Pyrethrum Revolution as the next income earner for farmers.
To further enhance our working relations, Governor Susan Kihika and US ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitfield visited KENTEGRA farm in Eburru, Gilgil Sub County.
Kentegra, which came in following the liberalization of pyrethrum farming five years ago, contracts farmers, provides them with seedlings, fertilizer and buys dried flowers from farmers for processing and selling to international companies manufacturing insecticide
Kentegra operates in counties with Nakuru as the top producer of dried flowers.
It’s contracted a total of 7,000 farmers in Nakuru with a total acreage of 1,500.
It trains farmers in pyrethrum production, water harvesting, kitchen farming, financial literacy and organizes them in small groups to access credit
Around Eburu, Kentegra has a total of 800 farmers and the farming venture has largely helped farmers pay school fees, feed families and change the economic outlook of the area
John Ngugi, the model farmer who 2 acre farm was visited, was effusive of the positive impact growing pyrethrum has changed his life for the positive. On his farm, aside from pyrethrum, he grows vegetables, fruits, bananas, and has a cat fish pond
He is also trained in regenerative farming to provide food for his family
Kentegra buys dried flowers from farmers on weekly basis and pays them after five days. Kentegra applies the concept of Guaranteed Minimum Returns to ensure that none of it’s farmers faces losses from pyrethrum. The Governor and US Ambassador were taken on a tour of the farm by John, Kentegra chief executive officer, Mr Brian McKenzie and Mr Micah Thuo, head of field operations