Is there a market for organic produce in Africa? - How to achieve sustainable food production for increased profit and well-being

********

Featured video:
BBC News: As questions of food security and food supply become more pressing for many governments in Africa, and where many do not have direct access to land on which to grow crops – people are turning to innovative solutions to grow vegetables.
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/business-51242005

********

17.12.2020 How did a homeless man in America end up owning one of the biggest organic farms in Kenya? Kunga Kihohia is not your ordinary farmer. Having worked in some of the biggest companies in America grossing over 5 Million shillings a year, he followed the wrong path and found himself drunk, overweight and homeless. But deep down, he knew the only place his life could take a different turn was his Father’s homeland Kenya and so he came back determined to start a fresh. Today, he owns Back to Nature Organic farm in Murang’a. Our reporter Lynn Ngugi caught up with him and this is his story proudly brought to you by KCB Bank

31.12.2020 US-Born Kenyan-American Man Permanently Moves to Kenya to Start Organic Farming When he came to Kenya for the first time in 2014, Kungo Kihokia’s intention was to stay for a few weeks then go back to the US, where he was born and raised. But his stay in the country made the Kenyan-American change his mind about returning to his birthplace – Miami, Florida. In a recent interview with Ghanaian YouTuber Wode Maya, Kunga opened up on his decision to permanently move to Kenya, where he established an organic farm.

“Once I got back home, I realized what had happened in America 25 years ago is starting to happen in the African continent which is the rise of lifestyle diseases.” “One of the reasons that made me come back home was I had achieved a certain measure of financial success but I was unhappy, unhealthy. I decided to come back to nature,” said Kunga. Kunga, who currently owns and operates a 20-acre organic farm in Murang’a County, says although his decision to move to Kenya from the US seemed crazy, it’s one of the best decisions he has ever made. He started the organic farm to address the challenge of lifestyle diseases and besides creating employment opportunities, he also makes good profit. On the farm, Kunga grows maize, vegetables, fruits among other plants. “Nothing great was ever accomplished by someone who wasn’t called crazy. Being raised in Florida is home but at a particular point in time, I realized every human being on the face of this earth has a place they call home.” “No matter where you travel or where you may be born, for me Kenya, Africa, was, is and will always be home,” he adds.

His arrival in Kenya led to the birth of a moved called ‘Back to Nature Movement’ whose aim is to encourage people to ditch junk and processed food to a more healthy lifestyle. On his experience as a farmer in Kenya, Kunya says: “There is nothing more rewarding than getting your feet dirty, connecting to the soil, this soil is what gives us food. African soil is sacred soil and farming in Africa is a beautiful thing getting close to nature is something wonderful and when you can do it sustainably and profitably.” What is his message to other Africans and Kenyans in the diaspora? He says: “To those of African ancestry, we have an African civilization inheritance which has been disinherited from us. Part of claiming that heritage is repatriating mentally, psychologically eventually physically.” Source: http://mwakilishi.com/article/diaspor…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhC398dtlrc
14.08.2020 Can organic food farming be scaled to sustain the masses or will it remain to serve a niche market?Meet The Njoroges, our agri-preneurs this week as they share their journey in organic farming. Get in touch with Stella :+254718860173

2.03.2020 Meet Caro, One Of Kenya’s Youngest Female Organic farmers. We had a great conversation including sharing how she became interested in organic farming, How her journey has been so far, And her advice to anyone who would like to become an organic farmer!

10.07.2019 Healthy eating is fast creeping into many households dining table. And with it comes the demand for organic foods. In this week’s Smart Farm, Denis Otieno met one such farmer in Kiambu and she says, the demand for organic food, outstrips supply in Kenya.

******

Featured website:

The Organic Guy – in Kenya
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ4Uh3YntIfDSS6V1SbXiQQ
Website: https://theorganicguy.com/

8.01.2020 Here Are The 2019 Top 5 Moments That Shaped The World Of Organic In Kenya
******

2.2.2016 Anthony Munene and his wife Andrea Bye offer insights on organic farming which they say is a profitable agribusiness venture.

17.05.2014

19.10.2013 How three smallholder farmers in Tanzania and Kenya escaped poverty, hunger and diminishing yields through learning organic farming practices.

4.11.2020 Wodemaya is in Nairobi Kenya
Contact us if you want your story to featured ackonberthold@yahoo.com

***********

Other

Facebook

Organic food Kenya (OFOK) is a community based organization and was started by a couple, RAYMOND AND JACKLINE ORENDA last year and officially registered this year by the Ministry of culture and social services.The CBO (Community Based Organization) empowers the local schools, out of school youths, widows and the community farmers at large.In doing this, Organic Food Kenya (OFOK) work closely with development organizations (Including local youths, Women groups and self-help groups) working within and around Homa- Bay County and the bordering counties. OFOK recruit membership voluntarily around the area of operation
https://www.facebook.com/organickenyaproject