SCHOOL MAIZE FARM
In 2010 Headmaster Richard Wanjala Manya and the 12 committee members researched an income generating initiative which would be capable of supporting the School Feeding Program (SFP). As maize is the staple diet in Mathare it was decided to develop a Maize Farm Project.
Headmaster inspecting the young maize crop
Kitchen Table Charity
assistance
In March 2011 we submitted the proposal to the Kitchen Table Charities Trust in UK. They very kindly donated the sum of £3,000 to enable us to start this project and establish a revenue generating scheme to improve the supply of food for children attending Patmos School.
First ploughing
First harvest
The first harvest in November 2011 yielded 67 x 90kg bags of maize and 6 x 90kg bags of beans (the beans supplement and nutritionally balances the maize diet ). This excellent result highlights this Community Based Organisation's hard work, commitment and determination to make the whole project a success.
Our first maize harvest in 2011.
A sustainable project
We have had some set backs on the maize farm over the years as a result of drought, floods and infestation by the army ant during certain crucial periods for the crops.
However, despite all these problems and the fact that it takes a lot of time and effort from Headmaster Richard to oversee this project, the farm is still making a profit each year.
Some of the maize and beans grown on the farm is used in the School Feeding Program and some is sold to raise funds for the rental of the land for the following year as well as to buy fertiliser and for the payment of farm labour.
Hand weeding the maize crop.
OUR HARVEST RECORDS
Maize project
Maize harvest 2012 : 86 x 90kg bags of maize
Maize harvest 2013: 125 x 90kg bags of maize and 8 x
90kg bags of beans.
Maize harvest 2014: 123 x 90 Kg bags of maize and 11
x 90 Kg bags of beans
Maize harvest 2015 : 118 x 90 Kg bags of maize and 24 x 90 Kg bags of beans
Maize harvest 2016 : 102 x 90 Kg bags of maize and 19
x 90 Kg bags of beans
Maize harvest 2017 : 93 x 90 Kg bags of maize and 11 ½
x 90 Kg bags of beans
Maize harvest 2018: 108 x 90 Kg bags of maize and 9 x
90 Kg bags of beans
Maize harvest 2019: 106 x 90 Kg bags of maize and 2 x
90 Kg bags of beans
Maize harvest 2020: 53 x 90 Kg bags of maize and 2 x
90 Kg bags of beans
Maize harvest 2021: 87 x 90 Kg bags of maize and 3 x
90 Kg bags of beans
Maize harvest 2022: 71 x 90 Kg bags of maize and 2 x 90 Kg bags of beans
Maize harvest 2023: 78 x 90 Kg bags of maize and 1 x 90 Kg bags of beans
Headmaster Richard inspecting the maize crop and with some of the sacks of maize which will be used in the School Feeding Program
Director of Patmos School, Mr. Richard Wanjala Manya, with some of the sacks of maize which were harvested in November 2022.
Mr. Richard Wanjala Manya at the maize farm. December 2023
