opportunities presented by mushroom farming.

UNIATAS and Tumikia Mtoto-USAID representatives also expressed their enthusiasm for the project, highlighting its importance in promoting sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing the livelihoods of local communities.

‘We are really happy to see our farmers enthusiastic in learning about mushroom farming and I am glad JKUAT has taken this initiative to promote sustainable agricultural practices,’ said Peter Njoroge from USAID.

Chege Thuku, head of Juja City University Young African Leaders CBO, expressed optimism about the long-term impact of the initiative saying equipping farmers with the necessary skills and knowledge will catalyze a positive transformation in the agricu
ltural landscape of Juja, promoting self-sufficiency and resilience.

The three-day workshop sponsored by USAID will see farmers gain knowledge and build on the extensive research and effort by JKUATES to address the shortage of mushroom supply locally.

As the first Kenyan institution to develop certified mushroom seeds (spawn), JKUAT has been pivotal in promoting mushroom farming.

According to agriculture experts, Mushroom production provides a number of opportunities for improving the sustainability of small farming systems and rural development.

Edible mushroom production is a particularly effective form of bioconversion technology and can be based on a wide range of agricultural by-products.

Additionally, the substrate remains after the mushroom has been harvested form a good organic fertilizer for the soil.

This makes mushroom farming an environmentally friendly venture.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Lake Naivasha is known for its role in high production of fish, thus helping to reduce the fish deficit in the country.

The fresh water lake has for years been supporting thousands of families who depend on the lake resources while contributing to the economic development of the lakeside town. Only five species of fish are present on the lake, all of which have been introduced. They are Oreochromis leucostictus, Tilapia zillii, Micropterus salmoides (largemouth bass), Barbus amphigramma and Poecilia reticulata (guppy).

Because of availability of fish in the area, fish mongering is a common commercial activity along the busy Nairobi-Nakuru highway that has employed thousands of people in Naivasha and its environs.

On several occasions, the Nakuru county department of public health has banned the hawking of fish along the highway terming it a health hazard due to the manner the fish was being handled by the vendors. The hawkers also run into the risk of being knocked by speeding vehicles as they ty to sell t
heir fish to the passing motorists and passengers. This is because there is no designated fish market on the highway.

In order to cushion the vendors from losing their means of income and streamline the trade, the county government in partnership with the Africa Green Council embarked on a project to construct an ultra-modern fish market at Karai area along the Trans African highway, a facility that would also provide travelers with an opportunity to enjoy the delicacy in a serene environment.

According to Nakuru county Trade Chief Officer Mr. Ben Sang, the Sh. 340 million project is on the verge of completion with the current administration committed to ensure the last phase that includes construction of parking spaces, setting up of electric vehicle charging ports as well as cold rooms for fish preservation is done within the stipulated timelines.

The project which commenced in 2020 but experienced some setbacks at the onset of Covid-19 pandemic, aims to resolve the perennial issue of fish sellers who lo
se their lives every year after being hit by speeding vehicles on the busy highway as they try to sell their wares.

The Chief Officer has expressed confidence with the progress of the project noting that traders will soon enjoy the privilege of operating in a safe and controlled environment, while at the same time ensuring that hygiene and safety of fish sold to customers is guaranteed.

The modern market is expected to have 300 stalls, with its core function including a fish value addition component.

Naivasha East Ward MCA Stanley Karanja in whose area the market is located is calling for the speedy completion of the market noting that it will boost the economy of the area and open job opportunities for unemployed youths. Karanja notes that with the delayed completion of the project will continue exposing more traders to the danger of being knocked down by speeding vehicles.

Samwel Njoroge a resident in Karai area is among those who have welcomed the setting up of the modern market in the locality saying
it will improve their livelihood and boost their businesses that they immensely depend on to earn a living.

Another trader Joyce Wanjiru who sells vegetables has urged the county government to hasten the project to enable them operate from the market.

According to Wanjiru, they are forced to travel to Kinungi market which is several kilometers away to sell their vegetables which is too costly, adding that once the market is complete, it will alleviate their suffering.

In November last year, the county government of Nakuru restocked Lake Naivasha with Tilapia fingerlings worth over Sh. 2.5million in a bid replenish the dwindling fish stocks in the fresh water body.

Currently, there are 300 licensed fishing boats on Lake Naivasha manned by youth groups to ensure increased employment opportunities while also ensuring sustainable exploitation of the fisheries resources.

The lake has only five fish landing beaches including Central beach, Karagita, Kamere, Tarambete and Oloiden. But only Central beach had bee
n gazetted leaving the other four without legal and official land documents.

The county as at December last year Nakuru County recorded fish catch weighing a total of 2,045,856 kilogrammes of fish catch with an estimated market value of Sh.247,621 663 (Sh. 248 Million from the lake with Tilapia species is the most common fish, according to the data captured.

Things are looking up for the fisheries sector as the Government is set to construct a state of the art landing site on Lake Naivasha at a cost of Sh. 100milion.

Making the announcement in Naivasha lats year, Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Salim Mvurya Mgala said the landing site will have a cold room for processing and another cold room where the fisher folk can store the fish at the right temperature.

He said all these is intended to ensure that the fish the fishermen catch remains in good condition for a longer time in order to reach the market. The project is part of the bigger plan announced by the Government
last year where Sh. 900million was set aside for the construction of state of the art landing sites in various parts of the country in order to improve fish catches and meet the growing demand of fish in the market. He was a

Data from the Ministry of Fisheries shows last year produced over 30,000 metric tonnes of fish which has been a big improvement from the previous years where the country produced as low as 4,000 metric tonnes annually, with aquaculture accounting for 2.7 per cent and the annual supply gap of 50,000 metric tonnes of fish is projected to increase to 75,000 by 2030 if annual per capita fish consumption remains constant at 4.3 kg.

India, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were the top five main exporters of fish to Kenya, with the country importing roughly 620,000 kilogrammes (from India), 326,000 kilogrammes (from Oman and 310 kilogrammes (from UAE) respectively. In total, Kenya imported 20 million kilos of fish worth Sh.5 billion annually to meet the deficit in fish consumption in t
he country.

The Government is looking forward to increasing this production through encouraging aquaculture, provision of seed (fingerlings) to farmers and establishment of centres of excellence where farmers can get quality seeds.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government has put in place measures to cushion herders in Marsabit County who have been reeling under unfavourable weather conditions orchestrated by climate change.

The Principal Secretary for ASALs and Regional Development Kello Harsama said the programmes were being rolled out in order to get local communities back on their feet starting provision of relief food rations to families affected by famine.

Harsama said that the Kenya Kwanza administration has allocated Sh1 billion to assist livestock farmers to restock their animals which were decimated by prolonged severe drought and subsequent flash floods.

‘The money was set aside and captured in the fourth medium term (MTPIV) of the vision 2030 Strategic Development Plan and will kick off at the onset of the coming 2024/2025 financial year,’ said the PS.

The PS pointed out that local pastoralists lost more than 80 per cent of their livestock, their mainstay, to drought and flash floods hence the timely action to enable them regain their sources of
livelihood and restore human dignity.

He also disclosed that plans have been finalized to supply the famine stricken families with relief food.

Harsama said every Sub-County has been allocated a monthly ration of 700 bags of beans and 400 bags of rice.

This he said was aimed at ensuring that nobody afflicted by hunger experienced starvation for whatever reason.

Source: Kenya News Agency