Nelson Mwende, a Ndara B Community member, is spearheading the establishment of a research farm on Ndara B Community land. The pilot farm occupies approximately five acres and is designed as a learning and innovation hub for modern, research-based agriculture. Its core objective is to develop diverse crop and animal production models that can be scaled and applied across more than 4,000 acres of community-owned land.
Nelson projects that within the next five years, the expanded farming program could produce millions of kilograms of food annually, both for direct consumption and for use as raw materials for agro-processing and related community industries. The initiative is therefore expected to significantly enhance food security, create employment opportunities, and generate sustainable income for Ndara B members.
Together with eight other community members, Nelson has already demarcated and prepared more than 60 farming blocks. Each block is being used to test different crops, livestock systems, soil treatments, and water-use efficiencies. The team is considering a wide range of vegetables, fruits, and livestock—some of which already occur naturally on the land and are currently utilized by grazing members. These trials will help identify the most suitable enterprises for the local climate and soil conditions.
Water for the research farm will be supplied through a solar-powered borehole, which is estimated to produce up to 100,000 liters per day. Each farming block will be allocated a specific volume of water to allow accurate measurement of water-use efficiency and crop performance. Successful research outcomes will then be replicated across the Ndara B 14 large-scale farms, each covering approximately 200 acres.
In support of this effort, the community is developing a comprehensive water supply plan to sustain long-term agricultural production. Lucy Malenba, a member of the Ndara B Community, is leading the development of a strategy to ensure the availability of at least one billion liters of water annually. The plan includes drilling additional boreholes and expanding the Mughe Dam to a storage capacity of eight billion liters, enabling large-scale rainwater harvesting for irrigation.
The research farm will also take advantage of Ndara B’s unique natural resources. Given that the community land contains limestone, the team plans to incorporate limestone dust into soil fertility trials. Limestone mining in the area generates thousands of tonnes of dust, and the research will explore its potential benefits in improving soil structure, nutrient availability, and crop yields. In addition, studies will assess how to maximize production by factoring in Voi’s high sunshine levels as a key input in agricultural planning.
Vegetable crops under consideration for research include beans, beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, chili, cucumber, maize, kale, eggplant, garlic, ginger, sukuma wiki, lemongrass, lettuce, mushroom, okra, olive, onion, peas, pepper, potato, pumpkin, soybean, spinach, squash, sweet potato, tomato, yam, zucchini, and others.
Fruit crops to be researched include apple, banana, mango, orange, grapes, strawberry, watermelon, pineapple, pear, peach, cherry, kiwi, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, plum, apricot, nectarine, papaya, lemon, lime, grapefruit, tangerine, passion fruit, avocado, olive, and other exotic and tropical fruits.
The animal and insect research component will include bees, cows, goats, pigs, chickens, rabbits, fish, and other livestock, as well as selected insects and wildlife species relevant to the ecosystem. This integrated approach aims to promote mixed farming systems that enhance productivity, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability.
Overall, the Ndara B Research Farm represents a strategic step toward transforming community land into a knowledge-driven agricultural economy. By combining scientific research, renewable energy, water management, and community participation, the initiative is expected to serve as a model for large-scale, climate-smart agriculture in the Voi region and beyond.
