Sh750m NARIGP funding changes the fortunes of Murang'a farmers

Murang’a county has benefitted from more than Sh750 million projects from the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project.

Through the project, more than 25,000 farmers from 1,023 common interest groups have benefitted and are engaging in profitable farming.

The farmers are from Kahuro, Kandara, Maragua, Mathioya and Kigumo subcounties.

The groups write proposals to NARIGP, which is funded by the World Bank and implemented through the Ministry of Agriculture.

Officials from the World Bank and the national government visited the groups on Tuesday to assess their progress.

The groups have formed 20 community driven development groups that have committees to help manage the projects.

In Kahuro, Murarandia CDCC has had 39 groups funded to the tune of Sh14,949,620. They are in the process of registering a Sacco so members can access credit.

One of the 39 groups is Kairichi Munyaka Dairy project. The group which has 25 members got funding of Sh497,400. Members added to the funding by contributing Sh67,000 to purchase a feed mixture, a posho mill and raw materials to manufacture livestock feed.

The feed project helped the group increase its dairy productivity from three litres of milk per cow to eight litres.

Group chairperson Flasiah Mwangi said they have been trained on good livestock husbandry, saving and value addition.

She said they make extra income from the sale of animal feed to non-members.

“We sell maize germ at Sh2,000, dairy meal at Sh2,300 and bran at Sh1,300 to community members. When we started this project, my cow produced seven litres of milk and is now producing 10 litres each day,” Mwangi said.

Previously, group members said they suffered poor agricultural production and made minimal returns but are now able to live up to NARIGP’s motto which is 'productivity with profitability'.

In Maragua, Ititu Ikundu Irrigation Scheme, which is expected to benefit 457 households, has been given Sh100 million through the project, while the county government has contributed Sh7,146,000.

The project that started in April 2021 is 70 per cent complete with the contractor pledging to have it completed by the end of November.

Upon completion, it is expected to irrigate 114 acres.

As part of the project, 202 farm ponds have been excavated for members who have formed Ititu Ikundu Irrigation Water Users Association.

Each member contributed Sh1,000.

Once the project is complete, members will agree on the operation and maintenance fee for the project.

Avocado farmers have also formed Murang’a Avocado Farmers Co-operative Union, which has 3,636 members.

The aim of the group is to address the challenges of marketing, pricing, quality of fruits, pests and diseases.

In 2021, the union developed a marketing model that has helped it to sell 258 metric tonnes of avocados valued at Sh22,704,000. In 2020 they sold 7.4 metric tonnes.

NARIGP gave the cooperative Sh8,970,550, while members contributed Sh3,844,521. The money was used to control pests, especially fruit flies and false coddling moths that accounted for 35 per cent of pre- and post-harvest losses.

It mapped affected areas, beneficiaries and procured pheromone traps, bio-pesticide and baits and has managed to increase prices from Sh40 per kg to Sh77 per kg of the fruit.

Joseph Ng’ang’a, a farmer from Naaro village, said he ditched coffee farming for avocados, which are more profitable.

Ng’ang’a said he has constructed a permanent home out of his avocado proceeds and educated his children while investing in shares.

In Kandara, Makindi Karimamwaro Project has 582 farmers who have been trained and assisted in conserving their farms through the planting of tree seedlings and grass, and rehabilitation of gullies.

About 26 youth with certificates in agricultural courses were trained on sustainable land management and engaged in laying out of farms and supervision of excavation works.

Many members dug farm ponds through which they irrigate kitchen gardens for nutrition improvement.

Ezekiel Kimani from Ithiru village said his farm suffered from soil erosion and extension officers helped him conserve it.

NARIGP provided him with dam liners for his water pond, which has transformed his farm from barrenness to fruitfulness.

“I get runoff water from the road into the pond and I use it to plant horticultural crops during drought. I also have coffee and avocado crops that I sustain using the pond,” Kimani said.

Githuya Sunrise Youth group in the same subcounty grows bananas.

It has 30 members and has managed to lease an acre of land for five years.

NARIGP funded the group with Sh495,000 while members contributed Sh68,000 for the project. The farmers were then taken through farmers’ field school training.

The group sells bananas collectively as raw or ripe bananas, with prices ranging from Sh12 to Sh15 per kg. They also sell pseudo-stems.

Chairperson Pius Mwangi said in 2014, members had saved Sh150,000 before joining NARIGP and getting more funding to start tissue culture banana farming.

“We have been able to harvest 4,340 kilos of capsicum in three harvests. Cassava and cabbages have also made us Sh180,000. With the returns, we have started table banking that lends members between Sh5,000 and Sh15,000,” he said.

Mwangi said they hope to dig a bigger pond to do more farming and start value addition to their produce.

Edited by A.N