By BOSCO MAGARE
Magharibi Farmers Co-operative Society Limited (Sacco) plans to pioneer the growing of cashew nuts as a high-value coastal cash crop among farmers in Bungoma County by importing seedlings from Zanzibar.
The initiative comes as the society celebrates being named the Most Improved Co-operative Society in Bungoma County.
A delegation comprising the society’s chairperson, Caroline Wattimah, vice-chairperson Wanjala Makokha, secretary Daisy Wakoli, treasurer Rita Mukhongo and three ordinary members — Prof Bulumo Steve, Vivian Kmonyo and Selverias Mresia — is set to travel to Zanzibar for discussions with a farmers’ organisation involved in cashew nut production and large-scale export.
In an exclusive interview with TRBN in his office, Makokha said the delegation was already in contact with its hosts in Zanzibar and would use the visit to learn more about cashew farming and the potential of the crop.
“We are already in contact with our host organisation in Zanzibar and, once we land on the Indian Ocean island, we will gather more details from cashew nut plantations and farmers about this high-value cash crop,” he said.
Makokha said the planned visit was part of the Sacco’s efforts to expose its members to innovative farming practices and profitable agricultural enterprises.
“Two years ago, Magharibi Society officials, including yours truly, travelled to neighbouring Uganda and Rwanda to find out more innovative ways of improving our members’ farming and other businesses,” he said.
He said the Sacco wanted to move farmers away from overreliance on traditional low-value crops such as maize and encourage them to embrace high-value agricultural enterprises.
“Magharibi Farmers Co-operative Society is keen on making a paradigm shift by moving farmers who are members of our society in Bungoma County away from the traditional engagement and preoccupation with growing low-value indigenous crops like maize into embracing new, innovative farming practices such as growing cashew nuts that will give them high returns in terms of monetary gain,” Makokha said.
He said farmers in coastal regions, including Zanzibar, had demonstrated the potential of cashew nuts as a lucrative cash crop.
“Our focus is to introduce farmers in Bungoma County to growing new cash crops. Farmers in coastal regions like Zanzibar Island earn more money from the sale of cashew nuts compared with the paltry amount farmers in Bungoma County and elsewhere in Kenya earn from traditional crops such as maize,” he said.
Makokha said although Magharibi’s membership comprised professionals from different fields, the Sacco was increasingly focusing on agriculture and encouraging farmers to view farming as a business enterprise.
“Once society officials introduce new farming methods, we follow up with outreach meetings to meet the farmers once every month. During our outreach visits, we are accompanied by agricultural experts, including financial advisers, who educate and equip farmers with new agricultural knowledge and skills on managing and investing their income prudently. Some of the experts are our own society members too,” he said.
He said some members currently engaged in traditional maize farming, sugarcane production, dairy farming and fish projects were being encouraged to embrace modern agricultural practices and technology.
As part of the strategy, the Sacco is promoting value addition and encouraging farmers to adopt enterprises capable of generating better returns.
“We want our farmers to start viewing farming as a business and not a hand-to-mouth activity,” Makokha said.
Established in 2020 by seven professionals from Bungoma County, including accountants, lawyers and procurement specialists, Magharibi Farmers Co-operative Society is based in Musikoma, near Bungoma town.
Makokha said the Sacco had grown from its modest beginnings and was now leading efforts to introduce innovative farming, business and financial models to its members.
“Magharibi’s focus is largely on agriculture. We want to make farmers view agriculture as a business and move away from the previous traditional worldview of farming,” he said.
The Sacco currently has 138 members and a capital base of Sh25 million.
Makokha said the society’s innovative approach to farming, business and financial services had earned it the Most Improved Co-operative Society award in Bungoma County during this year’s Ushirika Day celebrations.
He said the Sacco had set its sights on becoming one of the leading co-operative societies in the county and eventually surpassing Ngarisha Teachers Co-operative Society, which he described as Bungoma’s leading Sacco.
Besides agriculture, Magharibi offers a range of financial products and services to its members.
Makokha said the Sacco provides both short- and long-term loan facilities, including emergency loans repayable within one year and long-term loans of up to four years.
Members can borrow between Sh50,000 and Sh4 million without collateral, provided they have credible guarantors.
“We offer short-term, including emergency loans of one year, and long-term loans of up to four years. Society members can borrow amounts ranging from Sh50,000 up to Sh4 million without collateral. All we need are credible guarantors for members to obtain loan facilities from the Sacco, which are processed within a very short timeframe,” he said.
Makokha said the Sacco charges an interest rate of 10 per cent and pays annual dividends to members.
“Our interest rates of 10 per cent are relatively among the cheapest available among Saccos in the country. We pay annual dividends to our members. Last year, we paid 7.5 per cent as dividends,” he said.
