NAME OF PROPOSAL Green House Tomato Farming Project

(Organic Farming)

Name of Implementation Ongoro O.F and Family Green Farm

Organization

Prepared by: Otieno Vincent Ongoro.

Proposal presented to: Dr. Diana kimani.

Table of Contents

Introduction
............................................................................................................
...... [3]

1.1 Executive Summary

...................................................................................................... [4]

 Geography Location
......................................................................................... [5]
Problem Analysis
............................................................................................. [5]
Project Objectives
............................................................................................. [5]
Special Objectives
............................................................................................ [5]

Background and problems analysis

............................................................................. [5]

Planned Activities
............................................................................................ [6]

Activities
............................................................................................................
.......... [6]

Payback Plan
...................................................................................................
. [6]
Project Beneficiaries
......................................................................................... [6]

Project Support Duration

.............................................................................................. [6]
5.0 Project Methodology
.................................................................................................... [7]

5.1 Fulfillment of the Priority need of Beneficiaries

.......................................................... [7]

5.2 Beneficiaries participation and contribution

................................................................. [7]

6.0 Implementation
Strategy ............................................................................................. [7]

6.2 Impact on
Environment................................................................................................
. [8]

7.0
Conclusion ................................................................................................
................... [9]

1.0 Introduction

I am very much interested in Agricultural arming in general; this is

because I understand that over 80% of the Kenyan Population depends
on agriculture for their incomes and livelihoods. Moreover, agriculture is
considered as the second leading income generating mechanism for the
country.

Kenya has stated greenhouse production of tomatoes, raising hopes that

the popular vegetable will become available throughout the year at
affordable prices. In the new system developed by the Kenya
Horticulture Development Program (KHDP) and agricultural inputs
suppliers seminis seeds and Osho Chemical Industries (OCI), a grower
requires about 240 square metre of land and a greenhouse kit ot get
started.

The chapter Kit, comprising a 500 litre water tank, irrigation drip lines,
plastic sheets seeds and chemicals has been put at Ksh 150,000 for those
participating in the project. The plot of land can grow 1,000 plants.
According to the KHDP; the greenhouse tomato project, one of the
activities the programme is supporting to help increase the incomes of
rural households, is borrowed from Israel, where the country has most of
its agriculture under green house due to scarcity of water and land. Its
also widely practiced in the United States.

If the concept is widely embraced, Kenya could start enjoying year-

round supply of tomatoes, which currently get damaged during the wet
seasons, pushing prices through the roof. According to Peter Randa, the
marketing Manager and project technical advisor, growing crops under
greenhouse has many advantages, among them the ability to produce
huge quantities on a small piece of land and continuous harvesting. The
tomatoes have a shelf life of 21 days compared with 14 for those
growing in the open. It takes a shorter period-two months for greenhouse
produced tomatoes to mature, while it takes a minimum of three months
with outfloor farming.

Due to controlled irrigation and temperatures, the crop sports a

continuous output of flowers and fruits, all at different stages. One plant
has a potential of up-to 15kg at first harvest, going up-to 60kg by the
time it has completed its full cycle-recommended at one year.

The plant vines are supported inside the greenhouse with sticks and
strings, growing up to 50 metres in height. If well looked after, the
minimum plot of land under greenhouse production can yield up-to
25,000 tonnes of tomatoes.

Tomatoes are generally highly susceptible to diseases requiring heavy

application of pesticides but under the greenhouse growing technologies
which comes with basic training on hygiene , most of common
infections are easily kept at bay. Also kept a bay are insects and other
pests known to invade plants as well as seeds. Apart from huge part of
production costs, less labour is employed in a greenhouse, while
exposure to chemical toxins associated with application is minimized or
eliminated altogether. Its also good for the environment.

Planting materials for the greenhouse tomato production have been

specially developed as high yielding, although they can grow outdoor as
well. For this programme, the partners are recommending the Annef I
hybrid tomato seeds developed by seminis East Africa (SEA). On its
part, Osho Chemicals is providing free chemicals to farmers in the initial
stages of planting as well as technical advice on application, said
marketing manager James Ndabi.

The introduction of greenhouse tomatoes in Kenya Heralds what could

be a major shift from open pollinated farming to hybrid high yielding
methods, which if adopted in other sectors could lead to massive
improvements in crop production, output, incomes and ultimately self-
sufficiency in food production.

1.1 Executive Summary

Ongoro O.F and family Green farm is expected to start in September

2013 and will be focusing in Green House Farming. The project will be
run by Mr. Felix Odhiambo Ongoro; Vincent Otieno Ongoro and the rest
of the community. We will be using the knowledge and skills I acquired
while studying agriculture in high school. We want to utilize this
knowledge and skills in enriching my community and the communities
around us.

Geography Location

Background and problems analysis

The Time Zone in Nyando is Africa/Nairobi, sunrise at 06:36 and sunset
at 18:34 with coordinate, latitudes 006 0s, Longitude 340 45E. the
region receives two rain seasons in a year. Short rains during September-
August and long rains during April-May

Problem Analysis

The communities that like around Nyando region are in dire need to
developing themselves by improving the food security in the region and
earn their basic livelihood through farming. This has been impossible for
them because they could not afford the provision of basic inputs for their
farms and frequent floods.

I am starting this project as a way of educating the communities on how

to do small-scale farming; which can generate high revenues and
provide enough food for the communities through out the year. In this
way, the Millennium Development Goals of poverty reduction ensuring
food security and improvement of material, child health is achieved i.e.
vision 2030 realization.

Project Objectives

The overall objective of the project is in accordance with the

Government Agricultural policy of increasing food production and
diversification of the present farming system so as to attain sustainable
food security and subsequent poverty reduction.

Special Objectives
To improve the quality of food produced in Nyando
To offer orticultural training for farmers in Nyando
To explore the ever growing demand for food in Africa
To increase the Gross domestic Product (GDP) of Kenya
To create job opportunity for local youths in Nyando
Introduce modern farming techniques to the people of Nyando

Planned Activities

Activities

Depending on the availability of funds, the project intends to embark on

the cultivation of 4 acres of food crop in Green Houses. This will enable
us stabilizing the continuity of supplies in the market compared with the
fluctuating way of supplies due to lack of products.

By stabilizing the supplies we will have secured a guaranteed market for

our products unlike when there is no continuity of supplies.
Agri-business formation; focus on youth empowerment project
formation in the area

Project Support Duration

The project is soliciting assistance for a period of 4 months. Thereafter it

will be in position to finance its operation from the proceeds of the farm.
The funds we are soliciting amounts to USD 1,736.10, this amount will
be used to improve the productivity in terms of quantity and quality.

Payback Plan

The amount will be paid back to the lenders after a 1 year period in an
installment manner spited to four, four months period payback plan. All
the first, second third and forth installment payment will be done after
harvesting and selling the proceeds from the farm. The table below
shows the payback strategy.

Table 1: Payback Strategy Table

Interest Rate 13.33%

Thereafter, we will continue expanding and introducing the same project

in other parts of the country. This will improve the food security and
incomes for the participants hence living a comfortable life without
depending on the government or NGOs for relief food when they can
farm for themselves.

Project Beneficiaries

The direct project beneficiaries would be the communities around where

the project is taking place and the youths that are interested in learning
modern way of farming. This project will also benefit the jobless since it
will provide job opportunities in the society.

5.0 Project Methodology

The methodology to be adopted by the project is the participatory

approach. The Ongoro O.F and family Green Farm is to operate in Kano
West. This area has plenty of rainfall harvested water stored in small
dams.
5.1 Fulfillment of the Priority need of Beneficiaries

The major problem to be faced by the project and which the project will
try to address is the lack of the most appropriate agricultural input to
restart normal production activities. These inputs include farm
equipment, seeds materials, other priority areas to be addressed are:-

Lack of the capacity to provide agricultural support services

In future the project intends to sink a borehole in the community
Buying a pick-up for transporting the products to the market.
Rural electrification in the area

5.2 Beneficiaries participation and contribution

The project beneficiaries include the family members and the

community, since it deals with their economic well-being. During the
implementation of the project, beneficiaries would contribute the:

Unskilled and skilled labour

Local materials (poles, posts, strings etc)
Land for the cultivation and construction of food storage

6.0 Implementation Strategy

The under mentioned strategies will be carried out to achieve the set
objectives:
-Setting up at least 10 green houses in the location.

6.1 Project sustainability:

A complete 240 square meters Green House can produce at least 8

tonnes of tomatoes. In Kenya today, a kg of tomatoes sells at Ksh 50

Expected output from one Green house for the 4 months of operation is
approximately Ksh 400,000.

6.2 Impact on Environment

The depletion of the forest and tree crop, due to demand for fuel wood
and timber activities has increased runoff and soil erosion especially on
derived watersheds leading to loss of soils nutrients, situation of
waterways and damage to fisheries. The project when fully implemented
will try to embark on activities that will conserve the environment.

Table 2: Cost Analysis Table

7.0 Conclusion
When the amount used to construct one green house plus other expenses
that will be used in the farm, i.e. buying seeds, paying laborers, etc are
subtracted from amount expected we get over a 100,000/= profit. This
amount will be used to pay back the loan providers by either revenue
sharing or agreeable percentage as per the agreement of the loan.

After the first harvesting is complete the same green house will be used
to do the next season cultivation.

Contract Address P.o. Box 52-SUNA

Contract Persons - Mr. Felix Odhiambo Ongoro

Tel: +254725617768

Vincent Otieno Ongoro

Tel: +254729834756
Email: otivince@yahoo.com

Location of Project - West Kano

Nyanza
Kenya

Date of commencement 5 September, 2013

Fund request $ 1,734.10

References:

Nation.media.com

KHDP website (KHDP.Com)