Reducing Reliance on Maize in Kenya

Reducing Dependance on Maize as a Source of Carbohydrates in Lari District, Kenya

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.

This project aims at reducing reliance on maize as source of carbohydrates in Lari District, Central Province, Kenya.This will be done by introduction of a variety of starch based flours ground from locally grown crops such as bananas,potatoes(both Irish and Spanish), and later  cassava and yams.The flour can be used as an alternative to maize flour in preparation of Ugali (which makes the main diet in Kenyan households) or porridge depending on the flour's texture.The flours can also be used in production of bakery products such as bread and cakes.Other products will include banana and pototo crisps.

The project aims to utelise locally available materials to construct solar powered food driers and use vegatable wastes sush as banana peels to produce biogas for drying and heating purposes.Based on the fact that the purchasing ability determines what a customer buys and that people like variety,the new flours,if set at a competative price will gradually decrease dependance on maize flour.

This project is going to be carried out in conjuction with Lari Health and Development Programme (Lahedep) a community based organisation working in the district since 2004.

We believe that farmers will support the idea as it will reduce post harvest losses eg.overripe bananas,stabilise potato prices and value addition to their produce will be a source of higher incomes.The organic manure from the biogas digester will discourage use of chemical fertilizers. The consumers will appreciate the variety and the competative prices. The jobs created  will reduce crime rates and rural- urban migration.

NEEDS ASSESMENT

The Maya tribe in Mexco believe that the gods created man from maize after clay had failed by becoming soggy and wood lacked genius and wisdom.In Kenya communities such as the Luo regard themselves as connoisseurs of the art of eating ugali.Every Kenyan consumes an average of 125kgs of maize per year.The bad news is that climate change leading to erratic weather is taking off about 17%,diseases and ear rot another 10%, in fertile soils 10%, striga -a parastic weed 15%, stem boring insects 10% and the last but worst insects such as weevils after harvest 10-20%.Maize forms 80% of the cereals production and therefore, the decline in production is a noose around millions of Kenyans.It has lowered the country's food security or Global Hunger Index (GHI) to alarming levels according to a report released by the International Food Policy Research Institute on 14th, October 2009.Ten million Kenyans are out with begging bowls with starvation and death hot on their heels.Poor rains ,high seed and fertilizer prices,counterfeit pesticides and reliance on a single crop has take us down this road.The time to change is NOW!

RESOURCES NEEDED FOR IMPLIMENTATION

A)Lahedep is made up profestionals in various fields such as     teachers,health workers,community educators,conservationists,farmers etc.We intend to use thier wide knowledge for community mobilisation and education.      

B) Specialist personnel will then be engaged  to offer  technical services

C) Finances- We estimate that the project will need $37120 or Kshs 2.6m that will be used for :

_Site acquisition-$8600

_Construction of Solar rfood driers -$1400

_Grinding mill -$1400

_Biogas digester-$1400

_Pick- up truck,  for collecting produce  and marketing  the products -$10000

_Capital for buying produce(initial 3 months)- $5600

_Advertisements on the media -$700

_Packanging materials-$700

_Renumeration (initial 3 months)

   (i.)Food and nutrition specialist $-1300

    (ii)Quality controler -$1070

    (iii)Maintainance Technitian -$860

    (iv)Driver $650

    (v)Loader-$430

    (vi)Secretary/Accountant -$430

    (vii)Security Officer -$430

    (viii)Five general workers -$2150

TOTAL                                             $37120

Its expected that the factory will be self sustaining after 3 months of operation.

OPERATIONAL ISSUES

1. We intend to cut down operating costs through:

    a. Using volunteers especially for community mobilising.

    b. Use of solar energy to dry the foods will cut energy costs.

    c. Using biogas for drying and heating especially when solar                    energy is inadequate.

    d. Organic manure from the digester can be sold at an affordable        price to the farmers.

    e. The produce will be collected from Lari district itself                             ,Githunguri and Kinangop districts which are less than                         30kms from the factory itself.

    Other issues ;

Bread and cakes from some of these flours may be crumby  or  too soft,  we therefore intend  to mix  them at various ratios  or  add  other flours  such as wheat flour to cater for individual tastes.Recipes will be offered to consumers.

MARKETING

The idea will be marketed using both print and electronic media,flyers and public meetings.The Ministry of Agriculture will be approached for support through its ("Piga Njaa Marufuku"i.e, Kick  Hunger Out Programme). Agricultural field extension officers will  be approached to help farmers in the field.The  local Member  Parliament  will be sought for help through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and for political support.Kenya Industrial Estates -a goverment department dealing with cottage industries will be sought for technical assistance.

TIME LINE

The project is divided into two stages;

    a. Short term

       i. Acquisition of a site -1st month

       ii. Construction of solar food driers, grindig mill and biogas                     digester-2 -3rd month.

       iii. Buying produce from the farmers -4th month.

b.  Long term

       i. Introduction of fast maturing bananas such as the ones                     developed by JKUAT University at Juja Campus.

       ii. Introduction of cassava and yam seeds in the drier parts of                 the region.

IMPACT MONITORING AND EVALUATION

We will constantly evaluate the performance of our products by use of a suggestion box,questionnaires and face to face interviews with  the farmers and the consumers .The farmers incomes  are expected to rise,malnutrition is expected to decrease with more children who are better clothed attending school.Youths will be now engaged in productive activities instead of idling  in the local shopping centers taking cheap alcohol.Soil erosion will decrease as more farmers plant Spanish (sweet) potatoes which is a good cover crop.

We expect that in 5 years potato bread,potato flour ,banana crisps ,yam("yummy") cakes, cassava  flakes  etc will be  a common feature  in  Nakumatt Stores in Nairobi,Kenya as much as in  Okonkwo General Shop  in  Kaduna , Nigeria.Yams will not rot in barns in Mali or overripe bananas dumped in Uganda.

From 70000 Larians in Lari district diffusion of this idea spreads to 38 million other Kenyans and 700 million fellow Africans.

Maize is starch, yam is starch,green banana is starch just as potato is starch.All are starch they only look different when  they are inthe farm .