By Peter Ochieng
Banana and indigenous vegetable farming is turning out to be a money minting venture for a women’s group in Gamalenga, Vihiga County.
With returns of about Sh200, 000 from indigenous vegetables and nearly Sh1 million from bananas yearly, members of the group are killing two birds with one stone – ensuring financial and food security.
Jitahidi Farmers Women Group (JFWG) was started in 1999 as a merry-go round. It was initiated by five people.
However, the merry-go round idea came down tumbling like the proverbial house of cards, after members started borrowing money, and failing to repay on time or not repaying at all.
According to Beatrice Kirungu, one of the founding members and current chairlady, that is when they decided to venture into sweet potato farming. They were trained by agricultural extension officers, before Biotechnology Trust Africa handed the quality vines.
“The sweet potatoes did well. We harvested beyond our imagination,” said Kirungu.
Each year, they harvested more than the market required at the moment. They ventured into value addition to maximise profits. Kirungu says later on, sweet potato farming become a challenge due to shrinking pieces of land.
They then joined the kales (sukuma wiki) and cabbage farming band wagon alongside indigenous vegetables. Over time, they dropped kales and cabbage farming, directing their energy towards banana and indigenous vegetables – and they have never looked back.
Over the years, the group graduated into producing indigenous seeds, which produce high yields due to their ability to withstand various climatic conditions. Group members also mould cooking pots, all geared towards maximising profits.
Kirungu said proceeds of their farming go into supporting members’ families in paying school fees for their children and other financial obligations, as a fraction is banked.
John Amisi is among the group’s founding members in 1999. At the time, he was young and their efforts were not paying as is the case now.
He almost bolted out to seek for employment, but the decision to stay is something he doesn’t regret even an inch.
The group’s membership is currently capped at 30, but only 28 are active. Like the proverbial wine which becomes better with age, Amisi says they are becoming better with each passing day. He cites value addition as a key ingredient in making their farming profitable.
“When you sell a bunch of banana, you can earn Sh500 but when you value add it to products such as crisps, you can earn Sh2, 500. That is when agriculture starts to pay more.”
Similarly, due to their experience, they are integral resource persons within the Gamalenga community and beyond, in terms of passing knowledge to upcoming farmers. This also helps to pump money in the group coffers.
Hamisi says gaps exist, in terms of lack of relevant policies to support agricultural growth, both at the county and the national level.
He said the government should employ more agricultural extension officers, besides farmers being roped into agricultural technological research programs.
The seasoned farmer advises the government to put to use farm resource systems within the community.
“Like it happens in the health sector where doctors and nurses are few, but we have community health workers and volunteers to complement them,” he added.
The group is partnering with Egerton University in putting up an evaporator, which will be used to store fresh vegetables during seasons when the market is flooded.