Farmers in this region also plant Asian vegetables and other green vegetables for export alongside keeping their animals. There is compelling evidence of an aging farmer population in Nguruman region which need to be addressed to facilitate sustainability in agricultural production in this area. Due to fluctuations in market prices for Asian vegetables which have been grown in this area for a long time, many of the youth have given up farming and gone to look for jobs in bigger towns. The few who have remained back opt to be employed as casual laborers and get their share at the end of the day other that tilling the land all year round and earn less.
Lack of farming skills and capital investment has also contributed to negative perception about farming by the youths since farming requires inputs for output to be realized. Poor infrastructure has also contributed to high transport costs and therefore many youths are discouraged when they fail to get profits from their produce.
Making a change by ‘Beating the odds’
This has not been the case for Mr. Fredrick Kamango, a Youth aged 24 years who has taken the lead to help the youth in this region change the perception they have towards farming. All this started way back in 2009, when he begun thinking of how he can earn as much as the older farmers do. He very well understood that the older farmers didn’t wake up one morning and found themselves earning, they had to be patient so he was.
In his 5 hectare piece of land, located at Darkalali village, Entosopia location of Magadi division, you will find 1,200 banana plants which are barely two years and from them he earns around Kshs 10,000 after every two weeks from the crop sales depending on market prices.
He has also has 150 young pawpaw plants from which he is expecting to be earning Kshs 2,000 after every week.It will be interesting also to note that, it’s only in Nguruman where you find mangoes during the month of October to December and this makes prices go up to Kshs 30 per every piece(apple mango).
Mr. Fredrick has not been left out and in this case, he started with 50 grafted mango trees and 60 which he plans to graft by the end of February and from this, he expects to earn more than Kshs 8,000 from every tree when they grow up.
When asked about how youth in this region perceive farming, this is what he had to say “Many youth in this area perceive farming as dirty job and for those who are not learned…..they also need a crop that will give them quick money and therefore majority have moved to the city to look for jobs...”. When the expected doesn’t happen and the youths find themselves back to the village, they feel shy to even visit Mr. Fredrick’s farm.
“I feel good when the youths come from the city and appreciate my work and even some have regretted their action and are now back to their senses, ready to join me in farming... I even employ them when I have much work to do in my farm and this even hurts them more...” Say’s Fredrick.
Through the help of the field officer at Nguruman maarifa center, Mr. Fredrick has been able to identify some of the crop pests and diseases which affect his crop and has been able to take action. He has also knowledge on grafting so he doesn’t have to hire an expert to do this job for him. “I am able to take care of my crops through the knowledge I get from the maarifa center and also after my work at the farm, I visit the center to check my mails and chat with my friends on face book...”
Although in Maasai culture crop farming is not a priority, Mr. Freddy has chosen to go for it and is now creating an impact in his community by challenging the youth and encouraging them to take part in crop farming to ensure food sustainability and also as a way of creating more jobs for the youths since grazing land is diminishing with increase in population.
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