Victor Edalia was in 2020 the talk of the town after impacting thousands of lives in Kibera through provision of free vegetables to struggling families at the height of the covid 19 pandemic.
The vegetables were the produce he grew on his quarter-acre farm that was initially a dumpsite. Edalia ventured into vegetable farming with plans of supplying the produce to hotels.
His farm has adopted the hydroponic system and produces fresh collard greens, spinach, and peppers, among other vegetables that are mounted well above the ground, giving a stunning view from a distance.
His good work warmed the heart of an American nonprofit group called the Human Needs Project, which arranged for a two-week training for Edalia and his team members with the East African company Hydroponics Africa.
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The training provided Edalia with insights on how to preserve vegetables after harvest and, crucially, how to increase the farm’s yield in a small urban space.
Before he revamped his farm, Edalia supplied vegetables to about 20 people a month, but now he can reach out to about 250 families.
With all this new produce to distribute, the American charity provided financial support to help him introduce a voucher system.
Community mobilizers from the Human Needs Project identified vegetable vendors at strategic spots in Kibera who collect vegetables from Edalia’s farm and hand them out to eligible families who’ve obtained a voucher from the charity.
He also supplies kale, spinach, tomatoes, and lettuce to primary schools, supplementing his part-time driver income.