Small scale farmers focus on Indigenous seeds to enhance food security

Machakos,

Monday, January 29, 2024

KNA by Anne Kangero

Small scale farmers from Kaani in Machakos County, have now put all their focus on farming using indigenous seeds because they are adaptive to climate change especially in Machakos, where the rains are scarce.

The farmers who have formed a close knit group in Kaani where they meet every Friday to update each other on their developments and challenges in farming say indigenous seeds have saved them money and time, since they don’t have to rely on the agro vets to get their seeds nor fertilizer.

 Peter Nzioka, who is 68 years old and chairman of the small scale group, while speaking to KNA says he has been an ardent farmer for 24 years and his journey took a different course 9 years ago, when he began focusing on only indigenous farming which includes non-use of fertilizer or any chemicals on his farm.

Nzioka while showing us his 31/2 half acres explained that he chose the indigenous route because of the nutritional value and when the rains are approaching, he will be able to decide what seeds he wants to plant compared to going to the agro vet and maybe the seeds one needs are not available or are highly priced yet the rains are there for a short while and he needs to plant immediately.

This, he said has made him develop an indigenous seed bank where he reproduces his seeds for planting which saves him time and money.

“As Kaani small scale farmers we have our seed banks because if you depend on someone else to give you seeds you will delay in planting, delay in harvest, which results in famine and hunger,” said Nzioka.

He added that he uses local available materials to improve his farming such as farmyard manure, composite manure and regeneration of his seeds which is what his forefathers before him had been doing.

“I have transitioned myself from normal agriculture to Agroecology because I have seen the benefits of indigenous seeds which are disease and drought resistant, adaptable to climate change and the yields are good,” said Nzioka.

Nzioka believes that most farmers are leaning towards producing what has a ready market as opposed to what is nutritious and indigenous noting that cash crops have replaced heritage foods that fed people for generations.

He adds that his health and his family’s health has improved over the years as a result of eating crops that are chemical free.

On asking him how he keeps off pests and insects from his crops, he said that he uses Sodom apple which he cuts them up in pieces and mixes them in hot water, leaves it for two days and it's ready for use and can be sprayed to keep off bugs.

Nzioka while showing us the Sodom apple plants which grow freely in most farms, forests and can be easily found, encouraged most farmers who cannot afford insecticide at the agro vet to try the Sodom apple which has no chemicals and is cheap to prepare.

He said he has given his son an Acre from his land so that he starts his own indigenous farming which is already bearing fruits and he looks forward to educating the community on the importance of indigenous seeds.

A 50-year-old Charles Muinde a farmer from lower kaewa in Machakos and a member of the Kaani small scale farmers, says financial challenges made him change from the modern farming to organic farming which he has been practicing for the last 10 years.

Muinde who believes a farmer is both a researcher and a scientist, previously worked as a salesman in various beverage companies, decided to resign from his 9-5pm job, venture into farming full time and focus on chemical free farming and using compost manure instead of fertilizer.

Muinde said before he decided to go organic he suffered losses because his crops were attacked by worms and he spent a lot on insecticide which made him lose money and after doing some research that’s when he chose the indigenous farming.

“My farm and crops quality have improved since I stopped using modern modified seeds and chemicals in my farm, the produce may not be much but it is healthy, nutritious, chemical free and enough to feed my family,” said Muinde.

Muinde adds that the challenge that he faced were the attacks from army worms and other insects and so since he decided to plant repellants instead of using the pesticides from the agro vets.

“We decided to plant repellants or natural insecticides such as lemon grass, rosemary, onions, mint and basil which are useful for keeping off insects and bugs that usually destroy the crops,” added Muinde.

He says he also uses Sodom apple mixed with hot water to make the repellant which is readily available and while others believe Sodom apple is poisonous, he says they have tried it on their farms and it is safe for use compared to the chemicals being sold.

“As farmers, we take ourselves to be scientists and researchers and we take our farms as research centers and laboratories where we come up with insecticides which are locally available such as Sodom apple which after spraying the crops one can harvest the crop after a day or two,” added Muinde.

He adds that he convinced his wife of 20 years to leave her teaching job and join him in the quest for indigenous farming and clean eating, which has increased their food production.

He adds that together with his wife they have now opened a local hotel in the village and they use the produce from their farm to cook for their clients.

Muinde says he has planted sweet potatoes, arrowroots, maize, beans, cowpeas and vegetables which are used at his Jehovah Glory hotel, which is at the Kaani shopping Centre.

He acknowledges that the Haki Nawiri foundation whose mission is advancing social justice in marginalized communities, paid the small scale farmers a visit and encouraged them in the use of indigenous seeds and how to maintain the seeds for future use.

As a dedicated farmer he believes in learning new techniques every day which will improve farming and save on cost, he has also managed to convince some of his friends to join the indigenous seeds wagon.

Magdalene Kimeu who is also a member of the small scale farmers has been using indigenous seeds for over 10 years. She uses local fertilizer which include chicken waste and cow dung.

She says that as a group, they visit each other to help those who are facing difficulties in farming and they are well guided on how to proceed.

Veronica adds that when her father gave her a piece of land to farm, she started using the organic seeds and from the teaching from the Haki Nawiri foundation, her crops thrived.

She noted that her siblings showed interest in her crops which also survived during the drought season and now almost everyone is curious and interested in indigenous farming.

The founder of Haki Nawiri foundation Leonida Odongo who were conducting a three-day training for farmers in indigenous farming in kaani, said that they are in a quest to salvage indigenous seeds which are adaptable to climate change and grow to be productive.

“With indigenous seeds they are tried and tested by our ancestors and forefathers and no farmer who has used them has experienced stunted growth,” said Leonida.

Leonida pointed out that for proper farming that will yield nutritious food each soil from the farmer’s land has to have water retention capacity and had asked them each to carry some soil so that they can do a soil test to determine whose soil is the best for producing quality food.

She also encouraged the farmers to have an indigenous seed bank for use and not to rely on their friends or neighbor’s so that they can have the freedom to decide what to plant and when to harvest.

Leonida taught them how to store seeds for future use without them getting bad and one way is smoking them or hanging them on a fireplace like in the old days.

Earthen pots of burnt clay are also used to store indigenous seeds as well as mixing them with ash or cow dung.

The founder of Haki Nawiri said that in Machakos they have trained over 300 farmers and they are looking forward to reaching other parts of the country to encourage Agroecology for a healthy and sustainable diet.

Courtesy; KNA