Project News

SHEP Biz farmer was interviewed!

The project has been working to include socially vulnerable farmers such as youth, women and persons with disabilities, etc. There is a group of persons with disabilities selected in Kisumu County. We interviewed Mr. Ayub Ouma, the chairperson of the group who participated in the JEF2G training.

Please introduce yourself.

I'm Ayub Ouma, a chairperson of the Korando disabled horticulture group. I'm 43 years old. "Korando" is the name of our village where most of our members are living in. I was affected polio when I was 3 years old, I'm using a crutch.

When did you form the group?

The group was established in November 2010. The group is originally for putting persons with disabilities together and sharing challenges we are facing. As a group, we have a meeting every Tuesday. We started the horticulture crop production 4 years ago.

Please tell us the outline of the group (member composition, activity content, cultivated crops).

Currently, there are 20 members (9 female and 11 male), including persons with physical disabilities, psychosocial disabilities, epilepsy, Albinism, partially sighted and Deaf person. Members have individual lands and also, we have a common land (0.5 acre) for the group farming. The main crops we are producing are kale, capsicum, spider plant, cabbage, etc. We are also doing a table banking and members use the fund to start a small business such as snack making.

What are the current challenges the group facing?

In the dry season, we don't have enough water, thus we cannot grow crops. Transportation is also a challenge for us because buyer rarely visit our village and we need to take the produces to the market, but it costs us lots due to disability.

How did you feel when your group was selected for the project?

We are very happy since we have never joined any trainings before.

What did you feel of participating in the market survey this morning?

Market survey was very good and learnt so many things from the market stakeholders. I learnt the there is a timing that the price of the crops is going up and there are preferred varieties. I realize the importance of the market survey before production.

What do you expect from the project?

We want to transform our horticulture crop production as a business and want each member to be more independent.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Mr Ayub (second person from the right) interviewed conducting the market survey