Amagoro: The Cereal Growers Association (CGA) has partnered with Egerton University to develop and promote improved groundnut varieties. Speaking during a farmers’ field day in Amagoro, Teso North, CGA Agribusiness Coordinator for Busia County, Eliya Barasa, announced that two improved groundnut varieties, Ndovu and Mwangaza, are currently undergoing seed multiplication.
According to Kenya News Agency, the two varieties, along with Kanga and Dove and local types, are being tested in field trials across Teso North, Teso South, and Nambale sub-counties. Barasa emphasized that these improved varieties have the potential to offer higher yields, with 25 acres already under seed multiplication in the region. The demonstration farms and seed field trials aim to identify the best-performing varieties in specific areas to aid farmers in maximizing yields and returns.
Barasa noted that groundnuts are becoming a high-value crop, providing significant income for farmers, as evidenced by the 60 to 80 bags per acre harvests of the Ndovu variety in Elgeyo Marakwet County. He highlighted the reduced labor-intensity of groundnut farming, thanks to support from the World Food Programme (WFP), which has introduced shelling machines through its innovation centers. A shelling machine is available at Jairos in Teso North, reducing the reliance on manual labor for shelling.
Farmers were encouraged to use Aflasafe, a biological control product, to minimize aflatoxin contamination and enhance the safety and quality of groundnuts. Barasa also urged farmers in Teso North to diversify into other drought-tolerant crops like sorghum, millet, and cassava for commercial production.
Through the Farm to Market Alliance (FMA) programme, CGA is connecting farmers to reliable markets for their produce, including partnerships with Greenwells, Thrive Agric, and the East African Breweries Limited (EABL) for bulk sorghum purchases. For groundnuts, CGA has teamed up with Mamlo Foods, a local processor in Amagoro, to buy groundnuts in bulk for peanut butter production.
The FMA programme employs a Farmers Service Centres (FSC) model, where trained farmers mobilize others to aggregate produce and meet market demand. Agricultural officer Getrude Wambia advised farmers against selling produce individually, recommending consolidation to strengthen bargaining power. She encouraged joining Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Common Interest Groups (CIGs), and cooperative societies for better support and farming practices.
Wambia also urged collaboration with agripreneurs who provide training, connect farmers to service providers, and link them to buyers through FPOs. “When you harvest, don’t hide or rush to sell your produce alone. Reach out to agripreneurs who will group you together and find a buyer, which will increase your bargaining power and assure you of better prices,” she advised.
