Awareness Creation and baseline surveys

The ‘whole value chain’ approach developed by Africa Harvest has been quite effective in awareness creation as reflected in the following: Through farmers field Schools (FFS) farmers were trained how to prepare land, proper planting of TC banana, weeding, de-suckering, harvesting and post-harvest handling techniques. They were also involved in project planning, monitoring and evaluation of the project. Through exchange visits and market visits farmers were made aware of the markets for their products.
Packaging of information in the form of guidelines to farmers and brochures on uses of bananas has helped the value chain approach in empowering farmers through information on production, marketing and processing.

Group formation and management is another success that has come from the implementation of the value chain, working with already formed groups and using them to replicate their activities in the neighboring regions i.e. the demonstration effect. Capacity building which involves building of groups by helping them to draw up constitutions, calling for regular meetings and training them on group dynamics has enhanced cohesion and management of the groups. Groups have aslo been trained to form their own marketing, processing, production and dispute- resolution committees which have in turn strengthened the whole value chain.

Seedling Availability & Affordability

The whole value chain has been quite successful in helping farmers acquire planting materials sourced from private companies like GTL and ATL and from public institutions like JKUAT, KARI- Thika and KARI Kakamega. The value chain however has achieved only limited success in ensuring affordability of the planting materials, securing subsidies for farmers is a challenge owing to the absence of a banana policy. However, there is a stakeholders’ process of preparing a policy paper that would suggest to the government to consider offering subsidies to banana farmers and on the inputs so as to reduce the cost of plantlets to the farmers. In an effort to counter these challenges there have been concerted efforts aimed at reducing costs by setting up hardening nurseries in the production areas to reduce costs of transport. Working with micro finance institutions like the K-REP bank and Equity Bank to get loans for farmers which they can pay with their harvest.

Growing and Orchard Management

The value chain has addressed the issue of community nurseries by training nursery operators in the project areas also entrepreneurs who are willing to invest are appraised, evaluated and trained by the KARI scientists on establishment and management of nurseries. Those who have been trained are used as Training of Trainers (TOT) agents to train others at the community level.

Post- harvest handling and Treatment

The value chain adequately addresses post harvest handling issues. Farmers have been trained on banana handling after harvesting to ensure that the produce remains clean

Marketing & Consumer Acceptance

The value chain has effectively addressed the issue of marketing by linking banana farmers to the Highridge Banana Growers and Marketing Association (HBGMA) and the Kenya Gatsby Trust (KGT). The KGT researches and advises farmers on Banana pricing and market trends, negotiates with buyers on behalf of the farmers and facilitates contact signing.
(TCBEL) is a farmers shareholding company and marketing and collection centers have been created.