Two Kenyan farming ideas bag $7,500

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.