Enable 1500 Kenyan Rural Farmers for Agribusiness

INTRODUCTION:

The Mango Tree Orphan Trust Fund-Kenya has initiated a workable ambitious initiative to boost the livelihoods of 1500 rural farmers through agribusiness. We have launched and continue to implement several agribusiness initiatives with the goal of the project fundraising being $50,000 with $15,675 realized.

The organization organized and rolled out the following activities for the latest quarter:

I.       FARMING ACTIVITIES

The key agribusiness activities here include goat farming, poultry farming, apiculture, environmental conservation, and grafted mango farming. For the quarter under review, the organization planned and accomplished the following activities:

a)        Environment conservation

TMT Kenya is still collaborating with the surrounding community, the local government and other local organizations to find the best ways to enhance the environment. We have been attempting to cultivate many fruit and forest tree kinds. Due to adequate rainfall during this time, we were able to plant 25 grafted mango trees and 700 forest tree seedlings inside the grounds of the neighborhood school. As we endeavor to develop more seedlings with the goal of distribution during the long rains, we have also found sources for high-quality seeds.  

b)       Apiculture

Ten kilograms (10) of honey from the farmers were processed by TMT. The farmers' households have greatly benefited from this because they can now easily afford their daily meals. Three (3) of the eight beehives positioned inside the model farm have already been colonized. The 30 hives that were installed at a field demo farm that is contracted to the standard have been colonized, and monthly inspections are still being conducted. To ensure that everyone is actively participating and that all the hives are examined at the appropriate time, we have created an inspection team. The majority of them have been inspected in anticipation of a larger harvest during the peak month for honey production in the coming month. TMT is still concentrating on empowering as many at-risk households as it can and hopes to install 20 more Langstroth bee hives by the end of the following month.

c)        Gifting a goat project

TMT followed up with each of the goats it had given to various farmers to see how they were doing and to find the most mature kids to give to or pass on to other needy families. In order to be given to other households, 17 kids, who are on average 3 months old, are still in need of care. The same project will be implemented in the Kasgunga ward in Suba North Sub-County with the goal of reaching 30 households. This is part of our effort to expand and work toward the sustainability of the project, which is aiming for more support from the local farmers (gifting other households from the passed-on kids) and donor support.

There is an ongoing thorough recruitment, verification, and training on goat improving management. TMT has planned to gradually introduce 7 more exotic billy goats to the farmers with the aim of replacing the local does with exotic bucks and producing cross-breed offspring that adapt to the harsh environment, mature quickly, have high market value, and produce milk that helps fight malnutrition cases within the households with HIV. We, therefore, think that over time, the project will significantly influence the households because it will help with food and income.

Challenges and mitigation

• Lack of proper protective hive gears to facilitate monthly inspection of the hives
• Lack of proper market for the products e.g  honey and horticulture for the farmers hence selling at low prices
• Small hive beetles, Varroa mites and Wax moths are still challenging for the bee hives, fruit flies, intranets and post-harvest costs still reduce the production of the fruit trees. We working on ways to get appropriate control measures.

Conclusion

TMT thinks that the numerous projects being carried out inside the community will continue to help the neighborhood and that greater donor assistance will continue to have an impact on more homes even as TMT attempts to become self-sufficient.