Kilili Self Help Project

Letters from Farmers and Trainers
The letters Kilili Self Help Project receives from both farmers and trainers tell of the benefits of increased crop production to families—and to their society: more children at school, less illegal alcohol sold, children helping AIDS widows and AIDS-stricken families grow crops, more money in circulation locally, and more. As word spreads, the demand for training is increasing.

Peter Mwaura, trainer :
“The expectation was that 120 people would come to the workshop, but we had 250 participants. When they were shown the demonstration site where kales, spinach, and maize were planted without chemical fertilizers they could not believe their eyes.”

Ambrose Yamo, farmer :
“I never knew that sugarcane tops can give a good fortified compost, we just used to burn the materials after harvesting sugar cane. I used it in the short rains season to plant my one acre farm and harvested 1350 kg of maize where I used to harvest only 80kg of maize. My family is now food secure and we can save our little income from vegetables.”

Joshua Amwai Machinga, trainer :
“Teresa Mulongo takes care of nine orphaned grandchildren. As a result of our program, she now earns $100 from her farm per month.”

Baldas Murambakania, trainer :
“The participating farmers increased this year from 540 to 986 farmers. 15 farmers joined hands and began making Bio-organic compost which they sell to other farmers. IRCEP farmers’ income from sales of extra garden produce has increased by an average of $1 US per day! Our local chief announced that the brewing of illegal alcohol continues to drop as the farmers engage seriously in Biointensive activities. He also announced that there is a decrease in crime rate and the area senior chief appointed 5 IRCEP farmers to join a community policing program.”

Martin Kariuki Rutere, farmer : “From the Biointensive training, my life has not been the same again. I managed to start fifty double-dug beds which has improved my life. From the sale of the vegetables in the gardens I get Kshs. 4,000 ($65) per month for my family.

Joshua Amwai Machinga, trainer :
“Dina Musa, 71 years old, takes care of two grandchildren, and is now earning approximately $60 per month. She told us ‘There were times before when we slept on empty stomachs. But now, thanks to God, at least I know I have food, seed, and some money. And somewhere someone cares about us.’”

William Makechi, Headmaster, Star Rays School : “Your prayers happened to the letter! While we expected a maximum of 100 participants, over 200 attended from 5 Districts! The training was the most colorful event I’ve ever organized/attended in my over 18 years as an extensionist.”

Zachary M. Makanya, Country Desk Coordinator, Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM-Kenya): “We have agreed with the MHAC trainers that we need to think more on how we can use the trained farmers as leading lights in Tharaka. The farmers were advised to shine greatly for they now have the light.”

From Lifwa Group, Bikeke Village : “We didn’t know that farming can be this good and interesting. More so, we didn’t know that farming can be done without spending so much money. We have found out that we can make our own fertilizers. Thank you and God bless you.”

Joshua Amwai Machinga, trainer, and founder of Pathfinder School:
“The training the Pathfinder children have acquired has enabled them to train and prepare Biointensive food gardens for people with AIDS and their affected families and distribute seeds and tools. Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) training and activities have helped allay malnutrition and hunger, doubled school attendance and improved academic performance. In 2006, 35 Pathfinder children were able to assist over 250 families keeping hope alive for today, tomorrow and the future.”

One of Joshua Amwai Machinga’s farmers writes :
“Thank you for coming to our rescue. All the people who receive these seeds and training are so grateful that you are doing this wonderful job to save the lives of strangers.”

Douglas Aringo, farmer :
“It was nice to note the family of 8 can live on a small piece of land. I noted that it is possible to get 16 bags of maize from an area of 900 square feet. Normally this is produced on an acre on most farms in Kenya. I am planning to replicate what I saw in my rural village in Nyanza.”

Moses Tenai, trainer :
“The farmers, being fully aware of the intense pressure on the land in their area, surged out for training. As a result, 304 farmers turned out for training, 164 more than we were expecting.”

“Farmers have now started harvesting their vegetables. Most of the families were puzzled to find that the tiny place they had spared for their Biointensive garden provided enough vegetables for the family and for sale too.”

“46% of these families attest that they have been spending a lot of money even during rainy seasons to purchase vegetables for their families. But as a result of this program, they are now selling instead, hence preventing the cash outflow and encouraging the cash inflow in their homes. It was indeed fantastic to see the influence of our project causing joy and contentment among different families within such a short period.”

Samuel Nderitu, ACDEP (trainer) :
“Three years ago, we trained 150 farmers. Two years ago we trained 284. Last year, 372 farmers. But already this year, 1541 farmers have been trained.”

Moses Mukongo, trainer :
“Over 50% of the farmers we trained this year have already trained at least two other farmers. One of them, Stephen Macharia, has trained ten! In Matunda-Milimani Community, the attendance was more than we had planned and budgeted for. By day two of the workshop, the number was double what we had expected.”

Moses Tenai, trainer :
“I’m really dedicated in making a big difference with the funds that you are providing to our community. My greatest prayer is to put every single dollar to commendable use, such that it bounce with new life full of contentment, satisfaction accompanied with joy and good health for all.”

Rose Mugerwa, farmer ( Uganda) :
“My daughter Everlane joined form one in one of the best schools in Masaka. Through Biointensive technology I am paying school fees for my daughter. Currently I am supplying lettuce, eggplants, and capsicum to several hotels in Masaka.”

Stanley Kinyanjui and Jack Wafula, trainers :
“After the Biointensive trainings, farmer’s soils have improved from being hard and unfertile and it is now soft, loose and able to hold moisture. It has become easy to manage, black in colour and worms can be seen which is a sign of soil fertility.”

COSDEP Biointensive training team :
“From improved soils, farmers are now able to grow and harvest enough food for their families and even their neighbors. The rest take to the market and be able to earn extra income. Since the farmers are not spending anymore on pesticides, their health and that of their children has improved from consuming chemical free food.”

Hannah Kamau, farmer :
“I learnt that the small portion of land that I still owned could be turned into a kitchen garden. I’m happy to report to you that for several months now I have been able to provide my family with enough vegetables from the small garden and with no costs incurred.”

Kenneth Muchugia, farmer :
“I’m happy to report that my maize resisted the drought season and I was able to harvest enough for my family and I even had surplus. This was so because I practiced composting which made my soil fertile and even able to retain water and withstand the dry season”

Joshua Amwai, trainer, reporting on a follow-up visit to Chamaa Women Group :
“It was encouraging to see farmers harvesting vegetables even in this dry spell. When I asked why they were the only ones in the area with vegetables, the women replied, ‘Because of double-digging and compost in the soil.’”

Farmer from Lifwa Women Group, Bikeke, Kenya: “We didn’t know that farming can be done without spending so much money. We have always thought that without money we cannot do farming. We have found out that we can make our own fertilizers and also grow our own seeds. Thank you so much Peris and ACDEP and the donors and God bless you.”

Douglas Aringo, community organizer: “one of the members of Koredo has sold a lot of compost to his neighbors, raising enough to send his daughter Kadogo to school This was amazing to the villagers because they did not know the value of compost until they were trained. It is not just about food but education.”

Please help us to train more farmers in Biointensive agriculture: Donate.