PATHWAYS Leadership for Progress

Michael Murigi was born to poor parents and often had to skip grade school to work in nearby coffee farms to earn money for clothes and school supplies. Because of the current lack of food in his village and insufficient rains, Michael’s proposed project is to encourage the planting of cassava in his village.  Cassava is an indigenous crop that is fast growing and well adapted to the dry environment and local plant diseases.  The starch filled roots can be used like potatoes or ground into flour, while the leaves can be used like spinach. He believes adding cassava as an alternative crop can increase food security and increase income among the villagers.  Michael will be studying Economics at the University of Nairobi. Michael states, “It is shameful that in the 21st century economic activities are almost halted due to hunger.”

2010 Update

▪Held 5 meetings where people were educated on benefits of growing cassava.
▪Registered group with Ministry of Social Services
▪Established links with the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute through 4 meetings with the National Root Crops Coordinator.
▪Acquired a small piece of land where some of the cuttings will be planted.
▪Bought 1000 cassava cuttings from the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute.
▪Planted cassava in time for the March 2010 rains.
▪Secured his group a stand at Muranga District Agricultural Show (pictured left) where they displayed cassava products including Mandazi (baked from cassava flour), crisps, porridge. Pictured are members of his group preparing cassava for the crowd.

2011 Update
▪ Distributed 7,200 cassava cuttings to 120 households in
the community with each receiving an amount commensurate to the availability of the planting area.
▪ Held 36 public meetings to sensitize and educate farmers on cassava production, 9 of which were graced by the National Root-Crops Coordinator, Dr.Kamau.
▪ Community has planted the cassava cuttings, distributed by the group, in their farms.
▪ Community has shown great interest in the group activities by attending the sensitization/training meetings in large numbers.

Plans for 2011-2012
▪ To increase the number of households growing cassavas from 120 to 240 with each having 6 members on average.
▪ To grow the 2nd crop on the demostration plot.
▪ To establish cluster plots belonging to sub-groups using the revenue that will accrue after harvesting and selling the current cassava crop in the demonstration plot.