Biogas Generator

Submitted by Ken Mellish
February 18, 2006

It is seldom that you see a low cost item that works better than the more expensive unit. We saw that in a plastic tube biogas generator.

While we were visiting farms in the Embu district of Kenya we saw a biogas generator demonstration. The demonstration was done by KARI, the Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute, and was on the farm of Mrs Geru. We have seen biogas units made from concrete with a floating steel cover in several tropical countries. I understand the plastic tube method of making biogas was developed in South America.

This unit was made from a 10 meter length of plastic silage tubing, two pieces of sewer pipe and an outlet pipe to collect the biogas.

The plastic tube is laid on a 5 degree slope and protected from animals with a fence. The tube is partially filled with a mix of 2 water to 1 cow manure and then each day a 20 liter bucket of cow manure is mixed with two buckets of water and poured into the unit through the sewer pipe. The result is three buckets of wet compost and enough biogas to cook the meals for the household. The pipe with a simple valve on it goes to a gas ring in the kitchen. The flame burns hot and clean. The black plastic tube gets hot in the sun which will speed up the digestion process making it more efficient than the concrete-steel unit.

This unit:
- was low cost;
- simple to make of locally available materials;
- saved on purchased fuels;
- replaced firewood;
- produced finished compost for fertilizer and
- easy to use.

Billet Night

Submitted by Jeff Wichtel
February 12, 2006

Tuesday night was “billet night” for the Mukurwe-ini group, an event that we had been looking forward to with great excitement (and a little apprehension). Each of us was to spend one night in the home of a local family, to learn more of Kikuyu culture life on a shamba (family farm). Most of the homes we had seen on our rounds had been very humble, without electricity or interior plumbing, so we knew we were in for an experience.

Jeff was assigned to stay with Dr. Ayub Kiniaru, the veterinarian with whom the group had been working with for the previous 2 weeks. Like most families in the district, Ayub, his wife Grace, and their adorable two girls Joy and Baby Ester, live in a modest 4-room mud-brick and rough-hewn wood home, with a steel roof. Although small, the home was painted and very well maintained compared to those we had seen previously. This is one of 3 homes in the “boma” (compound); the other homes are occupied by Ayub’s mother and father, and his eldest brother and family. Grace’s family lives just across the valley close enough that you could shout to get their attention. No getting away from family!

The Kiniaru home was very well-equipped, with a real flush toilet (but Kenyans don’t seem to need toilet seats). There were 5 fluorescent light fixtures and a 13-inch black-and-white TV, operated from a 12-volt battery which was charged each day with a solar panel – a sophisticated set-up for the district, providing 5-hours per day of power and the opportunity for Jeff to catch up on the semi-finals of the African Cup (football).

After Jeff had a “sponge bath” using water in a basin that had been heated in the kitchen, Ayub and Jeff had a few “Tuskers” (the local brew, excellent). It’s definitely a man’s world in Kenya: Grace stayed busy cooking and minding the baby while the men relaxed and drank, eventually putting on a great meal for Jeff and all of the extended family. The digital camera provided a lot of fun for little Joy. Ayub’s brother and sister-in-law, both teachers, stayed after dinner; long discussions ensued on the new government’s education policy and politics in general, two topics that occupy Kenyans around the clock. Jeff spent a comfortable night in the room they had prepared for him, sleep disturbed only by the multitude of dogs, roosters and other Kenyan livestock that do not seem to recognize that night is a time for slumber.

Ayub, Grace and family are very intelligent, generous and welcoming hosts, with a single-minded focus on working hard to provide the very best opportunities for their young children. Because Ayub has a good job as veterinarian to the co-operative, and Grace has work in a cosmetic shop in town, the future looks promising for these humble and hard-working folk, at least when compared to many others in the district. We wish them well.

Matthew spent the night at Bernard’s home who is the operator of the new laboratory at the Wakulima Self Help Group Dairy. When I arrived they were so excited to have a muzingo (white person) on their farm. They took me to all five brothers and had tea with each. By the time I was done by stomach was full of liquid and my hand tired of greeting each person with excessive handshaking. Next they wanted to take advantage of my being a veterinarian. They wanted me to check some cows for pregnancy. I said it shouldn’t be a problem, until I realized I was missing rectal palpation gloves. They didn’t think it was a problem, so needless to say I scrubbed my arm very thoroughly that night. The night ended with us talking and taking pictures. Sleeping, well that was an understatement with the dogs barking all night, so when I heard the milk hitting the metal cans I woke. It was 4:30 and I helped milk. Manual milking was quite a different experience compared to Canada. We then had to walk the milk to the pick up spot. It was about 3 km away and then an hour and a half wait. I was really appreciating the Canadian milk truck at this point in time. Breakfast was some more tea and bread. I wished them well and said goodbye with a few hugs. As I walked away I couldn’t help but think what a happy hardworking family. I hope their hard work and determination pay off and like their cream they rise to the top.

Krista and Lawana stayed at the co-ordinator of the Wakulima Dairy’s house, Mr and Mrs. Gerald Kariuki. Their experience was very similar to the experiences enjoyed by the others. The home is located on the very top of a tall mountain, quite far from the town of Mukurwe-ini. There is absolutely no electricity or running water at their home. Therefore we had a traditional Kenyan supper by lantern light and the way to the bathroom outside was led by flashlight! Gerald was telling true stories of how leopards used to come through the roof and eat the goats (which used to live in the house). This made the buddy system a necessity when going to the bathroom! Upon arriving to the bathroom we were intrigued to find no toilet seat but a concrete hole in the floor of the outhouse. Overall it was a priceless experience and really gave us an insight on the true Kenyan way of life.

New Project Establishes Roots - Ruuju Primary School

Submitted by: Colleen Walton and Mary Driscoll
February 10, 2006

Arriving from Canada, we never really know exactly what to expect with a new project. Being hopeful*, we wanted to see digging and construction during our stay. We soon discovered that considerable groundwork was first needed to clearly define roles and responsibilities of the project partners - the school and FHF. As with any group, relationships had to be established, confirmed, and reworked to a point where we were all feeling comfortable; a time consuming process but critical to the success of the project (any project in any country!) A project delivery plan was created in consultation with FHF volunteers that included FHF financial commitments, the necessary school/community commitments, and logical start and finish dates for the various activities (eg. water tank installation, garden preparation and fencing, and vegetable planting). The old adage “PLAN YOUR WORK, WORK YOUR PLAN” was foremost in our minds.

A parents meeting was held to outline the help needed to deliver the project; of 120 families 102 were represented at this meeting – the highest recorded attendance in the eight year history of the Joseph, the Headmaster. Parents were asked to commit to tasks such as provide manure, assist installing water tanks and harvest crops. It was unanimously agreed that the project partnership was a ‘good thing’ for the community; and so the project was officially launched!

Damaris, a local horticulturist, was hired to grow crops and train students to grow new crops. Students and parents assisted in clearing land for a vegetable nursery and large vegetable garden. Fencing the garden, installing gutters and water tanks, building the corn crib and planting the maize and bean crops, with proper inputs and management, are all ambitiously planned to take place before the March rains. Registration for the school 4K (4H) club is taking place as write.

It was inspiring to witness these hard-working and deserving families come together, and is exciting to imagine the benefits this project will bring to their health and welfare.

* Exerp from “A Guide to Kenyan Vocabulary” Sunday Nation Feb 5,2006
By: Sunny Brindra

HOPE: And finally, a word that means what you think it does. And how! For whatever happens here, we don’t lose hope. We are amongst the poorest nations on earth, but we aim for the stars. Everything can be in disarray, but we will not forget to smile and look forward. That is one of the defining features of Kenyans: we believe things will get better. We may be led by those who denude us, but that’s no reason to be down. Amidst all the car-jackings and collapsing buildings, we see a better future. This belief is what sustains us. And when leadership emerges that can channel this unique energy, we will make the leap into sustained prosperity. We will. In the Kenyan breast, hope does spring eternal.

A Tribute to Milk Bike Drivers

Submitted by John VanLeeuwen
February 8, 2006

Dairy farmers that live in remote parts of Kenya have difficulty getting their milk to market. For some, the roads are not passable by trucks, especially in the Embu district which lies within the foothills of Mt. Kenya. So the farmers need to use alternative appropriate transportation. Bring in the bicycles!!!

The Embu Dairy Co-op has 2500 registered dairy farmer members. These farms are spread out over a large area, nearly 500 square kilometers. Within this area, the Co-op has 4 milk cooling tanks to which the milk is transported, then cooled, and then sent on to dairy processors in Nairobi. However, only ¼ of the farmers live close enough to the cooling tanks to walk their milk to the tanks themselves. The remaining ¾ of farmers rely on 100 milk bike drivers!

So try to picture a man driving a bicycle with a crate tied to the bicycle rack behind the seat, and two 25 litre cans of milk in the crate. Not such a big deal you say? Well, how about another two 25 litre cans of milk straddling the bar between the handle bars and the seat? How many of us would be able to ride a bike loaded down with an extra 100 kg? If you’re dutch, you may have some experience riding a bike with more than one person on it, but people don’t slosh around like milk does in these milk cans. These young men must have very good balance to navigate the twisting hills of Embu district with their milk loads.

Now imagine that it is the rainy season in Kenya and these milk bike drivers are riding up and down these same mountainous paths with slippery mud on them!!! These men are performing a death-defying circus act every day! And they are happy to do so, not just because it is good exercise through a beautiful landscape, but because it is a job that makes them 1 Kenyan shilling per litre. If they transport 100 litres per day, at 60 shillings per dollar, they earn $1.65 per day. They won’t get rich on this, but that will put food on the table for them.

While these milk bike drivers are a solution to a problem pecular to highland Kenya, they create another problem. The cans that they use are plastic and have a small opening with a screw-top. These plastic cans are harder to clean than aluminum cans, like those that were used in Canada in years gone by. Therefore milk quality is a concern. It’s a good thing that many people boil their milk here.

Farmers Helping Farmers Officially Opens Dairy Laboratory at Wakulima Self-Help Dairy Group in Mukurwe-ini

Submitted by Teresa Mellish
February 5, 2006

On Thursday, the Farmers Helping Farmers delegation in Kenya were delighted to officially opened the new dairy laboratory in the Wakulima Self Help Dairy Group building in Mukurwe-ini. Ken and Teresa Mellish along with Colleen Walton cut the ribbon and uncovered the plaque commemorating the opening.

The dairy laboratory is being used to test milk samples to determine the reason when milk quality is not acceptable. Milk samples which are detected to be of an unacceptable quality at the milk collection points are sent to the lab for analysis. Samples are also sent when the Wakulima veterinarian wants to confirm which type of mastitis ( an inflammation of the udder) a cow has. The lab can determine which type of mastitis the cow has or if the milk has impurities in it or if it is spoiled because it has been in the sun too long.

The lab started to operate recently and it has been processing about 15 samples per day. The results of the analysis is made available to the farmer and if the cow has mastitis the Wakulima veterinarian, Dr. Ayub Kaniaru, can prescribe an antiobiotic.

Recently Farmers Helping Farmers provided each of the 5000 farmers, who ship milk to the Wakulima Dairy, with a 500 ml bottle of Mastrite, to introduce them to dipping the cows teats after milking. This combined with good sanitation and good milking practices will reduce the incidence of mastitis. AVC “vet doctor” (as he is called in Kenya) Dr. John van Leeuwen was thrilled when he was told that the incidence of mastitis has dropped substantially since each farmer has started using Mastrite.

The equipment in the laboratory was funded from a generous donation by Jack Kelly from Cornwall, PEI with matching funds from the Canadian International Development Agency.

The Farmers Helping Farmers group were very impressed with the progress being made by the Wakulima group. The lab is part of a new building recently built by the Wakulima group. In addition to the lab, the building includes offices, a board room, and a feed store.

Beatrice Wangui Kariuki

Submitted by Krista Toner, 4th year vet student
February 2, 2006

This morning before the opening of the new laboratory, I had the pleasure of speaking with one of the board members of the Wakulima Self Help Dairy Group, Beatrice Wangui Kariuki. She is currently milking seven cows, which is one of the largest farms that we have visited since our arrival in Ichamara, Kenya. In the past she also had an organic fruit farm as part of her business, but recently she lost her fruit to a fungus. Beatrice is planning to plant more fruit to replace those she lost. She is a very progressive farmer and knowledgeable in Mukurwe-ini’s current agricultural challenges.

In speaking with Beatrice she had nothing but good things to say about Farmers Helping Farmers and the changes that she has seen in her community since Farmers Helping Farmers teamed up with the Wakulima Self Help Group. She thinks that the Wakulima farmers are more interested in cows and are working very hard to become sustainable dairy farmers and to incorporate some of our suggestions into their farm. One new concept, which they are proud to have incorporated is the zero grazing method of feeding. Most animals are housed in wooden “shambas” (farm), and napier grass is cut and brought to the animals.

Beatrice was very enthusiastic when she told me that, “From the time Farmers Helping Farmers came, there is an improvement in reducing mastitis because of the new laboratory. “I’ve seen the changes in milk quality and an increase in production”. She feels that the increase in milk production and quality has been a direct result from the education of the farmers in proper nutrition and milking habits. Beatrice commented that not only has the increase in milk production impacted the family income, but also nutrition for their children. She said that “some farmers are able to harvest milk three times a day and because we sell twice daily, the third milking we are able to drink at home. Most importantly, more children are able to get enough milk.”

Beatrice feels that the Wakulima Self Help Group is an inspiration to “farmers from other countries who are interested to know how they can be educated to grow their own crops on small shambas”. She feels that her association with the Farmers Helping Farmers has not only helped members of the Wakulima Self Help Dairy Group, but also given her the ability to share her knowledge with outside farmers, especially in their way of living.

It was a pleasure to talk with such a determined and intelligent lady. I think that she is a great asset to the Wakulima Dairy Group, and is very active in increasing the quality of farming in Mukurwe-ini. Because her enthusiasm was to be envied, it made ending our conversation difficult! But when we finally parted she said to me “we (Farmers Helping Farmers and Wakulima self help dairy) have made a forever friendship”.

Opening a Bank Account in Kenya

Submitted by Teresa Mellish
February 1, 2006

Yesterday I assisted Shaad Olingo, our Kenyan agent , to work with the Headmaster of the Ruuju Primary School to open a bank account for the project we have in partnership with the school.

The Chairperson of the Farmers Helping Farmers Council assisted us early in the morning by introducing us at 9 am to the right personnel in the Cooperative Bank of Kenya - who assured us that he would "facilitate" the opening of the account when we had the appropriate documents signed and stamped.

Then the minutes of the meeting of the Ruuju project management committee had to be typed. These minutes showed who the signatories of the account were to be. So I went to buy a bottle of water and watch the interesting traffic in front of the bank while Shaad got the minutes typed at a Cyber Café and got his photo taken for the bank account. When a new bank account is opened, all the signatories not only have to sign a signature card; they also have to provide a photograph of themselves.

At about 10:30 am we left Meru for the 50 km drive north to the District Education Office (DEO) in Maua, the District Headquarters for the Ruuju School. We had to go there to get a form approving the school opening a project bank account At one point in the climb to Maua, we could see a long distance to Isiolo over very dry land.

The District Education Officer was not there! So the very capable and industrious Secretary found an Education officer to meet with us. He agreed to complete the necessary form . When he went to the Secretary for the form, we found out they were out of that form. The Headmaster found out that if we went to the local Cyber Café, we should be able to purchase a copy of the form- so I sat outside the DEO and read the Daily Nation while Shaad and the Headmaster went to look for the form. After producing the form the Headmaster went to the Education officer’s office to complete it while Shaad and I both read the Daily Nation on the bench outside the DEO. Then there appeared to be a search for the appropriate stamp for the minutes and the form.

At about 1 pm we left the DEO in Maua to return to Meru to open the account at the bank We met the Treasurer at the bank and proceeded to complete forms for a new bank account. There are to be four signatories to the account- and we waited anxiously for the School Chairman to arrive. At 3 pm they closed the bank doors so, we could not complete the opening of the bank account. We did order cheques which should be available on Friday.

All in a Kenyan day’s work.