This archive report was first published on 21 September 2019.
Published on September 21, 2019, a group of farmers in Lari, Kiambu, have come together to reap from all areas of the agricultural value chain.
Known as Kabunge Commercial Village, the 30 farmers who grow indigenous African vegetables are experiencing a significant improvement in their lives.
Christopher Kimunya, a member of the village, says he used to experience crop failure, difficulty in accessing markets, and transportation problems before joining the initiative eight years ago.
Kimunya's half-acre farm now dedicates a quarter to an assortment of nutritious vegetables such as amaranth, spider plant, and night shade.
Through the commercial village, the farmers have access to markets in Nairobi and Tala in Kangundo, thanks to their partnership with African Farms and Markets (AFMA).
'We have been contracted by AFMA, which enables us to sell all our produce in good time and in bulk,' says Kimunya.
The farmers harvest their produce every evening in bundles weighing half a kilo and take it to designated picking points, where the marketing chairman ensures the bundles meet the required weight and are free from pests.
John Muya, the group's chairman, says selling their produce together has cushioned them from the effects of fluctuating food prices.
'Our contract buyer sets the buying price at a flat rate, enabling us to always fetch a fairly good price, come rain or shine,' he says.
Currently, the farmers sell a kilo of vegetables at Sh24, an amount they deem fair considering it's peak season.
Gerald Watoro, a senior commercialisation and zone coordinator of Farm Concern, says a fixed or standardised rate is advantageous to the farmer because there are more months of availability than those of scarcity in the year.
