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IJlHEIFER cnding htmger, Heifer Project International

Project CaringJor tbe Earth
International
KENYA Kenya

MUNDIKA FARM PROGRESS REPORT AND PROPOSED SeALING UP PLAN

Prepared By

Heifer Project International Kenya

©June 2009

Nilama~ace, Ka~arnetRoa~P]' Box7G478· 00508~iro~i

[;nail: infoOO~eMenyanr~

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Table of content

1. Mundika Farm Development Project 3

(i) Background..................................................................................................... 3

(ii) Progress to May 2009................................................................................. 4

(iv) Challenges 6

(v) Plans for the next period 6

2. Scaling up: The next steps 7

(i) Background 7

(ii) Enhancing production 8

(iii) Value addition to farm products 8

3. Marketing 9

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BACKGROUND

Mundika farm is owned by the Convent of Catholic Church in Busia district of Kenya. The Convent is the
centre of spiritual growth and compassion. It was established in 1990 to help reduce suffering among
the old destitute people by offering them with a home, food, dothing. medical support and spiritual
comfort. Following social problems, diseases, broken marriages and lack of support from relatives, a
number of the destitute people in the Mukinda Parish had risen greatly, which prompted the Parish
Priest, Bishop and Sisters to establish the centre. The number of dependant old people in the centre had
risen to 97 in 2006. The centre was sourcing for financial support from other people and organizations
to enable it take care of these old people. In addition to sourcing for financial support from outside, the
convent developed small businesses in the centre to raise money. Some of the businesses included
bakery, farming and operating a small guesthouse with paying guests.

In view ofthe rising numbers of destitute old people and lack of sufficient funds to meet the needs of
these people, the Convent decided to commercialize agricultural production in their farm. The farm
enterprises would raise food and income which could be used in feeding and meeting other needs of the
old people in the centre. The Sisters running the Convent and the farm decided to start dairy, pig,
poultry and horticulture farming on a commercial scale. They sought for funds to invest in these
enterprises and technical support to start up the enterprises.

The Sisters approached Van Stokhom of The Netherlands for financial support for these enterprises. Van
Stokhom suggested to the Sisters to request Heifer International to support them technically in
establishment of the farm enterprises.

Heifer International support was on farm

planning, training on general farm
management principles, animal
husbandry, organic agriculture and
marketing.

The Sisters nominated one of them to

take two years training in farm
management at Baraka Farmers Training
College, run by Catholic Church in Molo
district.

Heifer International supported the Sisters in establishment of fodder for dairy cattle, sheds for dairy,
pigs and poultry, paddocked the farm and introduced vegetables and fruits.

The farm received 5 dairy cows from Baraton University and 6 sows and 2 boars from Nairobi and
vegetable and fruit seeds and seedlings.

The farm has been operating since 2007 and below is the progress report.

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 MUNDIKA FARM DEVELOPMENT PROJECT - GRACE COMPASSION UPDATE JANUARY - MAY 2009

ENTERPRISE ACTIVITY PROGRESS COMMENT

Dairy No. of cows 5 AII the original cows were weil and healthy
No of heifers 3 • These are heifer offspring from the
original cows.
• They are almast ready for service to
increase the farms milking herd
No. of bull calves 1 • This one will be sold for breeding to
needy farmers.
Passing on the gift 5 heifers were • This was done on 29/5/09 at the
passed on to 5 Mundika farm
members of the • It was presided over by the HPI
Kolping community country director and the ceremony
was attended bya over 189 people
Milk production 3 cows were • Total milk production was 5222 litres
lactating throught • Sisters consumed 1590.5 litres
the periad. A fourth • Old people consumed 750 litres
one dried in March • Calves consumed 546 litres
2009 and is due to • Tata I milk sold = 2335.5 Litres
calve in July 2009.
• Total revenue from sales = KSH.
One was dry 209,074
throught, currently
it is under
treatment.
Piggery Total number of 54 at the end of may • AII the six furrowed during this period
pigs on the farm 2009. • Ofthese 17 are ready for sale to
Farmer's Choice. This are projected to
bring in ksh. 180,000
• 30 are piglets
• 6 sows
• 1 baar
Sales of pigs Sold 33 pigs to • The Farmers Choice market was not
Farmer's Choice very reliable. Each pig was sold by
earning Ksh. weight.
253,000
Bananas Expansion of the 64 more banana • The trees are projected to produce
plot stools were planted 400 suckers and 400 bunches for sale
bringing the total each quarter
number of stools to
164. And over 364
banana trees on the
farm
Sales from 30 bunches and 100 • The bunches brought in a revenue of
bananas suckers were sold ksh. 6,000 while the suckers were
during this period sold for ksh. 100,000 the income was
used to purchase 100 plastic chairs

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 production and consumption of
rabbit meat.
Training Farmer exchange 14 people from the • This tour was a great exposure
visits centre and the PDG especially to the PDG families who
farmers visited Siaya are expected to take good care of the
and Kisii heifers they were provided.
Groups touring • During the PDG ceremony on 29/5/09
the Mundika farm the occasion was used to train other
farmers by touring the farm and
explaining what is done.
• Over 179 farmers attended the PDG
• The farm also hosted 12 groups of
farmers from both HPI groups and
other neighboring Districts for
learning purposes.

Challenges during the period Uanuary - May 2009)

1. There was a very long unanticipated dry spell between January and March - This reduced the
forage availability to the cows hence lower milk production.

2. The main pigs market, Farmers Choice were not reliable in collecting the pigs on time, th is
resulted in more expenditure on pig feed. There are 17 more pigs to be collected during the
month of June. They should have been collected in May.

PLANS FOR THE NEXT PERIOD

1. Explore possibilities of setting up a pig butchery in Busia

2. Install a biogas plant from the proceeds ofthe pigs

3. Enhance on farm feed formulation for the cows and pigs

4. Harvest the maize and store

5. Enhance the organic farming farms by planting more vegetables, and crops organically

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MUNDIKA FARM DEVElOPMENT PROJECT - THE NEXT STEPS

Background

Heifer International started work with Grace Compassion centre Mundika in the year 2006. The centre
has 26 old people resident and an outreach of 140 others. Helpage Kenya, a charity assists the old
people by providing Ksh. 2000 per old person per three months. This money was inadequate and could
hardly last one month with the needs of the old people, the sisters and the centre in general.

When HPI partnered with the farm, 1 sister was trained in Baraka College for one year on farm
management. The farm workers and sisters received constant trainings from HPI staff and the farm was
planned. It was facilitated to start organic farming, fruits production, proper dairy cattle farming and pig
production.

The centre received 5 high grade cows in May 2007 and the herd now is 9 pure grade animals worth
over Ksh. 1,000,000. They also procured 6 gilts and two boars to stock the piggery in March 2008, to
date they have sold pigs for over Ksh. 350,000 and the piggery is valued over Kshs.600,000 in animals
and assets.

Farm crops including maize, beans, bananas, passion fruits, water melons, pineapples, various types of
vegetables are thriving and bringing in revenue

The farm has been successful and is used for various activities apart from production. The centre is now
utilized to train farmers in dairy and organic farming through exchange visits. Groups of farmers visit the
centre and get knowledge from the sisters.

Ce/ebration during POG A member of Ka/ping receives a heifer from

sister

The activities on the centre need sealing up and expansion into marketing to ensure sustainability and
increased benefits.

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The next stage will include

1. Expanding production
2. Developing value addition and Marketing structures.

1. Enhancing production
i) Expansion ofthe dairy enterprise
Put in place feeding strategy that will reduce reliance on napier grass and stress more on feed
rationing and conservation
Maize bran is easily accessible from Busia or cheaply across in Uganda.
Centre to procure a hammer mill crushing crop residues
Crop residues especially maize Stover can be collected after harvest from the farm and from
neighbours, silage to be made from the Napier planted on the farm
Increase the herd from the current 5 to 10, this should guarantee an ave rage of 150 litres of
milk from the farm daily
ii) Expansion of organic farming enterprise
Enhance production of all the crops on the farm to conform to organic practices
Expand the greenhouse and introduce more high value crops i.e. continue tomatoes production
and introduce cucumber
Introduce rare but high value crops ta rgeting the non- traditional markets especially Kisumu
Increase the areas under local vegetables to serve the old people, the sisters on the centre and
the local community.
iii) Enhancing the local poultry production
Put up a bigger unit for local poultry to be able to produce at least 100 birds per month
Have a rearing unit that will enable birds to be reared in batches and ensure continuous
production
Enhance breeding, disease control and feeding regimes.
Feeding and disease control to conform to organic practices.
Hatching to initially be done using broody hens with carefully selected cocks. Latter the centre
to procure an incubator for production of dav old chicks for the centre and for sale.
iv) Piggery
Ration formulation and compounding on the farm rather than purchasing

2. Value addition to farm produets

Target
• Milk - Yoghurt and mala(fermented)
• Vegetables - Solar drying
• Fruits - solar drying and juices

Packaging and branding using simple machines.

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3. Marketing

The Mundika farm is strategically situated 8 km from Busia town on Busia - Kisumu highway. The
centre has a piece of land touching on the highway hence have an opportunity to set up a marketing
structure that will be visible to all road users and make advertising and marketing easy.

The farm being managed by the Church and sisters will build on the reputation of sisters to market
organic products

There are 8 farmer groups within a radius of 15 km that were earlier supported by Heifer with dairy
cows. These groups are performing weil in milk production and could benefit from a milk collection
and value addition venture with Mundika farm. There are also farmers within the Busia municipality
that can join in the venture to deliver milk and market together.

HPI is also in the process of supporting more families around the area - through the Send A Cow
project, with more livestock. This should increase the number of families producing milk and organic
products.

Marketing ideas and support

• HPI to support a simple but though studyjsurvey on the viability of the marketing venture at
the farm. The facts and figures currently available need to be authenticated through a study
and clear recommendations.
• The farm to set up a buildingjcentre on their plot next to the tarmac. The building will be
used as an outlet for products from the farm and those soureed from neighbors.
• The centre to have multi-activities (resting area for people to take fresh milk and their
products or a restaurant, stalls/shelves for organic farm produce, an office etc.)

• Pig and pork marketing

The centre depends on the market from farmer's

choice; however they have been unreliable and
have caused the farm to incur a lot of expenses in
feeding. To mitigate this challenge the marketing
centre should have butchery with another outlet
in Busia. The butchery should be able to dispose
of one pig per dav or 30 pigs per month. The pork

Pigs on the farm can also be packaged and sold under the Mundika
brand name once the market is established.

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 • Organic produets and fruits
• The centre to apply to be certified as an organic producer
• Organic produce to be sou reed from the farm and selected farmers who
comply with organic farming requirements
• Produce to be parked in branded packages
• Fruits (bananas and pineapples) to be solar died and packed with brand
name, others to make fresh juices and sold at the centre.
• Surplus vegetables to be dried and packed
• Banana marketing to be twofold
• They be ripened using simple ripening chambers(easily fabricated) and sold
whole or as juice
• Sucker to be sold to other farmers

Pineapple and simsim field

• Loeal poultrv
Local poultry is a delicacy in the region and has ready market. It is a simple enterprise to
undertake but with high returns. They however need good care.

• Build unit to raise 1000 local poultry in batches

• Get local orders and market as reliable source
• Target to sell
• Day old chicks
• Pullets and cockerels

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 • Dressed chicken(Packaged as whole or parts)

• Milk
• Milk collection from the Mundika farm and neighbouring community
• On farm milk processing into yoghurt and Mala
• Use of simple milk equipment for value addition and processing - batch
pasteurizer, cooler, sealing machines
• Packaging and branding milk and milk products.

4. Training Centre
• The farm should upscale the training activities. Currently they receive very
many groups of farmers on learning missions. This activity can be
structured. HPI would support in putting out a simple farmer training
curriculum covering 2 to 3 days with practicaion the farm demonstrations.
Visiting farmers will pay for this training.
• This will be another souree of income to the centre. This should not call for
recruiting extra personnel since it is an on going practica I ideas exchange for
farmers.
• The farmers or groups of people who get training from the farm will pay for
it and proceeds ploughed back.
• HPI and collaborators especially the Livestock department will also ensure
that the farm is testingjimplementing new ideas on improved crop and
livestock production by sourcing for information.

A/ex Kirui, HP/IK Country Program Director A/ex Kirui, HP/IK Country Program
tours organic gardens Director p/ants a tree in the farm
during PDG ceremony

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