Model farmers reap fruits of their labour

By MANGOA MOSOTA

The well-built farmer, towering at six feet-five inches, is busy weeding around a cluster of lush-green bananas.

There are more than 50 clusters of the crop, each carrying between three and six banana trees, planted in trenches.

Mathews Asuna harvested over 80 bunches of banana from his farm in Kabarak Village, Gem District, making a tidy amount out of it mid this year.

"I sold each of banana bunch at Sh550 to traders who then sell the commodity in Imbo and Usenge markets in Bondo District," says Asuna, who also works as a chief.

The high yield of his bananas has been possible through modern farming, with gradual improvement of soil fertility.

The crop is planted in retention ditches and rainwater that would otherwise flow to waste, is utilised by the banana plants.

"The water also suppresses nematodes — worms that destroy bananas stalks, leading to poor yields," says Asuna, the North East Gem location chief.

He employs intercropping and agro-forestry and has increased the soil fertility of his eight-acre farm using farmyard manure.

Asuna, 46, is among more than 7,000 farmers in Wagai, Madianyi and Kombewa divisions in Nyanza Province who have adopted sustainable land management practices.

A similar number of farmers are in Sirisia, Malakisi and Bumula divisions of Western Province.

The administrator has over 7,000 trees that make his farm appear like a cool thicket.

In addition to bananas, Asuna has grown maize, beans, grafted mangoes, paw paws and two fish ponds. Asuna epitomises the achievement of these farmers. The provincial administrator has successfully juggled between work as a Government employee and model farmer.

He has planted over 3,500 trees in the last two years.

But almost all these small-scale farmers, however, are unaware that they have made history in Africa. They will start earning carbon credits from next year; making them beneficiaries of the first soil carbon project on the continent.

improve food security

The landmark Kenya Agricultural Carbon Project (KACP) is set to improve food security, address climate change, and improve the livelihood of rural folk, a majority who live in abject poverty.

The World Bank is funding the initiative, and recently signed an agreement with SCC Vi-Agroforestry, a Swedish non-governmental organisation that has been training the farmers over the last two years.

The Emission Reductions Purchase Agreement took place at The Hague, Netherlands. Payment to farmers will be over $350,000 (Sh28 million) with an initial payment of $80,000 (Sh6 million), early next year.

Payment only shall be after verification of amount of carbon sequestered by the farmers through sustainable agricultural land practices.

SCC Vi-Agroforestry Kisumu Project Manager Wangu Mutua says so far they have trained 15,000 farmers in the two provinces.

"Our target is 45,000 farmers over a period of nine years. We still have seven years to go. The trainings are on diverse sustainable farming methods," says Mutua, adding that the 45,000 farmers target usage of 60,000 hectares.

Joelle Chassard, the manager of the Carbon Finance Unit at the World Bank last week said KACP is not only the first soil carbon credits in Africa, but it also paves the way for a new approach to carbon accounting methodologies.

"As Kenya ramps up its participation in carbon markets, this project illustrates concretely how carbon finance can support the environment and generate revenues for local communities," Chassard said in a statement.

role models

Melchzedeck Arimba, a field zonal co-ordinator with SCC Vi-Agroforestry says training has been at different levels.

"To make the impact of the training sustainable, we use role models amongst farmers such as Asuna to show that the knowledge we give them achieves improved yields if properly applied," says Arimba, adding that Asuna’s farm often provides practical training for farmers.

Asuna has planted a number of trees, such as gravellia robusta that are compatible with crops.

Other trees such as calliandra are used for fodder for his two dairy cows that produce close to 30 litres daily.

Asuna who is a member of Wagai Integrated Farming Programme (Wifap), which has a farmyard pit that is about five feet deep.

"It generates about 20 tonnes of organic manure annually. I collect the manure twice a year, and it is composed of cow dung and droppings of chicken. I also include twigs and leaves of trees," explains the father of six, whose wife is also a Government employee.

Wifap secretary Joshua Onyango says he, too, has improved his yield of honey through adoption of modern beehives.

"I harvest about 30kg from the six hives," says Onyango, who is a father of three.