Innovative Practice Kenya: Access to high value markets by smallholders of African indigenous Vegetables

 by Isaac K. Ngugi, Raphael Gitau and James K. Nyoro, Tegemo Institute, Egerton University

Regoverning Markets Innovative Practice series

This case study describes collective action by small-scale farmers in Githunguri area (Central Kenya) where a development agency, Family Concern, organized the groups into Business Support Units (BSUs) with a commercial orientation. The BSUs were taken through a 26-module training covering production techniques as well as business management, administration, record keeping, invoicing, and group dynamics and cohesiveness. The development agency conducted a market survey to help inform on the product's value chain, its stakeholders, and the market potential. These efforts led to linking the BSUs to Kenya's leading supermarket chains, Uchumi and Nakumatt. While the farmers deliver direct to Uchumi, the supply of indigenous vegetables to Nakumatt is done through traders who supply to its subsidiary company, Fresh ‘n' Juici. As a result of all these efforts, the supply of the African indigenous vegetables to the major supply chains has increased dramatically.

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