AGFAX: February 2010
Making seed and fertiliser affordable
Benson Maniaji, Amalwa Calistus and Martin Awanyinyo: Community based trainer, FIPS Africa and Maize farmers, Kisumu, Kenya
Summary:
Since 2003, Farm Input Promotions Africa (FIPS) has been working with small-scale farmers to improve their crop production. One key strategy has been making improved, high yielding seed available in small packets which even very poor farmers can afford. Recently, FIPS won funding to expand this work into Uganda and Tanzania. Eric Kadenge reports from Kisumu in western Kenya, where he meets a FIPS trainer and some farmers who are benefiting from the affordable inputs.
Suggested introduction:
An innovative project, designed to help African farmers feed their families and earn income from their land, is to be expanded after winning funds in a regional competition. The programme, known as FIPS (Farm Input Promotions Africa), sells packs of higher yielding seeds and fertiliser that are small enough to be affordable for small-scale farmers.
FIPS was one of four research programmes, chosen from an original list of 100, that were successful in winning financial backing at the recent 'Best Bets' funding competition in Nairobi. The competition was organised by Research into Use, with financial backing from the UK Department for International Development.
Eric Kadenge reports from western Kenya on how the FIPS programme is working and why it is spreading.
Tape in:
Near Kisumu in Western Kenya...
Tape out:
...of hunger in this area.
Closing Announcement:
That was Eric Kadenge, reporting from western Kenya. And you can get more information from the website - fipsafrica.org.
Making the most of it:
Is improved or hybrid seed a good investment for small-scale farmers? How do yields compare with seed saved from the previous harvest? And how should farmers who buy improved seed make sure they get the maximum benefits? These are questions you could put, either to an agricultural expert or to your listeners themselves.
Further information:
FIPS website: fipsafrica.org/
and RIU website: www.researchintouse.com/index....
Transcript
SFX
People queuing to buy seed.
Kadenge
Near Kisumu in Western Kenya, farmers are queuing to buy small packets of seeds and fertiliser. Using high yielding seed and fertiliser can make a big difference in what a farmer will harvest. But until recently, this was just too big an investment for many farmers to afford. But in Kenya, and now in Uganda and Tanzania, the situation is changing.
Salesman
This is a sample, a small packet from Leldet company...
Kadenge
A salesman holds up the small packets making a big difference. FIPS has worked with seed companies to develop seed varieties which are very well suited to local conditions and get them on sale in much smaller packets than the standard-sized bags. This means that farmers can afford to invest in improved seed and see the difference it can make. Thousands of farmers have begun planting small quantities of these high yielding varieties. Some have even done mini-trials, to find out which ones grow best in their land. FIPS has also arranged the sale of small bags of fertiliser and gives advice on the growing and spacing of crops.
SFX
Training in progress.
Kadenge
To provide that information, FIPS has created a training programme, which is being led by local farmers like Benson Maniaji. Working in his own area, Benson will recruit more farmers from surrounding villages, who are ready to talk with their neighbours about crops and livestock rearing. Benson has seen how, with affordable inputs, yields and incomes are up.
Maniaji
If they can produce enough for their families they can now think of selling, to commercialise, doing farming as a business.
Amalwa
Before, as we have been using this method of ours....
Kadenge
Standing overlooking his field, farmer Amalwa Calistus, says that by adopting the FIPS approach to maize growing using the high yielding seed, he's been able to dramatically increase production on his small farm.
Amalwa
I was planting three quarters of an acre. I used to get three to four bags. But now as I got this knowledge, this year I have had 8.5 bags.
Kadenge
And the improvements don't end there. Farmer Amalwa shared them with his neighbour, Martin Awanyinyo, who adopted a similar technique and has also increased his harvest.
Awanyinyo
It means that we have enough food for the family for the half of the next year. We shall not be having a problem with food.
Kadenge
In addition to farming, FIPS trainers like Benson have developed their own small businesses, selling the small packs of seeds and fertiliser. Because he works with people from his own village and community, he is trusted, which has helped to make his training and trading a success.
Maniaji
Farmers can do it on a large scale, and we have farmers who have adopted FIPS methodologies, and they are doing well. They are harvesting even 30-40 bags. Others can harvest - the two acres can produce 70 bags.
Kadenge
Recently, FIPS won funding to expand. This means it will now be working in more areas of Kenya, and also spreading into Tanzania and Uganda, to reach one and a half million farming families. And they're not leaving out young people. There's going to be a monthly comic book, a daily radio programme and text messages to give young people new ideas for making money through agriculture. Farmers like Martin Awanyinyo, hope that many more poor farmers will benefit.
Awanyinyo
This is a very good scheme and I am pleased that if we are taking it the way it is, then we are going to finish the problem of hunger in this area. End of track.
