Nakuru Living Lab

Kahua-ini organic producers

What is the innovation about?

We are a group of small holders’ farmers growing indigenous vegetables organically. The group was registered in 2021 as a self-help group (SHG). We are 27 members of whom 15 are men and 12 are women. The group started with the goal of preserving food crops seeds almost extinct through establishment of seed bank. This was after training on their nutritional value and the need to protect the loss of diversity. We later diversified our activities to production of indigenous vegetable without use of inorganic fertilizers and agrochemicals. We have learnt how to make our own organic fertilizer using crop residues, animal manure and other locally available plant materials. Organic pesticide and fungicides are also made through fermenting certain plants like pepper, neem, etc. Practicing integrated pest management has helped reduce the need for sprays.

Position in the food system transformation

We produce and market safe food while taking care of the soils for sustainable production. Through the use of organic fertilizer and other IPM practices like crop rotation, intercropping using plants that are insect repellants have helped us improve soil fertility, increase water retention capacity and improve yield through longer harvesting period. This has created jobs for women in the local markets. Households are also able to access safe and nutritious food. We produce and market safe food while taking care of the soils for sustainable production. Through the use of organic fertilizer and other IPM practices like crop rotation, intercropping using plants that are insect repellants have helped us improve soil fertility, increase water retention capacity and improve yield through longer harvesting period. This has created jobs for women in the local markets. Households are also able to access safe and nutritious food.

What is the innovation challenge?

Due to our small-scale of operations, we need organization innovation that will help access and be competitive in the market. We are exploring certification as organic producers, testing of our organic fertilizer and pesticides with the intention of commercializing.

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Partners

  1. Slow foods
  2. Biovision
  3. Egerton university