GRADIF-KENYA ECAFO PROJECT KEY SUCCESSES, CHALLENGES & STATUS:

Accomplishments to Date:

  • Formation of the GRADIF-K Project Implementation team comprised of qualified and experienced staff technical staff members.
  • Purchase of project equipment including Laptops, printers and two Motorcycles.
  • Organized the ECAFO Project Launch event: This event helped create wide awareness on the project, purpose and strategies to the key stake holders and increased the visibility of GRADIF-K organization.
  • Undertaken a Baseline Survey which helped profile Farmer Organizations (FOs), establish their capacity gaps and service delivery mechanisms thus making it easier for GRADIF-K to identify areas of capacity interventions as categorized per FO.
  • GRADIF-K has Geo-Referenced the 175 FOs to determine their exact locations for easier accessibility.
  • We have developed 9 Tailor Made Capacity development Modules which are being applied in training FOs by the Master Trainers. The 9 Modules are: Group dynamics, Group governance and leadership, Financial literacy and group fundraising strategies, Table banking concept and procedures, Record keeping, Understanding value chains, Understanding the market, Adding value after harvest/post harvesting handling and Collective marketing-Why market as a group and learning on how to decide on prices
  • Establishments of effective systems and grassroots structures for easier project implementation. This formation of FO groups, Cooperatives , SACCOS, Capacity empowering of FOs, Cooperatives’ leaders as TOTs and the training of Master Trainers (MTs) who have the responsibility to train other FO members.
  • The Master trainers have already trained 264 Trainers of Trainers (ToTs) who are currently training FOs members on the above listed modules.
  • Identification and training of 14 Master Trainers (MTs) on Organizational Development Aspects. This is viewed as a key project sustainability strategy.
  • Identification, profiling and capacity development of about 175 Farmers Organizations in both Tharaka Nithi and Embu Counties. The initial FOs profiled were 132. This has improved FOs institutional, managerial and technical capacities through stronger governance structures and effective operational procedures and mechanisms
  • GRADIF-K has identified strategic partners for project implementation partnerships and collaboration along the value chains. These include: The FAO, KARLO, County governments of Tharaka Nithi and Embu, the Chuka &Embu Universities, Various Agro dealers/ suppliers,
  • We have facilitated the formation of 8 networks in the two targeted counties through clustering the 175 FOs for easier service provision.
  • GRADIF-K has undertaken Gender and beneficiary analysis from whose results we are focusing on increasing male involvement in the FOs and Women Leadership.
  • Identification of 38 Service providers and linking them up with FOs for various services provision-Some FOs have entered into MOUs with some of them. We have undertaken several dialogue facilitating activities to strengthen the relationships between the FOs and Service providers including creating the much needed trust especially on financial credit support.
  • We have linked up FOs with Market Providers to curb exploitation by various Middle men e.g. the East African Breweries Limited (EABL), SHALEM, FAO/KCEP, FARM CHEM, Local Supermarkets and Hospitals among others.
  • Identified the needs of the Project Partners and collaborators who are providing quality technical and material services to FOs. These include the extension workers from the two County Governments ministry of Agriculture
  • FOs capacities built enabling them to increase Memberships which are able to aggregate their produce and sell at a profit.
  • 3 Framers Networks have progressed to the level of Value Addition, where they are now able to sell their produce at better prices
  • We have trained 12,463 Small Holder Farmers (SHFs) through their FOs to be able to meet the needs requirements of the Service Providers for effective services and for increased farm yields
  • We have supported 36 FOs to develop Business Plans which is a critical condition required for mobilizing resources/access credit for their activities (Application for agribusiness loans).
  • Trained about 161 FOs in various aspects of Organizational Development (OD) aspects including Governance, Leadership, Group dynamics. Some are now forming cooperatives& SACCOs, selling farm produce competitively and able to manage their affairs and undertake bigger ventures without much reliance on GRADIF-K.
  • We have trained 6 FOs in ICT and use of computers and supported 5 Networks with computers for proper management of their records.
  • We have linked up promising and progressive Cooperatives and FOs with KARLO to be accessing farm inputs and technical services. IMCO Cooperative Society.
  • We have identified 6 Mature FOs, Networks and Cooperatives which are acting as role models to other FOs which are acting as reference centers for experience and lesson learning. These are IgambaNg’ombe Multipurpose Cooperative (IMCOS), Gakiuma FOs network, Kianda, Kamukanya, Muthanthara and Turima Farmers’ Cooperative, all in Tharaka Nithi County. Some more are in the process of getting added to the list.
  • Facilitated the signing of 3 MOUs between service providers and FOs on Marketing
  • Supported the strengthening of GRADIF-K visibility and credibility. Currently partnering with FAO, County Government, World Food Programme (WFP), KARLO among others.
  • Project support equipment’s and salaries.
  • Trained 127 FOs in Table Banking Concept.
  • 118 FOs benefited from loans/credits from various financial institutions worth over  Ksh 172 Million. This excludes funds accessed through the table banking initiatives.
  • The End of Project Evaluation exercise is on course with the final report expected to be ready by 22nd December, 2017

The Key Challenges Encountered During Project Implementation:

  • High expectations: Expectations for direct support with inputs, Soil health services, Post harvesting management& aggregation services as well as identification of profitable Markets. There is need to integrate all AGRA AGRI, Sectors for quality services to farmers
  • Farmers expecting to get quick results while FOs improvement interventions produces slow but sustainable benefits. This has been mitigated through constant communication with the farmers, and ensuring that they understand the pipeline of progress.
  • Inadequate means of transportation to reach the deep far end of the targeted counties due to rough terrain.
  • Poor infrastructure; Poor roads network lack off, inadequate ICT services
  • Extreme climatic conditions such as prolonged droughts and flooding during Elnino resulting in poor harvests and poor project performance.
  • High poverty levels among FOs members which hinder aspects like aggregation due to inadequate resources to construct appropriate storage facilities.
  • High Illiteracy levels among FO members and lack of ICT skills to use ICT equipment like computers and effectively manage the ICT information and data.
  • Some Mapped out strategic partners are not providing expected support in the project implementation due to various challenges being experienced especially with reduced external funding
  • Large distances covered to some project sites in difficulty terrains and poor roads/ communication networks especially during the rainy period.
  • Unpredictable weather patterns; the rainy seasons affects implementation of projects since most roads are impassable during the rainy season
  • Lack of seed capital to promote agribusiness ventures and to purchase farm produce form FOs at reasonable prices. Financial institutions within the communities are refusing/fearing to offer financial services such as loans despite some FOs meeting their criteria of requirements/needs. This is as a result of previous experiences.
  • Need to integrate all AGRA Agricultural and related Sectors for quality services to farmers
  • Inadequate resources to enhance collaboration and networking with key institutions. High allowances expectations from some institutions
  • Delay in grants disbursement from AGRA thereby delaying some scheduled activities.
  • Inadequate support from the targeted County governments due to inadequate extension officers
  • Emerging needs which are not timely addressed by relevant services providers.

Lessons Learned:

  • The high expectations and demand from various FOs on their capacity development shows that very little efforts have been put in place towards targeting the capacity development of FOs in the targeted areas.
  • The varied needs from the FOs means that they can benefit maximally if all AGRA’s Agricultural sectors are integrated to build a synergy.
  • The community knows its challenges better and with a little technical support, they can still address these challenges. Many FOs have the potential to grow into bigger community service providing institutions if properly supported with relevant Most FOs have great potential in collective marketing but have no access to build grains bulking centers for easier collection of merchandise by buyers. Additionally, FOs have very scanty knowledge in formation and marketing of farmer based SACCOs.
  • There is high level of women representation in FOs, thus men are grossly under-represented. There is need to employ strategies to promote participation of men in FOs activities.
  • Some FOs might have only few members who have more knowledge on various aspects including governance and Marketing but only deep assessments can show/reveal the actual capacity status of FOs.
  • Peer-capacity building efforts should be promoted in the project since not all FOs are weak in certain areas.
  • There is a good opportunity to transform communities in Tharaka Nithi and Embu counties through proper organizations and assisting them identify, access, and use critical factors to improve their livelihoods.
  • There is need to employ appropriate and gender friendly strategies that will attract and promote increased male participation to increased men’s membership in FOs activities because there is high level of women representation in FOs, thus men are grossly under-represented.
  • Need to make agriculture/agribusiness sexy to attract more youth because it is currently a key employment provision and wealth creation sector.
  • There is need to strengthen the Public Private Partnership (PPP) for quality and sustainable results.
  • There is need to promote learning and innovation amongst SHFs and FOs may be through:
  • Foster farmer–to-farmer exchange programs
  • Establish demo sites for learning purposes.
  • Promote FOs learning platforms/networks
  • Promote FOs participation in exchange studies and trade fairs
  • Provide FOs with pamphlets on production and marketing
  • There is need to integrate matters of Natural resource management and Climate Change with the Farmers Organizations capacity building project.
  • There is need for flexibility in the project implementation to accommodate and address emerging issues/matters.