Two farming ideas from Kenya have been awarded a grant of
$7,500 (approx. Sh630,000) in the third edition of the Africa Rural Connect Contest.
KUZA Doctor by Backpack
Farm’s founder Rachel Zedeck, was one of the innovative farming ideas which walked
away with $5,000 (Sh420,000) for their farming mobile toolkit.
Kuza Doctor provides access for small-scale farmers to
affordable eco-friendly farming agri-tech inputs and training as well as
linking to a doctor. Information offered in the training is on drip irrigation,
fusion farming, agri-business, local biodiversity, conservation and safety
among other agricultural resources.
After the launch of the KUZA Doctor app, Kenyans will be
able to subscribe to the agricultural portal through SMS with a smart phone
option to follow.
One Hen Campaign
of founder Mr. James Makini was the second idea that bagged $2,000 (Sh210,000).
The idea is a form of poultry micro-loan that offers women and youth in rural-Kenya
a hen and cage. Where the recipients will give back 2 chicks after 6 months
besides entrepreneurship and financial management. The awarded has recently
honored in What’s Working in Youth Employment an initiative by Youth Employment
Network.
Speaking at the unveiling of the winners Molly Mattessich,
manager of online initiatives at the American National Peace Corps Association
said that the competition sought out new ideas on how to engage Africa’s youth
who are the future of development and the most technologically-wired.
The other winner of the 2012 Africa Rural Connect Contest
was Tanzania’s Green Living Planet
of
Benson Mariki that seeks to offer students a sustainable school lunch
through style keyhole gardens. The project has been successfully launched in
Terrat Primary School in Arusha. The initiative was awarded $1000.
Organized by the
American National Peace Corps Association, the three-month long contest offers the
cash award as seed money.
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