Regional Markets

Regional Markets for Local Development
smallholder increase their farm gate price share. Through strong farmer organisation,
NGOMA has helped farmers coordinate and engage in such collective marketing.
Innovation and sustainability
As described above, the innovations promoted by NGOMA are focusing mainly at
the institutional level. Even without substantial direct interventions, helping farmers
improve the technical and technological elements of production is still an integral part
of all smallholder-focused interventions. Group formation, access to support services,
improved capacities and an improved enabling environment all help smallholders secure
a better position in the value chains.
Concluding remarks
The success of NGOMA highlights the added value that multi-layered organisations
can bring in facilitating the connection between the various actors involved in smallscale
farming. Yet, there are still many challenges ahead and more work needs to be
done. Despite improved prices and increased participation in policy formulation processes,
a large part of smallholders still cannot meet quantity and quality standards.
Farmers now widely use mobile phones to obtain market prices, but poor road infrastructure
hinders trade. The overreliance on rain-fed agriculture is a serious threat to
local livelihoods and food security, especially with the increasingly more frequent periods
of severe drought.
In such a complex environment, the beating of the drum, NGOMA calling for attention,
has been heard and has had its effect. NGOMA proved the importance of collective
action by producers to facilitate market access. To support inclusive market access
for small scale dairy and maize farmers in the Rift Valley, the beat must go on.
Abbreviations
KCC
KDB
KEPCO
KSH
NAAIAP
NALEP
NCPB
NGOMA
NGOs
SAP
Kenyan Co-operative Creameries
Kenya Dairy Board
Kenya Producers Coalition
Kenyan Shilling
National Accelerated Agricultural Inputs Access Programme
National Agricultural Livestock Extension Programme
National Cereals and Produce Board
Ng’ombe (cows) and Mahindi (maize) in Kiswahili.
Non-Governmental Organizations
Structural Adjustment Policies
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