Nairobi 27th April 2018: The chairman, Mr Hezekiah Omenda was among participants at the AVCD national conferences where the new US Government’s Global Food Security Strategy was launched. The conference was officially opened by H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta. The meeting brought together key feed the future partners. OSIEPE was once again honored to be part of this important occasion and to interact with the other partners from different parts of Kenya and dignitaries. The conference was hosted at the Nairobi campus of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and also attended by the US Ambassador to Kenya - Bob Godec, ILRI Director - Jimmy Smith and CS agriculture - Hon Mwangi Kiunjuri also attended.
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Makueni, April 18th 2018: As part of inter-county learning and exchange program. Heifer Internation organized a benchmarking trip for farmers and farmers organization to Makueni County. OSIEPE Practical Action was represented by Ms Jenice Omolo (OSIEPE Yes convener), Mr Charles Owiti (Peer Farmer Trainer), Mr Luke Anyang’ (Chair – Amani Nucleus) and Hezborn Ogada (Secretary). The objective of the trip was inspire and learn opportunities and new developments in commercial fodder production. On day 1, the group was in Mukuyu sub-Location, and visited MALIKA FARM. Mr Jonah Malika is a small scale farmer in Mukuyuni area who has embraced modern farming techniques and treats his dairy farming as a business. He began in 1984, taking over local breeds from his late mother. He has gradually upgraded the animals and today, he specializes in Friesian cows under zero grazing in his 35 - acre land. He has 40 cows one of which produces 45-50 litres of milk daily. 'I can’t keep a cow that produces less than 20 litres of milk daily', he reiterates. He produces 200 to 250litres of milk daily. His dream is to own 100 cows. He has over 20 acres of boma rhodes grass and 9 acres of bracharia. From his farm business he earns 90,000 Kshs monthly per acre from fodder sales. He manages a a big hay store. He earns 40,000/= from waste monthly, by selling 2 trailers of waste as manure weekly at 5000/=. He uses the rest for biogas and manure for his fodder.
We have met an old wise man who has identified farm enterprises that fit his passion, interest, family situation and resources at his disposal. For 30 years, he has reaped the benefits and yet he keeps setting targets which he strives to achieve with ferocious determination. We have learnt that success dairying is a combination 20 per cent genetic input and 80 per cent management - quality feeds and water, good health, clean environment and friendly handling. We have also learnt that planning is key to success as well as value addition, balanced feeding, record keeping, and working as a group, or cooperative is the best. OSIEPE is already implementing some of these and will put more effort in scaling out the lessons He concluded our interaction by telling me to advice my fellow youth - 'sio lazima utafute kazi Nairobi..pesa iko hapa(farm)'. Sty tuned for more updates as the exchange comes to the end. Jenice Omolo – OSIEPE Yes Convenor. Muhoroni 18th April, 2018: The 10,000 litre milk chilling plant under construction at OSIEPE Milk bulking site in Muhoroni is making steady progress. The contractor doing the physical structure is busy on site and will soon delivery the facility to OSIEPE and our partners. The main aspects of the facility under construction include
The next stage will involve installation of equipment’s, furniture and other accessories. We are grateful to ILRI AVCD with support from USAID Feed the Future who have partnered with us on this venture. OSIEPE is happy to report steady progress on implementing our part of the partnership which includes purchase and registration of the 2 acre plot, strong governance, design of hub service delivery strategy, mobilization of dairy and fodder farmers and design and execution of a marketing plan. We continue to innovate and delivery practical outcomes on this as is our motto. We have since opened an Agrovet Shop at Chemelil Round-About and plan to build hay barns in Muhoroni and Awasi.
The County Government of Kisumu is providing support for:
Heifer International is partnering with OSIEPE on:
OSIEPE internal organs including leadership, technical committee, MEAL committee, youth Group (OSIEPE Yes) are all fired to deliver a locally owned dairy hub complete with strong governance, data system, farmer relations and marketing structures. The business plans is being refined as we execute it. OSIEPE, in collaboration with the County Government, Heifer International, other farmers in the sub-County, are making every effort to ensure the hub delivers on its promise of efficient milk collection, payment and marketing. Other auxiliary services in the pipeline include milk delivery to be contracted to especially the youth using boda boda, bicycles, tri-cycles (tuk-tuks), mini trucks are also planned. This will go along with services and linkages for access to AI, dairy and fodder inputs and marketing fodder. In the horizon we are dreaming of a one-stop hub as a farmer Service Centre with strong business orientation and investment support. We welcome new ideas and partnerships to this end as our journey of transformation continues to bear fruits for our members and the entire Kisumu County. Oseng’teti April 11th 2018: Farmers and stakeholders from across Muhoroni sub-County gathered at OSIEPE PA Satellite Office in Oseng’teti to brainstorm on key actions to expand the dairy, fodder and poultry value chains. The meeting was convened by OSIEPE CBO to engage to sensitive farmers on emerging opportunities and upcoming services under OSIEPE Dairy Hub including embedded dairy and fodder support services such as milk collection, AI, technical support, inputs and market access among others. In attendance were OSIEPE members, lead farmers from all corners of the sub-Counties, representatives of other farmer groups and cooperatives, the County Government and Heifer International. Kisumu CEC in charge of Agriculture Mr Gilchrist Owuor Okuom led the county agriculture team that also participated in the meeting. Also present was Heifer International team who committed to co-funding the next set of field days in the sub-County to further expose farmers to the revolutionary dairy improvement efforts by OSIEPE. Specific targets were set for the three value chains to be realised over the next months.
Mr Okuom confirmed the County Government's continued support in this growing partnership and to use OSIEPE as a transformation hub to catalyse similar efforts in the entire county. Download Presentation About OSIEPE that was made at the forum and targets set for each Zone |
AuthorOSIEPE Practical Action - CBO Archives
April 2019
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