By Samuel Nzioka
Nguruman area has for a long time been known for its high production
due to availability of water for irrigation throughout the year. Farmers have
been cultivating their crops and selling them without proper channels in place
and have sometimes fallen into wrong hands thus suffering losses. This trend didn’t
take long before the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and Horticultural
Development Authority (HCDA) took action and made it a requirement for every
agent to sign a contract with farmers who will be supplying them with farm
produce.
The agreement stipulates the produce in terms of type,
quantity and quality for a specific period of time and price. To
facilitate this process, farmers formed marketing groups under which they signed
contracts with the agents on behalf of the exporters.
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Asian vegetable at a collection point in Nguruman |
This came at a time when farmers were facing high production
costs due to high prices for farm inputs. It was a sign of relief to farmers as
strict measures were to be taken to any party breaching the contract terms and
conditions. This is an important measure to cushion the farmer from buyers who
offers low prices since a standard price for each farm produce was set and any breach
will attract a fine or even ban from buying.
Farmers were taken through gross margin analysis to help
them figure out how much they spend to produce a carton or kilogram of
horticultural crops they have in season. Every buyer or agent is required to
have registered with MOA and HCDA before he can be allowed to buy any farm produce
under existing conditions. They should also have a list of farmers they are buying from,
and how much each farmer is producing together with a signed agreement between
the agent and the farmers group.
Farmers were assured that HCDA is mandated to protect them
and to ensure fairness they should ensure that they stick to the agreement.
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