Powering a Safer Future through Corteva Agriscience

Powering a Safer Future through Corteva Agriscience - a business story

Kabuoch, Kawuor

Riana Development Network (RDN) sort new partnerships for farmers in greater Kabuoch North and South towards green energy by driving investment on farmers through economic activities, infrastructure and assets that allow reduced carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource efficiency, and prevention of the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. This was culminated on 19th April, 2023 where famers under the umbrella of UK Aid funded - Creating Decent Employment Opportunities Program (CREDEEP) had the privilege of support from Corteva Agriscience through representation by Sharon Benta, Joan Mbuva and Winnie Adhiambo Adika. The event was graced by officials from the County Government of Homabay – Departments of Agriculture and Industrialization, SCORE, ASEP, Serial Growers Association (SCA), and ASDSP.

Corteva Agriscience is a global agriculture company committed to improving the lives of farmers and communities around the world, supporting small farmers in Homabay through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This support was handed out to the corporative society of small-scale farmers under the umbrella of Riana Development Foundation (FDM). The SACCO was provided with a range of equipment and resources that would help them improve their livelihoods and become more sustainable. This support included the provision of posho mills, backup generators, incubators, aluminum silos and food processing machines, among other resources. Small farmers in Homabay face a range of challenges in their efforts to earn a sustainable livelihood. These challenges include limited access to capital, inadequate infrastructure, and inaccessible markets. Many farmers in the region struggle to access the resources they need to improve their yields, how to process their harvest and increase their incomes, making it difficult for them to support themselves and their families.

Corteva Agriscience has partnered with RDN to address these challenges by providing small farmers with the tools and resources they need to succeed. The company has provided crusher machine for chipping sweet potato harvest into small chips that can be fried into dry chips, posho mills, which are used to grind dried sweet potato into flour, to farmers in the corporative. These equipments will help farmers to process their maize, sorghum, cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas and potato chips more efficiently, reducing waste and increasing their yields. By processing these crops more efficiently, farmers in the region have been able to increase their incomes and provide more food for their families. This has also helped to reduce waste and increase the shelf life of the crops, making it easier for farmers to sell their produce in local markets.

In addition, Corteva Agriscience has also provided small farmers in Homabay with backup generators. This is because Homabay is greatly affected by inconsistent power outage that can last up to 4 days in a row. These generators will be used to power the incubators and various agricultural equipment, including water pumps and irrigation systems. With reliable access to power, farmers in the region will be able to irrigate their crops more effectively and increase their yields. The partnership also embraced poultry farming by providing farmers with incubators with a capacity of 580 and 1,050 eggs respectively. These incubators will be used to hatch poultry, which is an important source of income for many farmers in the region. By providing farmers with access to incubators, Corteva Agriscience has helped them walk out of unpredictable losses leading to spoilt eggs. If more eggs get to hatched, the farmers will be able to improve their poultry production and increase their yield 5 times more. 

Overall, the support provided by Corteva Agriscience to small farmers in Homabay has had a significant impact on their livelihoods and well-being. By providing access to posho mills, generators, incubators, and food processing machines, the company has helped farmers to increase value of their produce, improve their incomes, and lead a more valuable life through better returns. This support has also helped to build more sustainable communities in Homabay, with farmers becoming more self-sufficient and less reliant on external resources such as power and unpredictable whether patterns.

In addition to the direct benefits provided to small farmers in Homabay, Corteva Agriscience's support has also had broader impacts on the local economy and environment. By consistently  providing varieties of good grain quality developed and tested in local conditions, ensuring they that superior products are available to local farmers through alternative markets. Farmers in Homabay has received such incentives under CREDEEP program. This move will greatly promote sustainable agriculture practices and reducing waste, this partnership is helping to protect the environment in Homabay. The company's support has helped farmers to use resources more efficiently and reduce their carbon footprint, contributing to a more sustainable future for the region.