(Please see attached an article on Farming Systems Kenya appearing in THE EAST AFRICAN (March 30 - April 5, 2009 Edition) page 23 on how the Farmers Marketing Federation Model has assisted farmers in North Rift to gain profitability through reducing market intermediaries and linkages facilitating access to finance)
The Facts: Smallholder commercial agriculture in Africa is beset by very high transaction risks. Profitability is constantly constrained by price volatility, the presence of many market intermediaries, poor market information and limited access to credit. The net effect of this is low productivity in terms of volume and value, market imperfections exhibited by low farm gate prices despite high consumer prices and all this happening in the backdrop of increasing input costs. This scenario plays itself in many rural holds thus denying small holder farmers the opportunity to get the rightful reward for their labor and effort year after year consigning them to perpetual poverty. The Future: For Farmers in North Rift Kenya who are members of Kessess Marketing Federation, there is a new turning point in their agricultural productivity systems. In partnership with Farming Systems Kenya, a local NGO, their story is now one of hope and a bright future for the smallholder farmers in Kenya (see press release for more details). The Process: FSK, a local NGO based in Nakuru works with smallholder farmers in Rift Valley and parts of Central province to improve their agricultural productivity. Over time, FSK has developed an extension model that results in the development of small holder agricultural producer associations known as Farmers Marketing Federations. It is through this model that FSK partners with the federations to reduce transaction risks in smallholder farming. The result of this is exemplified in the success of groups such as the Kessess Marketing Federation. FSK endeavors to promote this initiative with farmers across the country and the region. We thus share with you the joys of our work and interaction with farmers as we seek to move forward in partnership with you.
With Kind Regards,
AMOS MANYARA Executive Director
Physical Location Farming Systems Kenya Po Box 2816 (20100) Nakuru
