Agrbusiness expo in Kabarak wows farmers #kenya

Susan Wanjiku from SCODE explains to a farmer how the
improved cooking stove that uses solar power and sawdust
pellets or firewoood works during an agribusiness expo in
Kabarak University in Nakuru County.
A Holstein Fresian that produces 50 litres of milk a day.
Livestock that was showcased at the expo with a breeding
ram that weighs 180 kgs and costs Sh120.
A Llama which is originally from South America and is
locally being bred at the Egerton University is used for meat,
wool and can also be used to transport goods.
EAGC executive director George Masila lead invited guests
to the Stara spraying machine fro Farm Engineering Industry
which is said to be the only one of its kind in East Africa.
Farmers in Kenya lose more than Sh50 million every year in
post-harvest stages right from the farm level till the time of
consumption. To help provide a solution to this, the East
Africa Grain Council (EAGC) held a two-day agribusiness
expo last week in Kabarak University, Nakuru County.
Commercialisation of post harvest technologies was the
main focus with seed companies, financial and insurance
institutions, researchers and those in the livestock sector
showcasing various techniques, technologies and best
practices.
EAGC chairman Dr Bernard Otim said the scale of post-
harvest food losses is sad and tragic with nearly one-third
of global agricultural production either arriving in poor
condition or never making it to the consumer.
"In Kenya, 40 to 60 per cent of farmers hard work and
investments is lost and in Africa, post-harvest losses are
estimated at $1.6 billion (Sh139.2) per year or 13.5 per
cent of the total value of grain production," said Otim.
He said the solutions are within reach but there is need to
have meaningful incentives, affordable financing options
and government policies to encourage farmers, traders and
processors to adopt efficient post-harvest practices.
"The expo was intended to trigger the private sector to
participate in practices that promote post-harvest
technologies in order to reduce losses farmers have been
experiencing in the country. The theme is timely due to the
adverse effects of post-harvest losses in the region. We
hope that through this event, we will provide solutions that
will translate the losses to farmers to financial gains in
farmer's pockets," said EAGC executive director Gerald
Masila.
Under the theme 'Promoting post harvest technologies:
improving the quality, safety and marketability of farm
produce', more than 70 agribusiness stakeholders exhibited
their technologies and techniques. Here are a few of the
innovative technologies at the expo:
'Above the ground' biogas digester
Paul Madoc, Kentainers Ltd special projects manager in
charge of biogas, said the 'Above the ground' biogas
digester technology was started to overcome problems with
the underground bio digester which is difficult to build in
remote areas due to collapsing soils.
"This one is mobile and can be installed above the ground
within two hours. The plant has two tanks; a large one
(digester) and smaller one (dome). The latter is inverted
and placed into the larger one acting as a gas holder. The
tanks are molded in a special design to allow smooth
operation and maximise the efficiency of gas trapping and
pressurising," Madoc said.
He added that the digester has an inlet pipe and an outlet
pipe higher up the tank to remove the digested residue. "The
smaller tank has a provision for weight addition to realise
gas compression, it also comes with an outlet fitted gas
valve for excessive gas production. A rubber pipe is fitted to
the outlet valve to take gas to the kitchen for cooking while
the slurry is used for soil fertility. The gas holder gradually
rises as gas is produced and sinks down as the gas is
used," he explained.
The 'BluFlameBioSlurriGaz' digester comes in two sizes --
the LFM6200 digester with a capacity of 3,200 litres at a
cost of Sh95,000 and the SHM3300 digester with a capacity
of 1,800 litres at Sh67,000.
The prices, he said, include delivery, installation, a 15
metres pipe, double biogas burner, one year free after sales
service and warranty. "One uses the ratio of 1:1 cowdung
and water with two to four cows. The biggest challenge we
are facing is the 16 per cent VAT on biogas appliances and
we urge the ministry of agriculture to intervene so that
farmers can afford the bio digesters. We are however
working with financial institutions to give credit to farmers,"
he said.
Fast maturing courgette vegetable
The 'zucchini' courgette, locally known as amira, is yellow
in colour and matures in 45 days. Peter Mutua from Dryland
Seed Ltd said it has a yield potential of 10-15 tonnes per
acre under good management. "It does not require much
water, we are now introducing it to farmers and it will be in
the market by end year," said Mutua.
Improved cooking stoves
The cooking stove uses two sources of heat -- biomass or
charcoal or pellets of sawdust and can also be connected to
a solar power/electricity.
"It has a fan which when connected to a source of power
helps to add oxygen to complete combustion and this adds
the temperature from 300 degrees to about 800. This will
cook faster and it is smokeless," said Susan Wanjiku from
Sustainable Community Development Services (SCDS).
She said the cooker saves on fuel and time and one can use
the smallest solar panel of 20 watts. It is also clean energy
and does not emit smoke so it can be used even in the
sitting area.
The cooker costs Sh16,000 which is inclusive of a solar
panel of 15 watts, a bulb, phone charging kit and a battery.
SCDS also showcased various improved cooking stoves
with institutional and household sizes at a cost of Sh7,500
and Sh3,500 respectively. One can buy a 'bright box'
containing two bulbs, radio cable, phone charging kit,
battery and solar panel at an added cost of Sh9,600.