By Sylvia Kuria
In this issue we will be reflecting on the Agroecological principle of Human and Social Values. When we refer to this principle we are basically placing a strong emphasis on values such as dignity, inclusion, equity and general improved livelihoods. We will also be looking at the aspirations of those who produce food, distribute as we well as consumers who are an integral part of our food systems. I will be sharing about my aspirations as a farmer and how I connect with consumers in a sustainable way.
When I conduct trainings and interact with farmers and consumers one thing that we always ask and discuss is whether we take time to connect to our food. We ask ourselves if we know where our food was grown, how it was grown and how it ended up on our plates? If you live in the city chances are high that you shop in the local weekly markets near you or in the supermarkets that have replaced farmers markets as convenient “all under one roof” grocery stores. And for us in the country side we try to grow most of our daily greens, but buy other essentials from local markets.
Who feeds the world?
Small holder farmers provide 80% of all the food consumed globally. We always talk about how we are reliant on small holder farmer for food security yet in the agricultural value chain they are the most marginalised and make the least income. The irony of this fact, is also that most of the emphasis in terms of developing the value chain has also been on the production aspect, yet the results and real impact to farmers’ lives is wanting.
When I started farming 14 years ago, I started with a home garden to provide for the needs of my family. When the produce was too much to consume I then decided to start selling my produce in the local markets and to middle men. I soon realised that I was not in charge of how much money I made for my hard work. The middle man would dictate the prices and because I did not have market intelligence, I had no choice but to accept whatever price I was offered. Because I did not have direct connection with consumers and was making peanuts, my farming venture was not profitable.
How can farmers regain their dignity?
This is the same story for most small holder farmers globally. Small holder farmers have come to accept that they will not make a decent livelihood from their farms. They send their children to schools and make sure their children will never become farmers and suffer as they did. It has become extremely difficult to convince the youth to engage in farming because they watched their parents slaving on the farm and making nothing out of it. The dignity and value of farming is now lost.
I found that I was disconnected to the consumers who are at the farthest end of the agricultural value chain and was getting the short end of the stick. The disconnect of farmers to consumers has also made the consumers not actively think about how and where their food was grown.
Where are the consumers?
When I got tired of enriching middlemen, I decided to seek out for the direct consumer and hopefully make better income. Delivering home baskets was my first entry point to consumers. I got to learn a few lessons here. Consumers were very happy to receive farm fresh produce from local farmers. They were concerned about the safety of the produce and the issue of trust was major as they wanted to trace where the produce has come from.
When we opened our farm shop Sylvia’s Basket, we partnered with small holder farmers from all over the country. For many small holder farmers supplying our shop was the closest they had ever been to consumers. Our model is very simple, farmers deliver the produce to our farm shop and on the same day we sell their produce to consumers.
How do we bring back dignity and improved livelihoods to our food systems?
It is pretty simple. We should look for ways to connect the consumers to farmers. Farmers will have a chance to sell their produce directly to consumers making better incomes and consumers have a chance to enjoy safe organic and fresh produce.
Not every farmer can open a shop or sell in the market, but I would like to encourage farmers to look for innovative ways of accessing consumers. One can share with neighbours that their produce is organic and sell to neighbourhoods. If you have a means of transport like a bicycle there is a possibility of doing home deliveries in your locality.
Consumers can make deliberate choices to source organic produce directly from farmers. If consumers took time to ask how their food got to their plates, they can and will find local farmers in their locality growing safe organic produce. This will close the gaps in the agricultural value chain and bring back dignity and improved livelihoods to all.
Sylvia Kuria is an organic farmer and sole proprietor of Sylvia’s Basket.
Tel: 0738- 895- 395
Email: sylviakuria@gmail.com