Project transforms villagers from dependents to food producers

A farmer tends to vegetables in the field under the Green Horticulture at Lake Naivasha (GOALAN) programme. [Antony Gitonga/Standard]

For years, residents of Moi Ndabi village, in Nakuru County depended on the State for food rations.

Whenever it rained, the area is flooded destroying their crops and it gets worse during dry season, making them food insure year in year out.

But in the last two years, things have been different thanks to a new project run by World Wildlife Fund.

Under the Green Horticulture at Lake Naivasha (GOALAN) programme by World Wildlife Fund, the farmers have guaranteed harvest and a market for their produce.

In the past, they relied on maize and beans but under the new programme, they grow high value fresh vegetables that have a ready and lucrative market.

So how does the project work?

The farmers have entered into an agreement with several hotels to supply them with green vegetables.

Elizabeth Wanjiru from Momaki Horticulture group, said under the project they had entered into contract farming with hoteliers in Naivasha to supply them with fresh produce.

The closure of hotels due to Covid-19 pandemic has affected business but they are hoping that normalcy will return soon.

Wanjiru noted that for years, they had relied on donations from the government every year before WWF introduced them to use of certified seeds, drip irrigation and minimal use of pesticide.

Organic farming

Thanks to the project, the farmers have also reduced the usage of pesticides.

Wanjiru said that their produce was free of drug residue as they were using Integrated Pest Management systems to contain pests within the farm.

“In the past we could spray without plans but following training we are now using crops like onions to keep away pests and this has improved the quality of our produce,” she said.

Florence Muthoni said their lives had improved and they can now educate and easily feed their families.

“We first started with the provision of water pans, then green houses and now we are some of the largest producers of vegetables in the region,” she said.

Muthoni said as part of the project, they had done away with traditional farming methods and instead embraced modern methods that was more focused and rewarding.

“In the past we went into farms without knowing where we would sell our crops but now we have ready markets.”

The chairman Lake Naivasha Water Resources User Association Enock Kiminta said since the project started in 2018, tens of farmers had benefited through provisions of green houses, water pans, reduction of post-harvest losses and a ready market.

“We are working with WWF and other partners in the project that includes soil testing, reducing usage of pesticides and intercropping and this has worked wonders,” he said.

Kiminta said the targeted farmers had been trained on efficient water use, soil and water conservation and use of organic fertilizer.