Sorghum farming changing fortunes in Arid Kerio Valley, with over Sh15m harvest in sight

A decision by a group of herders from the banditry-prone Kerio Valley to venture into sorghum farming is changing fortunes in the arid region.

The initiative is expected to generate Sh15 million.

The region has for many years been known for rampant cases of banditry, which had rendered many families paupers after livestock, a major source of livelihood, was wiped out by armed bandits.

But this is changing for the better after the residents came together under the umbrella of the Kabulwo Farmers’ Cooperative Society to jointly venture into agriculture.

The group from the Kabulwo area of Emsoo ward in Keiyo North Sub-County, with a membership of 126, engages in various economic activities including honey production, sorghum, mangoes and groundnut farming.

The cooperative society already has more than 20 members who have ventured into sorghum farming on their 40-acre farm, and they are expecting a bumper harvest this season, with each acre yielding 20-30 bags.

According to Kabulwo Farmers’ Cooperative Society Chairperson Yusuf Kipchumba, the project has significant potential to transform the livelihoods of residents in the arid area if they are supported to engage in irrigation.

He said many rivers pass through the area, citing the Chebilaat and Emsoo rivers, and called on the county government and other development agencies to support them in tapping the water for irrigation.

"This will boost yields and incomes as we will engage in farming throughout the year as opposed to now where we only harvest once a year. With availability of water, we can harvest three times a year, "Kipchumba, who expects to generate Sh250,000 over the next four months from his three-acre farm, told The Standard during a tour of the area.

He said that if they were also supported with quality seed and fertiliser, the enterprise has the potential to earn the society Sh50 million annually.

Kipchumba, 28, who holds a Degree in Animal Health and Production from Kenyatta University, challenged the youth in the country to stop overreliance on white-collar jobs and instead think outside the box and venture into other profitable activities to put food on the table.

He boasts that since he ventured into sorghum farming a year ago, his fortunes have changed and he has been able to meet his financial commitments, including catering for his family.

"Our children should not go through the same problems we are going through looking for jobs," Kipchumba, who does the farming with his wife, advised.

The society has received a big boost after it secured a contract with an organisation, CropSoko, which will buy their produce at Sh52pera kilogram.

The group, which plants the past-maturing Seredo variety of sorghum, has already set up an aggregation store at the nearby Kabulwo shopping centre, from where the company will collect their produce.

James Kisang, another member of the group, dispelled the notion that nothing can come out of the banditry-prone Kerio Valley region.

“This region has a lot of potential in farming if only farmers can be empowered and supported by relevant government agencies. We need to adopt drought-resilient crops which thrive well in this zone,” Kisang said.

Kipchumba cited a major challenge facing them as human-wildlife conflict with marauding elephants from the nearby Rimoi Game Reserve sometimes invading their farms, causing them huge losses.

“This has forced us to camp in turns on the farm, especially at night, to keep off the elephants. We call on the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to help us fence off the area bordering the reserve to avert more conflicts,” Kipchumba said.

He said birds were another major threat to their yields and that they have been forced to hire 10-20 people to scare them away, with one person paid Sh300 a day for the job, eating into their incomes.

Kipchumba said they are also forced to dig deep into their pockets to hire people during manual harvesting and winnowing.

"If we could get an improvised Sheller, we could simplify the harvesting method, and we could have a higher profit margin,” Kipchumba said.

Elgeyo Marakwet County has been empowering farmers by distributing high-value crop seedlings to boost agribusiness, enhance food security, and improve livelihoods.

This initiative focuses on crops such as coffee, pyrethrum, avocados, and sorghum, with partnerships established to ensure market access for the produce.

According to Governor Wisley Rotich, the devolved unit is also encouraging households to dedicate at least a quarter acre of their farms to high-value crops.

The county government, in collaboration with organisations like New KPCU, has been distributing seedlings of various high-value crops, with Tambach ward alone recently benefiting from 100,000 coffee seedlings.

“The importance of creating market linkages is to ensure farmers can sell their produce at profitable prices. One example of this is the partnership with Saki Farm for avocado purchases, guaranteeing a minimum price and payment through mobile money,” Rotich said.

The county is promoting sustainable farming practices, including the use of climate-smart agricultural techniques and training farmers in modern farming methods.