Village Cereal Aggregation Centres (VCAC)

Promoting better post-harvest practices for food security and market linkages

Sector
Sustainable Agriculture
e_city
Buratana
e_country
Kenya

Village Cereal Aggregation Centres (VCACs) introduce post-harvest technologies and support farmers to engage in safe near-farm cereal storage, in order to increase food security and their capacity to trade competitively. VCACs comprise grain processing and bulking facilities, fully equipped with aflatoxin-testing kits, moisture meters, threshing, drying and bagging gear, and hermetic storage. The initiative offers farmers comprehensive training in post-harvest management including aflatoxin and pest control methods, grain marketing and trading standards, and business and financial management. 

Eco-Inclusive Impacts

The initiative is creating new community-level co-operatives, which enhance the farmers’ ability to engage in joint production, processing, storage and marketing activities.

  • Creating new community-level co-operatives, enhancing farmers’ ability to engage in joint production, processing, storage and marketing.
  • Leading to increased incomes, food security and improved social welfare.
  • Encouraging improved production and proper land and water utilisation and farmers to adopt good environmental protection practices.
  • Reducing the use of harmful pesticides in food storage.
  • Reducing over 25% post-harvest losses by increasing profitability in cereal production activities.
  • Helping farmers to gain better returns on their investment.

     

Partners

A local commercial entity has joined forces with the national government, the financial sector and cereal buyers to establish mobile post-harvest management centres in villages – enabling farmers to deliver high-quality grain to the market value chain and encouraging more participation of youth in cereal production.

Kenya Promotions & Marketing Company (Holdings) Ltd. provides technology, expertise and establishes fully equipped post-harvest management centres.

The Ministry of Agriculture supports the establishment of the VCACs on a public-private sector basis and promotes the establishment within key cereal production areas.

The National Irrigation Board supports small-scale farmers to engage in irrigation farming.

Equity Bank provides financing to farmers to access agro-inputs and markets.