By Basil Okoth
Farmers in two wards in Migori county are set to benefit from a donation of 100 bicycles to help in tackling cases of malnutrition.
Through the Ripple Effect and World Bicycle Relief, the two organisations offered the bicycles to farmers groups in Kakrao and West Kanyamkago wards.
“We started off as groups which were affected by HIV and wanted to boost our nutrition through kitchen gardens and fruit farming, before we realized we could make money,” Jane Auma, a member of Ogongo Women Group said.
She said after realizing there is a need to tackle malnutrition and boost local economy they started up kitchen gardens among members and chicken rearing.
“We started off with banana farming as a best means to boost food security and we realized we could sell off, these bicycles will help in our work,” Auma said.
Jacktone Odundo, chairman of Suna East Pamoja Farmers Cooperatives Society which has 411 members said the bicycles will be offered to group members who have been acting as extension officers.
“Among our group members we have those who have been offering extension services life vaccines to chicken and seeds, this will make our work easier,” Odundo said.
Titus Sagala, the country Director Ripple Effect said the bicycles will also be used to transport produce to the market apart from family use.
“We started by promotion of nutritious food and creating kitchen gardens in homes, we saw a new need to increase extension services for more farmers,” Sagala said.
Peter Wechuli, World Bicyle Relief said the donation will help in mobility to access markets for their farm.
The project was worth Sh3m and the two said they will scale it up to Sh10m in the future.
