The Standard on Saturday
Date: 17.06.2016
Page 27
Article size: 527 cm2
ColumnCM: 117.11
AVE: 269355.55
Improved
market access
yields higher
incomes for
farmers
Agriculture is at the heart beat of help millions of small­scale farmers 30km to Meru to get agricultural sup­
Africa's economy; providing two­ overcome such challenges and im­ plies. Now, they can get the same
thirds of jobs and up to 75 per cent of prove their well being. AGRA's devel­ products closer home — cutting down
the continent's domestic trade. How­
ever, despite the critical role agricul­
ture plays in our lives and its potential
to transform the economy, challenges
along the value chain continue to lim­
it growth.
A farmer growing maize typically
harvests around two tonnes per hect­
opment approach aims to transform
on time and money.
agriculture from a solitary struggle to
The farmers in Kariega are not an
survive to a thriving business.
isolated case. About 70,000 farmers in
In partnership with USAid, we are the project areas of in Kitui, Meru
implementing the Strengthening Agri­ North, Tharaka Nitiii and Machakos
cultural Input and Output Markets in
now have better access to quality in­
Africa program (SAIOMA), an initia­ puts and advice as a result of SAIOMA's
tive that is addressing the challenges
are. When the same farmer can access across the agricultural value chain, interventions in Kenya.
But strengthening agro­dealers is
inputs from seed to fertiliser and from increasing productivity for farm­
only part of the solution. Once farm­
chemicals, and is trained to use better ers to helping them access reliable
ers produce more, they need to sell it
farm practices, their yield can increase markets in Kenya, Malawi, and Zam­ and just as SAIOMA builds the capac­
bia.
to between 5­7 tonnes per hectare.
ity of agro­dealers to run better busi­
But increasing on­farm productiv­
SAIOMA starts by strengthening nesses, we train farmers how to handle
ity is only one piece of the puzzle. As agro­dealer — the outlets that provide
well as overcoming the challenges lim­ farmers with agricultural inputs and their crops after harvest to minimise
iting yields, we must also ensure farm­ advice. Paul Kirema, from Kariega in losses and to work together to meet
ers can access markets that pay a fair Tigania West, is one of nearly 400 market requirements and participate
price for their produce.
Due to lack of storage and market
options, most smallholder farmers will
sell their produce at harvest, when
prices are at their lowest. Immediately
after harvest, prices begin to rise, rep­
resenting a lost income opportunity
agro­dealers that SAIOMA has trained
in Kenya.
During a recent visit to his shop, we
spoke about how the training had
changed the way he did business;
making him more informed, helping
him to build better relationships with
for smallholder farmers. For instance, farmers. These changes, he said, con­
at harvest, a farmer in Tharaka North tributed to a 30 per cent increase in
may sell green grams at Sh60 a kilo­ profit.
gram, two months later, these same
Strengthening agro­dealers like
green grams will be worth Shl20 per Kirema is critical to getting fanners
kilogram.
better access to inputs. Before Kirema
The Alliance for a Green Revolution opened his shop in Kariega, many
in efficient markets.
Almost 250 farmers have been
trained in how to sell as a group and
negotiate contract sales with larger
buyers. By aggregating their produce,
these farmers are attracting larger
buyers who offer higher prices. For ex­
ample, in Tharaka Nithi, aggregated
produce prices were almost Sh 5,850
per metric tonne higher than farm
gate prices, for farmers this equaled an
extra Shl5,000 in their pockets.
This additional money is increas­
ing rural incomes and is going towards
in Africa (AGRA) works across Africa to farmers would have to travel over
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya
The Standard on Saturday
Date: 17.06.2016
Page 27
Article size: 527 cm2
ColumnCM: 117.11
AVE: 269355.55
domestic expenses like school fees
and home improvements. As their in­
comes increase, farmers continue to
adopt newer technologies and move
to other income generating activities,
like community lending, where mem­
bers of the community can access
credit, without going to banks.
However, we acknowledge that
achieving a total transformation of the
agricultural sectorin Kenya andAfrica
will require the contribution of all
players and that there are outstanding
individuals and institutions across the
continent tha are taking charge of the
agricultural agenda.
If you know such, please nominate
them for the US $100,000 Africa Food
Prize athttp://www.africafoodprize.
org/nominate. Deadline is Friday 24
June 2016.
The writer is the SAIOA­LA Team
Leader at the Alliance for a Green Rev­
olution in Africa (AGRA). SAIOMA is a
partnership between AGRA, USAid
and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foun­
dation and is part of the Feed the Fu­
ture initiative.
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya