Kibwezi Community Makes Early Start in Commodity Support Microfinance
Dear Friends,
Telecenter.org has requested that my blogposts be presented for an ongoing contest, I therefore welcomng those of you who are my friends to provide their stories in the site. There is potential to become recognised as a blogger.
The emergence of new issues to share on this forum seem to be emerging naturally!
The Chair to the Value Chain Cooperative that we are in the process of creating visited my office yesterday. He had traveled for over 200km using public means to come to Nairobi to discuss with me the possibility of our getting involved in helping address a fungal problem that the farmers have started encountering.
After the training, and explanation of what is possible last week, they too had a clearer picture of how their engagement with WillPower can help them address their plight in grwoting the seedrings.
Critical among their concern was that, they have now been able to sell the 'tree gospel' to the other non-tree growing community. One member was contracted by a land-owner who does not reside in the areas to plant 5,000 seedlings and he did not have the seedlings himself. He therefore wanted the members of the cooperative to come in and help in supplying the seedlings. Indeed, this was a challenge to them all since the seedlings were now attracting fungi which was slowing their growth, yet the market existed. The solution therefore came in approaching WillPower, the partner in the consortium responsible for community development. Forget it that this is indeed the Kenya Forestry Research Institutes's mandate, they were right in that they had discovered that they could air whatever they thought with me. And so there I was listening to this old man whose face you will soon be able to see on the Service Provider list of VACID Africa at www.vacidafrica.or.ke.
As has come to be consistent to this Chairman, whose name is Johnson, he wanted to go back with the fungicide, and as early as possible so that he can catch up with the vehicle that can ensure he gets home before it is dark. I weighed the options and decided that if we must create impact in the community initiative, the support of more tree growers is necessary and the financial gain to the farmers when it is direct will be all so welcome. This then created the potential to also create income and hence wealth for the nascent cooperative. I managed to folk out slightly more than US$ 500 to address the 20 members registered as seedling growers.
In a nutshell, our network of seedling grwoers has started growing and land-owners not resident in this area now know that the community can be trusted to support them with planting trees. An economic activity has started and a credit programme supported for implementation through the value chain cooperative has also taken root. We shall see how this grows to create a microfinance initiative around trees, but more importantly it is the learnign that is coming from this engagement where the Chairman is also emerging as our trusted extension person. Look at the report he presented for what I had given him as the task of reporting the performance of other ToTs: Note that Mukau is the local name for <>Melia volkensii
MONITORING TRAINERS’ PERFOMANCE ON MUKAU PROPERGATION AFTER KIBWEZI WORKSHOP HELD FROM FEB 17-21:2007.
8TH April 2007.
1. Agnes Ndevi: -Muliluni- Ngwata 2 photos reference 8:4:09/1 - Has 25 seedlings and 5 Mtungi propagators. She doesn’t have Fungicide and any other material like propagators recommended by Kefri. She also said that there is scarcity of good seeds.
2. Helen Nyambura :-Kavatini-Ngwata 1 photo reference 8:4:09/2 - Has 120 seedlings and 2 Mtungi propagators. Also like Agnes, she doesn’t have Fungicide but she’s been cooking the sand to kill the Fungi. She needs propagators so that she can do a better job.
3. Laban Ndeti:-Yumbuni-Ngwata no photo -Has not started seedling production but has collected some of the materials. He has extracted some seeds from the nuts. He also needs Fungicide and propagators.
4. Peter Kioko: -Kaliani –Kiteng’ei 2 photos reference 8:4:09/4 - Has 120 seedlings and 5 Mtungi propagators. He has also transplanted 120 in the farm. His main problem is lack of Fungicide and propagators.
5. Boniface Kivati Muange: Kilumilo-Kiteng’ei no photo - He has 8 seedlings and has planted 28 on the farm. Main problems are lack of Fungicide and propagators.
9TH April 2009.
1. Visited by Mr. Nicholas N Mulonzi: Kithiiani -Ngwata Who wanted to learn about Mukau after teaching him, he paid his entrance fee.
10TH April 2009.
1. Shadreck M. Wambua: Ngangani- Ngwata 1 photo reference 10:4:09/1 - Has 150 seedlings and 3 Mtungi of propagators. Main problems are lack of fungicide, propagators and lack of seeds is also hindering him.
2. John Musyoka Maswili:Kativani-Ngwata 1 photo 10:4:09/2 - Has 3 seedlings in his nursery, there is a lot of Fungi and no Fungicide. He also said he needed propagators.
11TH April 2009.
1. Jackson Nyamai :Kavungw’a-Ngwata (trainee) 1 photo reference 11:4:09/1 -He has been working on wildlings only because he doesn’t know what to do with the seeds. He has 122 seedlings and about 200 trees in the farm. I taught him about the seeds and introduced him to the Co-op.
2. Elizabeth Matano: Yikitaa-Ngwata 1 photo reference 11:4:09/2 - She has not started working on germination but is extracting the seeds. She also needs the Fungicide and propagators.
3. Damaris K. Mwia –Yindundu Kiteng’ei: 1 photo reference 11:4:09/3 - She has put some seeds in a Mtungi propagator but has no seedlings yet. She also said that she doesn’t have the Fungicide and the propagators.
4. Francisca Mutiso-Yikitaa Ngwata: 2 photos reference 11:4:09/4 - She has 13 seedlings and 3 Mtungi of propagators. She is using Gunny bags and cartons instead of Mtungi. She has no Fungicide and proper propagators.
5. Josephine Mutindi John- Mukaange Ngwata: (trainee) no photo She has 8 seedlings. Her main problem is Fungicide and propagators.
6. Esther Muthini – Mukaange Ngwata: (trainee)1 photo reference 11:4:09/6 - She has 110 seedlings. being a trainee, she is doing well but has problems with the Fungi and she also needs a propagator.
14TH April 2009.
1. Francis Muli- : Kibwezi no photo -He has started with one mtungi propagator but got nothing. He told me he is waiting for seeds he had ordered. His main problem is the Fungicide, propagator and seeds.
2. Julius Musembi Masia – Kikumbulyu – 1 photo reference 14:4:09/2 - Has two Mtungi propagators but seeds have not started germinating. His main problem is lack of Fungicide and propagator.
3. Jonathan Kituku Mung’ala- Nyayo – Kikumbulyu. 3 photos reference 14:4:09/2
-He is a Role model in all Mukau enterprise - from seeds to finished products. He has 960 seedlings in the nursery and is working on fruits (pulp removal) and seed collection. All Mukau farmers have something to copy from him He also has many trees (on farm).
4.Jonathan kioko Kaindi – Nyayo – Kikumbulyn. 1 photo reference 14:4:09/4 He has 370 Mukau seedlings. He also needs fungicide and propagators. He has also planted trees in his farm.
5. Margret Wanza Munyao – Nyayo – Kikumbulyu. 1 photo reference 14:4:09/5
She has constructed two propagators and has extracted some seeds to start seedling production. She also has Mukau trees in the farm.
6. Gathoni Musyoki : Kikumbulyu 1 photo reference 14:4:09/6
She has 10 seedlings and 3 Mtungi Propagators Her main problems is lack of fungicide and propagators Also she has a Mukau tree in her farm which is being attacked by small insects cutting some of the branches down.
15-04-09
1. Re-visted Elizaberth Matano ,Damarius Muia and Francisca Mutiso. The second visit was necessitated by the fact that the camera wasn’t working like I was there last time. After changing the film the replaced film wasn’t working.
2.James Nthiw’a - Utithi
He hasn’t started work at all. He told me that he has been sick and now that he has recovered, he is starting.
17 – 04 -2009
1. Jane Vaati – Moris : Siembeni 1 photo reference 17:4:09/1
She has one Mtungi propagator and is still working on seeds. Like the rest , her main problem is the lack of fungicide and propagator.
2. Utheu Wa Aka Group : Siembeni 2 photos reference 17:4:09/2
They have one pit propagator and 6 seedlings and a few Mukau trees on their plot. Their main problem is the lack of fungicide and propagator.
:
3.Theophilus Ndavi : Siembeni no photo
Has not started work on his own but Utheu Wa Aka Group works on his plot. He has some Mukau trees on the farm
4.Munywoki Maswii : Kyambusya no photo
He has not started seedling production but has fenced the place were he says putting up a nursery. He has some Mukau trees on the farm.
5.Samuel Nzongolu : Nzambani no photo --He has not started work after the training. He had acquired 300 Mukau seedlings which he has not planted yet.
28/04/09
Johnson Mulinge Kioko : Yumbuni- Ngwata – 5 photos references 28;04;09/1
Has 650 seedlings, 3 tins de- pulped seeds and still collecting seeds.
The photos with sheep show different uses of Mukau as fodder – pulps, bark and leaves.
GENERAL OBSERVATION
1. Water – most people are using water drawn form ground wells. This water is salty and it’s not good for proper Mukau propagation. This is really affecting the results.
2. Training follow – up on farm- if possible there is need for a follow up on
trainings. On farm training is necessary so as to identify the areas of need.
3. Lack of fungicide and propagators – This being common to all trainers there is need for attention on the same. If the items can be made available to them the cost can recovered through the co-operative. This needs quick attention to quicken seedling production. I have identified a shop which has better price for the fungicide.
4. Nursery tidiness- Proper arrangement and cleanliness in and around the nursery is important so as to get rid of squirrels and rats who come to spoil the seedlings. Let’s try by all means to keep our nurseries clean a d tidy.
Complied by Mr. Johnson Mulinge Kioko of Yumbuni, Ngwata Kibwezi.
Those of us keen in seeing how to integrate a simple website that describes the activities of this group will definitely also see the need for a simplified database to help report on the progress. This will be one of the activities that we shall be addressing from our end as the enterprise support institution.
Johnson has requested that we provide him with an email address that he can be using to send us reports via email. We shall be featuring his photos later on in this platform. I hope all this helps to keep you waalking this research journey with me.
We shall keep you posted.
SUBMITTED AS ENTRY TO THE TELECENTRE.ORG BLOG CONTEST
Telecenter.org has requested that my blogposts be presented for an ongoing contest, I therefore welcomng those of you who are my friends to provide their stories in the site. There is potential to become recognised as a blogger.
The emergence of new issues to share on this forum seem to be emerging naturally!
The Chair to the Value Chain Cooperative that we are in the process of creating visited my office yesterday. He had traveled for over 200km using public means to come to Nairobi to discuss with me the possibility of our getting involved in helping address a fungal problem that the farmers have started encountering.
After the training, and explanation of what is possible last week, they too had a clearer picture of how their engagement with WillPower can help them address their plight in grwoting the seedrings.
Critical among their concern was that, they have now been able to sell the 'tree gospel' to the other non-tree growing community. One member was contracted by a land-owner who does not reside in the areas to plant 5,000 seedlings and he did not have the seedlings himself. He therefore wanted the members of the cooperative to come in and help in supplying the seedlings. Indeed, this was a challenge to them all since the seedlings were now attracting fungi which was slowing their growth, yet the market existed. The solution therefore came in approaching WillPower, the partner in the consortium responsible for community development. Forget it that this is indeed the Kenya Forestry Research Institutes's mandate, they were right in that they had discovered that they could air whatever they thought with me. And so there I was listening to this old man whose face you will soon be able to see on the Service Provider list of VACID Africa at www.vacidafrica.or.ke.
As has come to be consistent to this Chairman, whose name is Johnson, he wanted to go back with the fungicide, and as early as possible so that he can catch up with the vehicle that can ensure he gets home before it is dark. I weighed the options and decided that if we must create impact in the community initiative, the support of more tree growers is necessary and the financial gain to the farmers when it is direct will be all so welcome. This then created the potential to also create income and hence wealth for the nascent cooperative. I managed to folk out slightly more than US$ 500 to address the 20 members registered as seedling growers.
In a nutshell, our network of seedling grwoers has started growing and land-owners not resident in this area now know that the community can be trusted to support them with planting trees. An economic activity has started and a credit programme supported for implementation through the value chain cooperative has also taken root. We shall see how this grows to create a microfinance initiative around trees, but more importantly it is the learnign that is coming from this engagement where the Chairman is also emerging as our trusted extension person. Look at the report he presented for what I had given him as the task of reporting the performance of other ToTs: Note that Mukau is the local name for <>Melia volkensii
MONITORING TRAINERS’ PERFOMANCE ON MUKAU PROPERGATION AFTER KIBWEZI WORKSHOP HELD FROM FEB 17-21:2007.
8TH April 2007.
1. Agnes Ndevi: -Muliluni- Ngwata 2 photos reference 8:4:09/1 - Has 25 seedlings and 5 Mtungi propagators. She doesn’t have Fungicide and any other material like propagators recommended by Kefri. She also said that there is scarcity of good seeds.
2. Helen Nyambura :-Kavatini-Ngwata 1 photo reference 8:4:09/2 - Has 120 seedlings and 2 Mtungi propagators. Also like Agnes, she doesn’t have Fungicide but she’s been cooking the sand to kill the Fungi. She needs propagators so that she can do a better job.
3. Laban Ndeti:-Yumbuni-Ngwata no photo -Has not started seedling production but has collected some of the materials. He has extracted some seeds from the nuts. He also needs Fungicide and propagators.
4. Peter Kioko: -Kaliani –Kiteng’ei 2 photos reference 8:4:09/4 - Has 120 seedlings and 5 Mtungi propagators. He has also transplanted 120 in the farm. His main problem is lack of Fungicide and propagators.
5. Boniface Kivati Muange: Kilumilo-Kiteng’ei no photo - He has 8 seedlings and has planted 28 on the farm. Main problems are lack of Fungicide and propagators.
9TH April 2009.
1. Visited by Mr. Nicholas N Mulonzi: Kithiiani -Ngwata Who wanted to learn about Mukau after teaching him, he paid his entrance fee.
10TH April 2009.
1. Shadreck M. Wambua: Ngangani- Ngwata 1 photo reference 10:4:09/1 - Has 150 seedlings and 3 Mtungi of propagators. Main problems are lack of fungicide, propagators and lack of seeds is also hindering him.
2. John Musyoka Maswili:Kativani-Ngwata 1 photo 10:4:09/2 - Has 3 seedlings in his nursery, there is a lot of Fungi and no Fungicide. He also said he needed propagators.
11TH April 2009.
1. Jackson Nyamai :Kavungw’a-Ngwata (trainee) 1 photo reference 11:4:09/1 -He has been working on wildlings only because he doesn’t know what to do with the seeds. He has 122 seedlings and about 200 trees in the farm. I taught him about the seeds and introduced him to the Co-op.
2. Elizabeth Matano: Yikitaa-Ngwata 1 photo reference 11:4:09/2 - She has not started working on germination but is extracting the seeds. She also needs the Fungicide and propagators.
3. Damaris K. Mwia –Yindundu Kiteng’ei: 1 photo reference 11:4:09/3 - She has put some seeds in a Mtungi propagator but has no seedlings yet. She also said that she doesn’t have the Fungicide and the propagators.
4. Francisca Mutiso-Yikitaa Ngwata: 2 photos reference 11:4:09/4 - She has 13 seedlings and 3 Mtungi of propagators. She is using Gunny bags and cartons instead of Mtungi. She has no Fungicide and proper propagators.
5. Josephine Mutindi John- Mukaange Ngwata: (trainee) no photo She has 8 seedlings. Her main problem is Fungicide and propagators.
6. Esther Muthini – Mukaange Ngwata: (trainee)1 photo reference 11:4:09/6 - She has 110 seedlings. being a trainee, she is doing well but has problems with the Fungi and she also needs a propagator.
14TH April 2009.
1. Francis Muli- : Kibwezi no photo -He has started with one mtungi propagator but got nothing. He told me he is waiting for seeds he had ordered. His main problem is the Fungicide, propagator and seeds.
2. Julius Musembi Masia – Kikumbulyu – 1 photo reference 14:4:09/2 - Has two Mtungi propagators but seeds have not started germinating. His main problem is lack of Fungicide and propagator.
3. Jonathan Kituku Mung’ala- Nyayo – Kikumbulyu. 3 photos reference 14:4:09/2
-He is a Role model in all Mukau enterprise - from seeds to finished products. He has 960 seedlings in the nursery and is working on fruits (pulp removal) and seed collection. All Mukau farmers have something to copy from him He also has many trees (on farm).
4.Jonathan kioko Kaindi – Nyayo – Kikumbulyn. 1 photo reference 14:4:09/4 He has 370 Mukau seedlings. He also needs fungicide and propagators. He has also planted trees in his farm.
5. Margret Wanza Munyao – Nyayo – Kikumbulyu. 1 photo reference 14:4:09/5
She has constructed two propagators and has extracted some seeds to start seedling production. She also has Mukau trees in the farm.
6. Gathoni Musyoki : Kikumbulyu 1 photo reference 14:4:09/6
She has 10 seedlings and 3 Mtungi Propagators Her main problems is lack of fungicide and propagators Also she has a Mukau tree in her farm which is being attacked by small insects cutting some of the branches down.
15-04-09
1. Re-visted Elizaberth Matano ,Damarius Muia and Francisca Mutiso. The second visit was necessitated by the fact that the camera wasn’t working like I was there last time. After changing the film the replaced film wasn’t working.
2.James Nthiw’a - Utithi
He hasn’t started work at all. He told me that he has been sick and now that he has recovered, he is starting.
17 – 04 -2009
1. Jane Vaati – Moris : Siembeni 1 photo reference 17:4:09/1
She has one Mtungi propagator and is still working on seeds. Like the rest , her main problem is the lack of fungicide and propagator.
2. Utheu Wa Aka Group : Siembeni 2 photos reference 17:4:09/2
They have one pit propagator and 6 seedlings and a few Mukau trees on their plot. Their main problem is the lack of fungicide and propagator.
:
3.Theophilus Ndavi : Siembeni no photo
Has not started work on his own but Utheu Wa Aka Group works on his plot. He has some Mukau trees on the farm
4.Munywoki Maswii : Kyambusya no photo
He has not started seedling production but has fenced the place were he says putting up a nursery. He has some Mukau trees on the farm.
5.Samuel Nzongolu : Nzambani no photo --He has not started work after the training. He had acquired 300 Mukau seedlings which he has not planted yet.
28/04/09
Johnson Mulinge Kioko : Yumbuni- Ngwata – 5 photos references 28;04;09/1
Has 650 seedlings, 3 tins de- pulped seeds and still collecting seeds.
The photos with sheep show different uses of Mukau as fodder – pulps, bark and leaves.
GENERAL OBSERVATION
1. Water – most people are using water drawn form ground wells. This water is salty and it’s not good for proper Mukau propagation. This is really affecting the results.
2. Training follow – up on farm- if possible there is need for a follow up on
trainings. On farm training is necessary so as to identify the areas of need.
3. Lack of fungicide and propagators – This being common to all trainers there is need for attention on the same. If the items can be made available to them the cost can recovered through the co-operative. This needs quick attention to quicken seedling production. I have identified a shop which has better price for the fungicide.
4. Nursery tidiness- Proper arrangement and cleanliness in and around the nursery is important so as to get rid of squirrels and rats who come to spoil the seedlings. Let’s try by all means to keep our nurseries clean a d tidy.
Complied by Mr. Johnson Mulinge Kioko of Yumbuni, Ngwata Kibwezi.
Those of us keen in seeing how to integrate a simple website that describes the activities of this group will definitely also see the need for a simplified database to help report on the progress. This will be one of the activities that we shall be addressing from our end as the enterprise support institution.
Johnson has requested that we provide him with an email address that he can be using to send us reports via email. We shall be featuring his photos later on in this platform. I hope all this helps to keep you waalking this research journey with me.
We shall keep you posted.
SUBMITTED AS ENTRY TO THE TELECENTRE.ORG BLOG CONTEST
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