Farmers in Aberdare Catchment minting resources

In Kangari market, more than 100 farmers in the past three years have been earning from the export market after they are certified specialized organic farmers affiliated to Kangari Organic Farmers and marketters (KOFAM).

 The farmers are facilitated by the Organic Agriculture Centre of Kenya (0CAK) based in Kigumo constituency that promotes organic farming and conservation of environment through encouraging planting of fruit trees.

The farmers also embrace table banking  concept that has uplifted their lives through providing cheap loans to support education of their children and acquisition of land in various parts of the country.

Joyce Thuku, a member of KOFAM say the group members earned Sh429,000 from the sale of herbs and spices  to Germany, where the members processed 50 kilogrammes.

Photo/ Some of the products that KOFAM group markets in the local and the export markets.

 Ms Thuku say  the members processed 2,500 papers of the commodity sought in the export market.

“ We have processing procedures through drying the products  and we had concentrated in the local market before  landing in the export,” said Thuku.

Another resident, Mary Waithera, of Gathondia village, say last month she earned more than Sh30,000 through selling of organic herbs and spices to Germany.

Waithera in her 60’s say she has been selling her products in the local and international market through Baraka group she is a member.

Photo/ Mary Waithera who has perfected in  the agroecology practice  earning thousands of shillings.

“Our group sold 50 kilogrammes of spices and herbs through the export market earned Sh429,000 which was shared among those who participated in the sale,” said Waithera.

OCAK Executive Director David Karanja said they have been promoting use of organic farming technology and environmental conservation.

The organisation, he said, excess of the organic grown food is sold at the market centres in large quantities, thus more returns to the farmers.

“We have farmers with ponds that are used in growing crops during the dry seasons and stocking species of fish,” said Karanja.

 He added that in the conservation measures, OACK has partnered with Kenya Forest Service (KFS) since 2016 in reafforestation programme, when encouraging use of energy saving jikos.

 ‘Kuni moja’ concept has been popular among the farmers to promote  conservation aspect.

“The partnership has more than 50,000 tree seedlings distributed among the farmers’ groups for planting,” said Karanja.

Harrison Kihara Muitiko a member of Baraka group, based in Mairi village say the concept of producing organic food saw him reducing area owing  to increasing returns.

Muitiko say he receives more money from sale of organic food than from the tea bushes.

Photo/ Harrison Kihara Muitiko in his Mairi farm.

“ I have a 100,000 litres water pan that stores water  for irrigating my crops and rearing of fish estimated at 1,000,” said Muitiko.

 Muitiko is among thousands of farmers along the slopes of Aberdares in Murang’a and Kiambu that have intercropped their tea bushes with avocado trees.

“The avocado trees have more value in the local and export market,” said Muitiko.

In Murang’a county farmers complete with 10 KTDA factories for wood fuel.

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