Through my company Green Dreams, I am empowering small scale organic farmers through providing them with education and markets for their organic products. I am also focusing on developing new marketing models for the farmers by challenging the current bias business and trade regulations that favour big business both locally and internationally. This is changing the lives of the farmers by virtue of their increased income.
Naturally this system is also creating changes in diet and thus health due to the nature of increase diversity of crops in organic production systems. Organic systems are also creating changes in the environment resulting in increased diversity of flora and fauna as well as other environmental benefits, eg cleaner rivers, less erosion, healthier soils etc etc
Ultimately I would like to see changes in the way poor farmers are percieved in developing countires. I would like to see poor farmers recieving just renumeration for their products. I would like to see the removal of agricultural subsidies in developed countries. And finally, I would like to see a system developed that would allow consumers to make the choice of buying third world products cost effectively.
For 8 years I ran my own company Green Dreams Ltd which started out in organic production and marketing of its products. As the business grew, I started a training program and taught farmers how to produce according to the organic principles. Over time I started a shop and also began marketing organic products from these same farmers into local mainstream markets. As the organic industry began to develop I have now come out of production and merged my business with Food Network East Africa.Our focus is on farmer support and marketing both locally and internationally .
I also contibute to a monthly magazine The Organic Farmer which is distributed to organic producers all over Kenya. I have also helped to start an organic farm in Kenyas biggest slum, Kibera. http://greendreams.edublogs.org
