Day 35 Kakamega June 12, 2011

Greetings

Today marks 5 weeks here in Kenya.  Where has the time gone?  I am almost half way done with this trip.  This week will be spent here in Western Kenya.  The next week I am hoping to go into Uganda for a few days and also spend some more time back in the Busia area to discuss fish farms and passion fruit.  The next two weeks after that I am scheduled to be in Maralal.  The last week I do not know where I will be.

I spent much of today working on the computer making documents for the related projects we are currently working on.  Right now we have three projects that we have started funding.  They are the ground nuts and simsims in Matasia, shop equipment for Victory Furniture Designers in Mumias, and the passion fruit orchard here in Kakamega.  I hope to have the orchard planted by the end of the week.

I also put together the costs for various size passion fruit orchards without fencing costs.

One sixth of an acre is about $240.00

One quarter of an acre is about $345.00

One half an acre is about $680.00

Three quarters of an acre is about $996.00

One acre is about $1265.00

Two acres is about $2529.00

Three acres is about $3794.00 

On the way back from Eldoret the other day it was determined that in order to get the fruit to market in Eldoret we will need to have at least an acre producing here in Kakamega to help pay for transportation costs.  An acre should produce somewhere between 40,000 and 45,000 Ksh a week.  The plot we have planted will at best produce somewhere between 8,000 and 10,000 Ksh a week.  Fuel costs to and from Eldoret in a small pickup will cost at least 3,000 Ksh.  For the short period that this small orchard will be producing before the other orchards are ready to harvest it was decided that a motorbike could probably transport the fruit of this small orchard to Eldoret for around 1000 Ksh.  Here in Kakamega there are plenty of acres available to plant after the maize is harvested in August.  I assume that there are many acres available for planting in the Busia area.  We also know of at least 10 acres in the Kitale area that will be available in August as well.  On Tuesday we should have the total number of acres that could be available here in Kakamega for planting in August.

Tomorrow is off to Mumias to make dinner for Hezron’s staff and families.  I hope they have big enough pots for me to cook in.   

Take care and God bless

Dave