Farmers encouraged to adopt contract farming for better earnings

Farmers in Murang’a County, especially those practicing agroecology, have been encouraged to adopt contract farming as a way to secure better earnings and guarantee a ready market for their produce.

Agricultural experts have underscored the importance of contract farming, saying it cushions farmers from losses and poor returns from their produce.

Programme Manager at the Institute of Culture and Ecology (ICE), Dr. Elijah Kamau, speaking in Maragua during a farmers’ training forum, highlighted the benefits of contract farming, noting the mode ensures farmers have a reliable market for their produce.

“Farmers should come together as a group and establish agreements with organisations that will market their commodities. This assures them of a ready market and consistent income,” stated Kamau.

The manager further noted that ecological farming practices and the cultivation of traditional crops can enhance farmers’ resilience against the effects of climate change.

Kamau encouraged the establishment of farm ponds and the use of dam liners as effective water-harvesting solutions, saying this ensures the availability of water for irrigation during dry seasons.

“We are supplying farmers with subsidised dam liners at a 50 per cent discount, with an additional 25 per cent discount for farmers living with disabilities. Harvesting water will help address water challenges at the farm level,” he explained.

Kamau revealed that his organization has been in the forefront of championing agroecology in the country and has been holding training forums for farmer groups engaging in agroecological practices.

The organization that helped draft Murang’a Agroecological Policy and the Murang’a Agroecological Development Act 2022, making Murang’a the first county to pass laws propagating organic farming in the country, also has its presence in Embu, Machakos, Tharaka Nithi, and Kiambu counties.

Kamau said ICE has been partnering with the county administration and other partners to connect local agroecological farmers to markets through digital platforms.

An agricultural officer in Murang’a County, Moses Kariuki, noted that farmers have been trained on organic farming techniques to improve their incomes.

He advised farmers to venture into horticulture saying the crops have potential to rake in high returns but that many farmers make losses due to lack of markets.

“Vegetables, especially indigenous vegetables, have an infinite market, but if you have no contract with buyers, brokers will buy the groceries at meagre prices,” he observed.

Kariuki further stated that vegetables such as amaranth, nightshade, and cowpea leaves that are highly nutritional are gaining popularity in many households seeking alternatives from the common vegetables.

But he noted that individually, small-scale farmers may lack the strength and quantity needed to negotiate for better prices from buyers.

Farmers, he said, should form common interest groups that they should then use to look for buyers and market their produce.

He also emphasized the importance of cultivating drought-tolerant crops, particularly traditional high-value crops such as cassava and sorghum, which can thrive in arid conditions.

“Traditional high-value crops like cassava and sorghum are crucial as they ensure food security due to their drought tolerance,” Kariuki remarked.

Addressing the benefits of contract farming, Joseph Muturi and Jackline Mwanza, both farmers, noted that they have never struggled to find a market for their produce after they signed contracts with some organizations which help to market their produce.

The farmers expressed gratitude for the agribusiness training provided by the Institute of Culture and Ecology, stating that it has equipped them with valuable skills to improve their farming practices.

Muturi also commended the role of social media as an effective marketing tool, noting that it helps farmers connect with buyers and secure a ready market for their produce.

“Contract farming not only guarantees a market but also promotes value addition to our produce, enabling us to sell high-quality goods at better prices,” he added.

By Bernard Munyao