A COMMUNITY LIVING IN DIGNITY

TITLE OF PROJECT : KILIMO BORA MAISHA BORA (BETTER

AGRICULTURE PRACTICES FOR BETTER
STANDARDS OF LIVING)

SUBBMITTED TO :

SUBMITTED BY : BIGEGE WOMEN GROUP

DATE :

PROJECT LIFE : 3 Years

CONTACT PERSON : STELLA MORAA BOGONKO

PROGRAM CO-ORDINATOR

EMAIL :

TELEPHONE : (+254) 0721159041

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.......................................................................................................................3

INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................4

OVERVIEW..............................................................................................................................................4

PROFILE OF BIGEGE WOMEN GROUP..............................................................................................4

Vision.........................................................................................................................................................5

Mission statement......................................................................................................................................5

Our objectives............................................................................................................................................5

Corporate Governance Practices................................................................................................................5

Board of directors......................................................................................................................................6

PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED............................................................................................................7

PROJECT GOAL.......................................................................................................................................8

Development Goal.....................................................................................................................................8

PROJECT OBJECTIVES..........................................................................................................................8

JUSTIFICATION......................................................................................................................................9

PROJECT ACTIVITIES..........................................................................................................................10

Research...................................................................................................................................................10

Garden Farming.......................................................................................................................................11

Gunny Bags Gardening............................................................................................................................11

Poultry Farming.......................................................................................................................................11

Capacity Building....................................................................................................................................11

Monitoring and Evaluation......................................................................................................................12

METHODOLOGY..................................................................................................................................12

EXPECTED OUTPUT............................................................................................................................12

SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROJECT................................................................................................13

ACTIVITY SCHEDULE.........................................................................................................................14

IMPACT..................................................................................................................................................14

LOGICAL FRAMEWORK.....................................................................................................................16

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This is a proposal for funding submitted by Bigege women group to Women Enterprise Fund.
Bigege women group is a registered women group which has been in contact with micro and
small scale farmers in the past couple of months. The proposed project is titled “Kilimo Bora
Maisha Bora” which is a Kiswahili phrase meaning “Better Agricultural Practices for Better
Standards of Living”. The project target is 25 micro and small scale farmers in three sub-
locations in Marani District. The project has been conceived after the organisation witnessing the
challenges which the micro and small scale farmers in these areas undergo. The organisation in
the course of working with this community has seen how the target group is trapped in the
vicious cycle of poverty and suffering due to poor farming methods, harsh weather conditions,
oppressive market forces, lack of inputs among other unfavourable conditions. The situation is
further worsened by the current global high food prices leading to the target group to live in a
situation they are stripped of their dignity. The Kilimo Bora Maisha Bora project seeks to reverse
this trend by offering the target community a new lease of life filled with hope, self reliance,
financial and social security as well as sustainability to enable them live dignified life.

The project comprises innovative agricultural methods and practices. These include research
(baseline survey to identify viable crops, animals and the most needy beneficiaries, linking with
research institutions, exit survey) horticultural farming (greenhouses, garden farming and gunny
bags gardening), indigenous poultry keeping, market linkages, cooperative marketing and
capacity building (training, advocacy and agricultural technical assistance). The project will use
the bottom up approach and will emphasize empowerment of marginalised groups with particular
attention to women and youth. The project intends to reach out to 25 small scale farmers in the
duration of five years stretching from 2018-2023

Monitoring and evaluation will be based on the logical framework with the deliverables forming
the basis of monitoring and evaluation of the project. The Board of Governors will be key in
monitoring and evaluation. The project also will be open to evaluation by the donors’
representatives. Annual audits will be conducted by an external auditor competitively hired by
the Board members.

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INTRODUCTION

OVERVIEW

This is a proposal for funding prepared by Bigege Women Group and presented to WOMEN
ENTERPRISE FUND. The project title is “Kilimo Bora Maisha Bora” which is a Kiswahili
phrase meaning “Better Agricultural Practices for Better Standards of Living”. The proposal
begins by giving a profile of the implementing organisation and then goes on to outline the
problem to be addressed. The proposal goes on to discuss in detail the various aspects of the
project and how they will be achieved and monitored.

PROFILE OF BIGEGE WOMEN GROUP

The Bigege Women Group is a community based organization which was formed in 2014 with
an aim of ensuring the dignity of its beneficiary. Bigege Women Group interventions are spread
out in Kegogi location Marani district. At the inception of the organisation it was aimed at
assuring the dignity of vulnerable children where orphaned children were the main target. The
orphaned children have over the months been reached out and assisted through offering support
to foster families. In the duration of working with the foster families the organisation came face
to face with the challenges facing micro and small scale farmers and entrepreneurs in Kenya.
This is because over 95% of the families in the areas of operation are micro and small scale
farmers or business entrepreneurs. From this perspective the organisation decided to change tact
and adopt a different mode of operation with interventions aimed at reaching out and assisting
the foster families and the larger community upon whom the burden of caring for the vulnerable
children falls. Micro scale farmers are classified by the organisation as the farmers who
undertake farming in places such as verandas, gunny bags and kitchen gardens. Bigege Women
Group classifies small scale farmers as those who have access to farming space ranging from ¼
acre up to 5 acres.

The organisation operates on a multi pronged approach with a broad range of activities stretching
from supporting education and medical care, nutritional portions provisions, psycho social
support, training and information dissemination, financial linkages, supporting income
generation programmes, among others.

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Vision
Our vision is “to see communities living in dignity”

Mission statement

Our mission is “to pursue interventions aimed at promoting self-reliance among communities”

Our objectives
Bigege Women Group as an organisation has a set of broad objectives it has been pursuing
since its inception in 2014 as enumerated in its constitution:

 To promote the welfare of individuals especially women, youth, orphaned and vulnerable
children by working towards enabling them to overcome poverty, achieve their potential
and/or lead as dignified life as their humanity permits.

 To work towards empowering women, youth, orphaned and vulnerable children on their
rights and enhancing the self-sufficiency.

 To take a lead in establishing an independent centre for promoting and facilitating the
achievement of the aims and objectives of the organisation, and to cooperate with any other
centres and/or organizations or persons with similar aims and objectives.

 To initiate, promote, support and/or, approve legislative policy and other measures designed
to promote the interests and welfare of marginalized and vulnerable groups and individuals,
in particular, those arising from poverty, and to support action aimed at preventing and/or
minimizing the causes of poverty.

 To pursue any other objectives, functions and activities not at variance with those above as
two-thirds of the members may resolve in an annual general or special general meeting.

Corporate Governance Practices

Bigege Women Group has continuously pursued corporate governance ideals and principles to
ensure that the organization delivers on its mandate without issues such as conflicts of interests,
stakeholders’ dissatisfaction, misappropriation of funds, taking advantage of the vulnerable
among other issues. Through the governance structures and practices the organization also seeks

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to enhance its credibility amongst stakeholders through transparency this has been achieved
through a number of practices

Bigege Women Group was founded and is managed by persons who are genuinely interested in
the objectives of the organizations. They are compassionate, passionate, competent and dedicated
to the cause. The organization has a set of rules and regulations which guide it operations and
processes. The organization also liaises with governmental agencies and the provincial
administration in its activities and projects to ensure that they are within the dictates of the Laws
of Kenya.

Board of directors

The organization also has a strong board of Directors with 4 members:

1. Eunice Nyabonyi Getange - CHAIRPERSON

2. Violet Oiko Mong’are - SECRETARY
3.Basibika Nyaboke Nyakundi- TREASURER
4.Pauline Asango -MEMBER

The board members are person on integrity in the community and have a wide ranging skill and
experiences in varied fields. The board meets quarterly or under special meeting.

Bigege Women Group also has put in place an auditing mechanism. This begins through
counterchecking of all transactions undertaken in the organization. This acts as internal audit
mechanism. The organization also procures the services of an auditor to audit annual activities or
on termination of a project. The organization is also open to the donors’ auditors and evaluators.

PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED
Micro and small scale farmers in Marani and Kisii districts face varied and complex social and
economical challenges like other small scale farmers in developing countries. On one front they
have limited access to new technologies, such as new crop varieties and better methods of
storage. They also have difficulty accessing finance and suffer from a lack of investment in areas
such as roads, agricultural equipment and silos. Micro and small scale farmers lack support from
areas such as market boards and advisory services. They also have to contend with market

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constraints such as exploitative middlemen/brokers and price variations. During a favourable

season farmers in the target areas produce practically similar products, head towards the same
market leading to a predictable glut and low prices. Post-harvest losses are between 30% - 25%.
The middle men and brokers take advantage of this situation and buy the farm produce at a throw
away price. The interplay of all these factors keeps the farmers economic gain at a bare
minimum if not at a loss.

This is made worse by the fact that on the other hand the cost of living is very high pushing this
group of citizens to live under very sorry state of living conditions. Products and services which
the small scale farmers do not produce are sold at a very high price compared to their income.
Products such as complementary foodstuffs such as maize and wheat flour, sugar, cooking
fat/oil, soap among other house hold commodities. Quality services like housing, education
medical care and other essentials are also out of reach. It is from this perspective that Bigege
women group conceived the Kilimo Bora Maisha Bora project. The project targets
farmers/families/communities/groups with micro and small spaces to undertake farming. Its aim
is to revolutionize farming especially of small-space gardens and turn them into rich, healthy
food baskets and reliable income generators. In so doing it will act as a catalyst of rural
regeneration. Kilimo Bora Maisha Bora project seeks to reverse the vicious poverty cycle being
undergone by micro and small scale farmers by making micro and small scale farming a
profitable venture which can guarantee a dignified life where the beneficiaries can afford other
essential goods and services. The project also seeks to propagate a saving culture amongst the
beneficiaries.

PROJECT GOAL
The main goal of the Kilimo Bora Maisha Bora project is to assist 25 micro and small scale
farmers in Marani district to adopt better and modern farming practices and techniques.

Development Goal
The proposed project desires to accomplish four developmental goals:

a. To improve the living conditions of 25 micro and small scale farmers and lift them out
of poverty by promoting modern and innovative farming methods and practices.

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b. To enable 25 micro and small scale farmers afford essential goods and services for a
dignified lifestyle.

c. to propagate self sufficient, empowerment and independence of at least 25 women and

25 youth

d. To ensure at least 20 orphaned and vulnerable children have access to nutritious and
healthy fresh foods and meals

PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The Kilimo Bora Maisha Bora project seeks to achieve the following objectives:

i. To conduct a baseline survey of the target beneficiaries to find their status before project
interventions

ii. To train 25 micro and small scale farmers on better farming practices and methods whom
70% represent women and 20% represent the women and 10% men. Areas covered will
include green house farming, gunny bags farming, indigenous poultry farming, rabbit
rearing, choosing of seed varieties, among other topics.

iii. To support and oversee the implementation of gunny bags farming by 25 micro scale
farmers.

iv. To support and oversee the implementation of indigenous chicken farming by 20 micro
and small scale farmers.

v. After the research the project will select two 2 viable crops and 2 most viable animals and
2 most viable birds and oversee their piloting amongst 25 farmers.

vi. To plan and facilitate 6 financial literacy seminars in conjunction with Equity Bank, K-
Rep Bank, Faulu Kenya, KWFT for 25 farmers.

vii. To invite and facilitate 5 students and scholars taking studies in institutions of higher
learning to offer technical advice and document challenges and successes of the project.

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JUSTIFICATION

According to research findings, sustainable agriculture is a growing business with very good
long term prospects but suffers critical problems that can be addressed. There is need to increase
small holder farmers output so as to secure higher prospects of long term food security.
Sustainable agriculture has a lot of important points being supportive of the environment. Its
production system is based on specific and precise standards of production which is aimed at
achieving agro ecosystems which are ecologically sustainable. Food grown through sustainable
agriculture has high quality produce which fetch high prices in the market. Towards this end the
project will address the theme of sustainable production.
Intensive farming practices and quality of food eaten is increasing. There is therefore need for
sustainable food production through good agricultural practice. Horticultural crops produced in
sustainable way are good examples of market opportunities for developing countries. There is
need to diversify the farming practices of the small scale farmers to be able to have a steady
income. There is need to increase access to market for small holder’s farmers in food crops and
cash crops through market linkages to exporters, local small and medium size enterprises by
exporters of horticultural crops.
Food security and demand for increased income by small holder farmers through mixed farming
is the concern for all players especially in rural areas. There is a need to develop and promote
Green House farming and poultry farming that have easy access to market, give high increase
return to farmers within short term as well as address food security, increased soil fertility for
more production since poultry manure can be used in Green House farming farms as alternatives
to the already fertilizer.
Consumers have been demonstrating a high level of concern about food quality produced hence
needs to build the capacity of producers to produce quality products that can fetch good markets.
There has been increased demand for meat from such as indigenous chicken, rabbits due to the
health concerns raised about by rearing of the ‘broilers’. The cooperatives and financial literacy
training are vital to enhance enterprise development and financial freedom. The cooperatives will
also ease up access to markets by micro and small scale farmers.

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PROJECT ACTIVITIES

Research
Research will form an integral part of the project. The first research will involve a desk review of
the information available on the target beneficiaries. Using this information the project
Coordinator will identify team leaders in the target villages. Further communication will be
through these leaders-they will be coordinating field visits, distribution of inputs, help in
preparation of reports; facilitate field visits among other assigned duties. Two important research
surveys will also be conducted. One of the researches will be aimed at mapping out the
organisation and individuals with whom the project can link with to intensify its impact and also
to ensure optimum usage of project resources. The research will identify horticultural sector
players, cooperatives operating in the area, suppliers, large scale buyers of the project produce,
government agencies and officers willing to link with the project, research institutions,
institutions of higher learning, private sector players and interested individuals. This survey will
be guided by value and willingness of the target organizations and individuals to liaise with the
project when making final conclusion on who to partner with. This baseline survey will be
conducted in the first 3 months of the project and a report prepared from the findings.

Another research will be undertaken to map out crops, animals and birds which are viable for the
micro and small scale farmers being targeted by the project. This survey will seek to find out
whether there are other cops, breeds of animal and varieties of birds and other species which can
do well and be profitable to the target beneficiaries. The research will be aimed at trying to
diversify the produce which the micro and small scale farmers take to the market.

Garden Farming
The second approach will be through organic farming whereby open farms will be utilized. This
will cover a large number of beneficiaries. Varied crops will be planted under this intervention.
This will be mainly fast maturing crops including vegetables and legumes. This will be
undertaken with the assistance from Sustainable Agriculture Community Development Program
in Marani, the Kenya Institute of Organic Farming (KIOF) and the Association for Better Land
Husbandry (ABLH). This will ensure women have healthy and nutritious meals. It will also
ensure the orphaned and vulnerable children hosted in these families have access to health foods.

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This will also give a chance to women and youth targeted a source of income and chart for them
a path to self sufficiency.

Gunny Bags Gardening

The third method of horticulture farming will be by use of gunny bags. Gunny bags will be filled
with manure and fertile soil and mixed and used as propagation ground. These will target the
farmers who have limited farming spaces. This approach has 20 beneficiaries. Crops suitable
under this method will be onions and Sukuma Wiki (kales). Also pepper will be planted under
this approach. This can be used to put up nurseries to propagate seedlings for sale. This will
help women have nutritious meals in their families. It will also ensure the orphaned and
vulnerable children will also be assured of healthy meals.

Poultry Farming
Poultry farming has over the years become an indispensable path to self sufficiency by rural
communities. Under this activity poultry to be kept will be indigenous chicken, ducks and
turkeys. With the rise of a swelling middle class demand for poultry meat has been on the rise.
Many people are now turning to indigenous poultry due to the health concerns of the exotic
breeds and their breeding methods. The indigenous poultry are preferred by consumers because
they have a better taste. For producers they are preferable because they are not expensive to
keep. The poultry will be ideal for eggs to supplement the diets of the OVCs hosted by the
beneficiary families.

Capacity Building
Training will be another important part of the project, though this training will not only focus on technical
details of crop farming and animal husbandry. The topics covered will involve selection of seed varieties,
green house management, poultry keeping, duck keeping, turkey keeping, and topics on identified and
adopted viable crops and animal species. Technical training including propagation, crop management,
organic farming and soil analysis, post harvest handling, animal and bird tending practices will be
undertaken. Other topics will focus on financial literacy, entrepreneurship and business skills, quality
ToT procedures, cooperative management encompassing savings, credit and marketing skills, and
standards, and value addition will be given to all group members. The groups will be instrumental in
identifying suitable candidates for specific trainings especially in the areas of finance, saving schemes,
technical operations of equipment, product development and marketing.

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Monitoring and Evaluation

At the beginning of the project, a baseline survey, covering the participating groups/ households
and the wider community, will be conducted to document current status of issues such as socio-
economic status, levels of output of relevant enterprises, capacity (organization, financial
management, financial base) in groups, attitude towards women entrepreneurs and income
generated through current activities. The baseline survey will be used as a monitoring and
evaluation tool to measure changes and progress.

The project will conduct an evaluation after every end year and at the end of three years. An
external evaluation of the programme will be conducted at the end of the project phase. The
purpose of the evaluation will be to appraise the programme approach in terms of coherence,
relevance, efficiency and effectiveness and the achievement towards the programme’s objectives.

METHODOLOGY
The project will adopt bottom up and group approaches methodology, where the farmers have
equal opportunities and say in all activities to be implemented. The project will also be gendered
in that it will emphasize the empowerment of women. The project will also be participatory as
views and input of varied stakeholders will be put into consideration in the course of the project.
Risk based methodology and activity prioritization by groups/producers organization will be
adopted and practiced. Risks will be evaluated before any undertaking of the interventions. The
project will only implement interventions whose benefits outweigh the costs.

EXPECTED OUTPUT
The project upon its completion will have the following output:

I. Profiles of the target beneficiaries before and after the poject

II. Research findings on the most value adding and supportive organisation to link with
the micro and small scale farmers in Marani Districts.
III. Research findings on viable crop varieties, animal, birds and other species which can
be farmed by the micro and small scale farmers Bigege.
IV. 20 training workshops and seminars
V. 25 micro and small scale farmers adopting and practicing modern and profitable
agriculture practices by April 2017.

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VI. Over 100 offered a livelihood indirectly by reselling the projects produce and
supplying inputs
VII. 25 farmers supplied with 6 indigenous chicken each
VIII. 25 gunny bags micro scale farmers.

SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROJECT

The project has a strong component for sustainability given that there is a vibrant and strong
market for agricultural products. The products from the project have a ready market in Oyugis,
Nyamira and kisii towns which are near the target area. With the beneficiaries being self reliant
they will be able to undertake the activities in the project even at a greater proportion based on
the profit margins obtained. They will be reinvesting in the project activities. The marketing
cooperatives are strengthens the sustainability component as it is a vehicle which will be vital for
the future and continued transformation of the target area. Farmers will have acquired essential
and modern agricultural practices which will be of great value in their farms.

At a social level the project foresees sustainability as it will empower women and thus their lives
will be transformed dramatically for the better. The support they will get from this project and
enhanced by the trainings and sensitization will ensure that they get better as time goes by. The
project foresees that once a farmer is given 4 chickens they will multiply and this momentum
will continue and be passed through generations. The formation of the cooperatives will also
enhance sustainability as they will not only identify markets but they will also cultivate a saving
culture. The cooperatives management will not be paid and this will enhance sustainability as the
motivation will not be purely money but the success of their undertakings. Trainings on
management of the cooperatives and the roles of the members will also go a long way in
ensuring sustainability.

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ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
The following table shows a 5 year implementation schedule:-

ACTIVITY

1 2 3

1. Conduct Baseline surveys

2. Identify beneficiaries

3. Liase with collaborating

institutions
4. Contact Suppliers

5. Garden Farming

6. Gunny Bag Farming

7. Poultry Farming

8. Reporting

9. Monitoring

10. Evaluation

IMPACT
The project has a direct impact on women, as they constitute the majority of subsistence farmers
and the main beneficiaries. The core elements of the project – increased farm produce, self
sufficiency, improved marketing, improved local capacity and to some extent improved
diversified farming systems will bring women into the cash economy and expand their income
generating options. By providing women with relevant knowledge and skills, the project will
build their confidence and awareness, necessary to enable them to participate effectively in
making informed decisions about their own development priorities and processes. The project
foresees a gradual but significant control of productive resources such as land, technology and
financial resources by women during project’s lifetime.

The increased income and improved governance structure in the local community groups will
accelerate women’s representation and participation in decision making processes at household

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and community levels. It is anticipated that the project will result in increased allocation of
decision making power to women at local and divisional levels, where today less than a third of
leadership positions are women. This will empower women to voice their opinion on matters
crucial to ensuring that resources are allocated to priority areas for women. The more women
there are in the elective posts, the better chances of their voice being heard and their priorities
being reflected in local development agendas.

The project will ensure that women are empowered and are independents and self sufficient. This
will be achieved through increased and diversified sources of incomes ranging from sale of
horticultural produce, poultry, eggs; becoming brokers and transporting the to other markets;
teaching other interested farmers in Kenya; among other avenues to generate income presented
directly and indirectly by this project. Having empowered women the project envisions that the
society will be empowered.

Through implementation of this project, Bigege Women Group will also increase its own
strength and knowledge in the management of community development programmes. In
addition, through specific training addressed to its staff, the organization will improve its
capacity to deliver quality services to larger community programmes.

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AMEWORK
INDICATORS MEANS OF VERIFICATION ASSUMPTIONS A COMMUNITY LIVING IN DIGNITY

ty-based  Profit margin at household level.  Records (Receipts, Vouchers,  The political situation in the region and the country
ng that  Production of horticultural crops (quantity) delivery notes, bank statement) continues to support development and farming
 Number of farmers earning an income  Project reports initiatives
nds of from this project  Government statistics, surveys,  Favourable climatic conditions
 Average household income amongst Meeting, Field visits  Commitment by farmers
beneficiaries  Audit

INDICATORS MEANS OF VERIFICATION RESULTS (OUTPUT) ACTIVITIES

 No of participants involved  Reports  Draft and Final Reports  Problem statem

 6 research studies (2 baseline surveys, 4  Contact and designation of  Recommendations identification
market surveys) participants  Man-hours invested in the project  Sample selecti
 Involvement of at least a 10 scholars from  Research studies  Preparation of
universities  Data collection
 Involvement of at least 2 researchers from  Data analysis
research institutions

ld  Number of households engaged in open  Household records  Production level within the project locations will  Registration o
ilable field farming  No of seedlings in nurseries have expanded by end of project.  Promote on-fa
 Number of gardens established  No of gardens  Liaise with M
 Number of seedlings propagated and  Weight of seedlings intensify exten
distributed  Weight of fertilizer  Propagation T
 Project records  Distribution of
 Surveys  Post harvest tr
 Training reports

ng  Procurement and installation of 25 gunny  25 gunny bags distributed  25 gunny bags  Establish relat
bags farming  At least 25 farmers taught on gunny of agriculture
 To teach at least 25 small scale farmers on bag gardening  Propagation T
gunny bag gardening  Distribution of
 To ensure 25 farmers are engaged in gunny  Post harvest tr
bag gardening
 Balanced and healthy meals for over a
thousand OVCs

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