Farmers Trained on Value Addition
A transformative training session organized by the NCCK has empowered 188 Conservation Agriculture (CA) farmers in Tharaka-Nithi County with skills to enhance profitability through value addition and market linkages. The initiative, targeting green grams and millet, equipped farmers with techniques to improve product quality, extend shelf life, and strengthen market competitiveness, marking a significant step toward sustainable agriculture and economic empowerment.
The training focused on practical skills such as green grams polishing and packing as well as millet milling.
In addition, the 128 female and 60 male farmers were sensitized on aggregation of produce to boost bargaining power and access larger markets.
“This training has opened our eyes to new possibilities,” said Mary Wanjiku, a farmer from Nkondi. “Polishing green grams and milling millet will help us fetch better prices.”
A key outcome of the discussions between the farmers and service providers was to adopt contract farming and product aggregation to improve market access and ensure sustainability.
To ensure long-term impact, the participants developed action plans, with farmers’ groups and community-based organizations (CBOs) committing to raise funds for value addition and marketing initiatives. A market survey will also be conducted to identify demand trends, pricing, and potential buyers to guide strategic decisions.
