This partnership aims to develop affordable, aflatoxin-free fortified groundnuts products (energy-dense, micronutrient enhanced pastes) for BoP consumers in the semi-arid counties of Meru and Tharaka Nithi. Through 2SCALE support, the products will be developed to quality standards that are tested and certified by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and develop the marketing and last-mile distribution system for the new products. In addition, in order to get the aflatoxin-free nuts from the farms, the partnership will seek to introduce improved production, harvesting and post-harvest innovations at the farm level and at the Batian Nuts Ltd factory. To ensure productive and sustainable production systems, eco-production practices such as drought tolerant and high yielding groundnut varieties like CG7 will be introduced for smallholder farmers in the semi-arid counties of Meru, Tharaka Nithi and neighboring counties of Isiolo and Embu.
With support from 2SCALE, the company will work with the target farmers to produce and market 400, 1400 and 2,000 tons of groundnut in year 1, 2 and 3 respectively. 2SCALE will assist in building the capacities of the targeted smallholder farmers in groundnut production, introducing eco-efficient innovations to help them adapt and mitigate the climate changes. In addition, 2SCALE will help in organizing around 10,000 (over 50% women) farmers into sustainable farmer groups who produce and sell quality groundnuts through BNL and other channels, and assist Batian Nuts Ltd in developing products and penetrating markets with peanut pastes, roasted nuts, dried fresh and other groundnut products mostly targeting the low-income consumers.
