By Jane Kirimi
and Paul Gichungu
Frequent drought in semi-arid Laikipia County has been contributing
to crop failure, inadequate feeds, decreased production and food insecurity. Overgrazing
has also increased land degradation.
In a bid to reduce the 46 percent poverty level in the
County, the Agricultural Sector Development Support Program (ASDSP) in partnership
with Laikipia County government, CARITAS Nyeri among others undertook to
promote hay commercialisation in the dairy value chain.
The initiative involved organizing farmers into 28 groups
comprising 1064 farmers, 632 male and 432 females, training them on grass
management practices, seed harvesting, storage, marketing and providing them
with hay grass seed. ASDSP has also issued the groups with a hay-training
manual.
Eighteen (18) farmer groups received 7300 kgs of Rhodes
grass seeds. This resulted in establishment of 1800 acres of grass across the
county. The farmers have also formed Laikipia Hay Company Ltd to champion
Laikipia as a hay county.
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| Ann Mwangi at her hay store |
To support the demand for expansion of acreage under
Rhodes grass, farmers are harvesting and selling seeds to improve their income.
The number of hay producers has also increased from 1,500 to over 5,000
farmers.
Among the group that benefited included the 70 member Tigithi
Umoja Hay group.
Mrs. Ann Mwangi, a member of the group planted her Boma Rhodes
seeds in April 2015. Last season, her 3-acre land produced 500 bales of hay of
which she sold 400 bales valued at Ksh 120,000. She harvested 100 Kg of seeds
valued at Ksh 50,000.
“I used to experience frequent crop failure before ASDSP
started working with us. The various trainings that they gave us has empowered
our group members. We have increased our production and income through the
ASDSP program,” said Mrs. Mwangi.
Currently she has 5 acres of land under grass production
with an expected yield of 1,000 bales worth Ksh 300,000. She has migrated from
nomadic lifestyle to zero grazing method of dairy farming.
She is now planning to increase hey hay acreage in order
to feed her five dairy cows and sell the surplus to increase her income.
