A Market Led Social Horticultural Enterprise Model by Horti Grid LTD

Vision: To enable more rural women get integrated into agri- enterprise value chains through social entrepreneurship, triggering wider reception and its practice as an economic activity Patricia LagatJoan Malel

Rural women smallholder farmers At base of the economic pyramid in agri-enterprise Mainly subsistence farmers on small land parcels Lack adequate capital, capacity and horticultural knowledge African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) Favored over exotic counterparts – highly nutritious staple Easy to produce (very short term crops) and yields could be improved by application of modern cultivation methods Production possible all year round Current supply does not match demand Markets Controlled by middlemen

CALL TO ACTION Rural Women need integration into horticultural value chains by supporting participation in production and marketing of commercially viable vegetable crops. Current production methods not sustainable

PROJECT AIM - Triggering demand for, production and marketing of ALVs, economically empowering rural farmers and improving on nutrition PROJECT LOCATION - Uasin Gishu County (Ngeria Ward) Proximity to cosmopolitan market, accessibility, good water supply, land availability and suitability, agricultural history, growing interest in horticulture INTERVENTION  Identification of priority species of ALVs that can be cultivated in target area  Impartation of basic agribusiness knowledge  Setting up of production units with GAPs  Linkage to existing market systems  Documentation and dissemination of knowledge

PROPOSED VEGETABLES These varieties are in most demand; with easy production and marketing Black nightshade will be cultivated in the pilot stage commencing in Oct 2015

Production units: 10 farms each on ¼ acre = 2.5 acres total Each plot managed by one woman with full responsibility over all labor, crop husbandry and farm operations Supervision and extension from a horticultural assistant Mode of production: A mix of organic and inorganic methods Water sources: Shallow wells with simple water pumps

The farmer should Be of female gender with dependants Have prior knowledge on agricultural practice in any field Have access to ¼ of an acre and a water source Demonstrate ability to provide all labor requirements Be willing and show capacity to learn basic agribusiness and crop husbandry Be willing to be part of a group working with at least two other team players Be willing to take up a government health cover with NHIF The farmer will be responsible for all labor and daya to day management of the ¼ acre plots with periodic supervision by a horticultural assistant designated to offer extension services

Having a discussion with the farmers and their representatives and getting feedback from them on their expectations They expressed readiness to embark on the project as the pioneers in their area of influence

Extension services to be offered by Horti Grid Limited aim at increasing capacity and farmer knowledge base as regards horticultural production with Globally accepted standards which can be replicated for other crops apart from ALVs

Farmers were a good representation of the major communities in the area which had been affected by the tribal post election violence of In the initial team is a blind woman too, who has dependants and is ready To take on the challenge with support from the rest and her family

PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF ALVs

EXPECTED OUTCOME: Improved food security and health Increased rural participation in the horticulture Reduced unemployment rate Increased and renewed interest in commercial horticulture Improved smallholder farmer capacity and knowledge Increased quality and quantity of marketable ALVs More women taking up health insurance (NHIF) POTENTIAL IMPACT AND SCALE Up scaled intensive commercial production Better market opportunities globally. Replication of enterprise model by other fields of agriculture Agriculture will be an attractive career option. Initiative will create a practical and real time knowledge hub in as far as social entrepreneurship for relevant bodies