About MOOF AFRICA

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Located in Nanyuki, Kenya MOOF AFRICA is an NGO working with sustainable development where eco-village concepts are used to address challenges by offering local solutions to the community making an overall global impact. Making information on ecological technologies available to farmers and international communities where this information is appropriate to meet the basic needs of humanity to enable us to conserve our mother Earth.

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 Peter Murage

Peter Murage was born in Nyeri County in Central Kenya.  He was raised on a smallholder farm with ten siblings.   Just producing enough food on the farm to feed the whole family was a challenge. His mother who worked tirelessly to provide him with ample food inspired him. She encouraged Peter to work on the farm and to be connected to his own food system.  He enjoyed growing food and desired to grow more and to aid local farmers in raising their yields.

After secondary school, Peter joined Jomo Kenyatta University to study Agriculture and water management.  After graduation the Ministry of Agriculture in Kenya employed him. He became an extension agent bringing advice to rural farmers.  At first Peter was advising farmers on synthetic and conventional inputs, he noticed a temporary climb in yields but then yields became low and stagnant.  The effects of the fertilizers were decreasing.  Peter went to his bosses at the department and no one could provide a reasonable answer.

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Peter Murage showing Drought Resistant Orange sweet potato at MOOF-KENYA

Therefore he began to search for information about alternatives and came across Organic Agriculture in Kenya. He found a local NGO promoting it, but still was searching for something more. He was seeking an international understanding of organic farming. He then traveled to Great Britain to study Organic Agriculture. Studying at the largest Organic Agriculture Research institution in Great Britain, The Henry Doubleday Research Association (HDRA) now called Garden Organic for 10 months, he worked alongside scientist and farmers.

In the UK, Peter studied Permaculture Design and later took training in sustainable agriculture and rural development with Imperial College at the University of London. He then worked with several large-scale organic growers as well.

Peter Presenting Essentil oil Project
Peter Presenting Essentil oil Project

Through both of these exposures, encompassing both theory and hands-on practical skills, Peter became convinced that organic agriculture was a better option to address endemic food sovereignty and economic empowerment throughout the world.

The founding question was how to bring this knowledge and experience to his local community in Kenya.  The concept of MOOF AFRICA was born. He wrote down his proposal and sold the idea to friends in the UK. With their support, MOOF AFRICA was founded in Nanyuki, Kenya.  The name of the center was born associating the Centre with the largest nearby geographical feature, Mt. Kenya. The local name was Kirinyaga, which is where that god brought the local people to bless them with rain, fertile soil, and protection. MOOF became registered as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in 2002.  To this day MOOF has been active with training and workshops bringing organic agriculture to the rural communities of Kenya.  Peter is happily living out his dream.

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Help Africans that help themselves

Goals

  1. To host both local and international interns and research students
  2. Host local and international conferences
  3. Hold workshops and seminars
  4. Promote agribusiness through value-added products
  5. Conduct training with certificates at MOOF Organic Farm
  6. Demonstrate effective models for Permaculture and Organic Agriculture
  7. Work with the Government and local NGOS, FBOS, and CBO’s to promote organic agriculture advancement
  8. Educate and inform local communities about Organic Agriculture
  9. To provide responsible Eco -friendly, travel and accommodation for foreigners
  10.  To provide healthy and safe food to the community
  11. Help to conserve the local environment
  12. Improve local employment
  13. Conduct research for tropical agriculture
  14. Create a database for organic agriculture practitioners in Kenya
  15. Lobby and advocate for organic agriculture policy