Joint efforts between ministry of Agriculture officers
(MOA) and ALIN staff came as a wake up call to farmers who showed interest to
have access to better marketing strategies. A meeting was then called to
identify brokers and on-farm buyers who were given a notice present
their business licence to HCDA staff for verification. the news came as a
relief to farmers as they were taken through gross margin analysis.
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Farmers being taken through gross
margin analysis Exercise at MOA grounds. Photo by Samuel Nzioka
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The exercise was participatory and farmers were
divided in groups according to the crop they produce where they discussed the
cost of all inputs divide by the total production per acreage. The costs gave
them the least buying price they should accept for their farm produce. To
their surprise, they found out that they had been selling their produce at
a loss. For instance, the cost of producing one carton of okra (Asian
vegetable) was Kshs 128.00 and they have been selling a carton at Ksh, 100 or
even sometimes at 80.00.
Divisional Agricultural Extension Officer (DAEO)
Mr. Bainito Atonya advised the farmers to form marketing groups which
will sign a contract with the exporters and supervised by MOA and
HCDA to ensure that terms of the contract are not breached. Farmers were also
advised to abide to the terms by ensuring they produce as per the agreement.
The MOA and HCDA agreed to impose tough sanctions to brokers and exporters who
will be found exploiting farmers an offence that will mean cancellation of
their licence.
Addressing the meeting, the DAEO encouraged the
farmers to make use of information material available at
the Maarifa in order to embrace modern technology and learn the best
practices other farmers are using in other parts of the world.
