Cassava growing for food security in Kenya

Dear Donors,

I want to thank you for support our cassava for food security project.  It is going much better than anyone could have predicted.  One example is Mrs.Ekila Wanjiku, a woman in my village, who keeps 3 cows for milk production.  Earnings from the sale of the milk forms a crucial part of her family's income. Until March this year, she was feeding her cows on cornmercial-made feeds. She was buying these at Ksh.2,000.00 or $23 per week. The daily milk output by then was about 10 litres.

As part of our cassava project for food security, Ekila's family was given cassava cuttings to plant in May 2010.  By December 2010, their crop was mature.  They used the crop for their food supply. In addition, they decided to try feed the cassava to their cows. They ground the roots into flour and fed it to their cows and their cows liked it!  Amazingly, the daily milk output from the cows has increased by 50% to 15 litres per day. The family has an additional income of Ksh 125.00 or $1.50 daily from the milk and Ksh 3,750.00 or $44 monthly.  It is important to note that Ekila is feeding the cows on completely organic feeds from her own plot, saving Ksh. 2,000.00 or $23 per week she was spending earlier.

Ekila happily states, " I am now sure of maintaining my children in school." According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N., cassava roots have the highest concentration of starch among all food crops. The leaves are abundantly rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals. Brazil, the world's biggest milk producer, relies on cassava for livestock feeds.  We would like to see this replicated in villages all over Kenya!

Many thanks again!  You are changing lives for the better!

Until next time,

Michael

Links:

• PATHWAYS Leadership for Progress website