Nakuru-based agro-ecology organisation Slow Food Kenya is pushing for organic farmers markets in all 11 constituencies of Nakuru.

Such markets have already been established at Gilgil's Langalanga Estate and in Nakuru town.

The markets, called Earth Markets, serve as a way for farmers to exchange information. One such farmer is Mary Mwaniki from the Ngorika area, who ventured into organic farming in 2018 after receiving training.

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Specialising in hash avocado, sweet potato and dania farming using organic fertiliser from her farm, Mary notes that this is the way to ensure clean food.

Mary says that with the right information on organic farming, the country can have enough safe food for both markets and domestic consumption.

"I can proudly say here that organic farming is the way to go as a country if we want to have clean and safe food in the country," she says.

Florida Muthoni, the founder of Sonia's Natural porridge Ventures, says she focuses on value addition. She buys her ingredients from organic farmers.

Sonia's Natural porridge.

Photo credit: Pristone Mambili/Mtaa Wangu

She describes organic farming as cheap because farmers get manure from animals like cows, rabbits and poultry on the farm.

"Organic farming is cheaper because farmers get manure from the farm and this makes the food grown safe," she says.

So far, more than 15,000 farmers have received training from Slow Food Kenya. Samson Ngugi of Slow Food Kenya notes that there is a gap in the country when it comes to organic farming, which is what prompted them to start capacity building for farmers.

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According to him, the training includes sensitisation on agro-ecological farming systems that include soil testing, home manure preparation, as well as seed selection and seed banking for better farming.

"The markets are a platform to reach more farmers with information on agro-ecological farming systems," he says.

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Lobby group seeks to establish organic farmers' markets in all Nakuru constituencies

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Pristone Mambili