In lieu of the upcoming Turoonik Festival 2022; here is a little Storytime. It is towards the end of 2008, and the harvest season had just begun. As is the tradition in my village, kids anticipated the completion of harvesting on farms, so that we can go gleaning.
We’d rummage through the dry maize stalks just to collect the rejects and on a lucky day, a few fully developed cobs of it. A unit of the highly valued cereal would earn you anywhere from 20 to 50 shillings, depending. 70 bob on a very good season (and I mean VERY). It doesn’t seem like much but a few of them would sustain you through the entire Christmas holidays. As if there is anything really, that a 9-year-old needs the money for.
‘Turoonik’ therefore, is the proceeds, together with the experience.
An activity that translates to ‘kereyu’ in Kikuyu and ‘mrokoto’ around the Kakamega areas. I dare say that it’s biblical as well, the act of intentionally not harvesting everything so that whoever comes after, has something to collect as well (don’t hold that against me though). Interestingly, it was also believed that if the children should miss Turoonik in your shamba, blessings of the harvest wouldn’t come again. The extent of truth in that statement I cannot determine, but it definitely should trigger something towards the upcoming Turoonik Festival 2022.
Turoonik Festival 2022
Turoonik festival is an event organized by Patronne Benie limited here in Eldoret and is now on its third edition. This year, NOREB is using it as a platform to celebrate the diverse social, cultural, and economic practices amidst the view of the effects of climate change. The festival is themed, “Harnessing community resilience in Agricultural Production Against global economic shocks in Kenya’s bread basket.” The two-day event is slated for the 3rd and 4th of December 2022 at Sergoit view gardens, Eldoret.
Just as important, the event will bring together industry stakeholders such as the representatives of county governments, investors, businesses, researchers as well as broad multinational institutions. The aim being taking stock of progress in agricultural technologies and the best practices in Kenya’s bread basket, as the North Rift region is known.
Festival Activities
To be specific, the Turoonik festival 2022 aims at achieving this through several activities set up. They are;
The Turoonik conferences and exhibitions. This includes presentations by farmers and stakeholders through panel discussions, and round tables; exhibitions as well will be the order of the day. The sole goal is unlocking solutions to cushion Agricultural production in the North Rift region, together with establishing the necessary interventions to build resilience. Input providers, farmers, processing companies, market specialists, financial institutions, technology, and logistical firms as well as regulatory institutions; makes up the target key players.
The SOKO deal room. In matters of financial institutions, youth and women groups in the North Rift region, look no more. The Soko deal room at the festival might just be your chance to get business financing. You also get the chance to connect with over 30 financial institutions and investors and get your agribusiness going.
The showcasing of the traditional “Turoonik” ceremony will take place during the cultural festival 2022. Activities, songs, dances, and food ceremonies associated with the harvest through entertaining cultural presentations are part of the experience.
Not forgetting, there will a food drive in partnership with the Red cross. Those affected by drought in Kenya shall benefit from the drive. In that regard, cereals, grains, pulses, and non-perishable food items will be accepted. Through M-Pesa pay bill 10000, Account name: Drought/NRR, donations can be made directly.
Why the Turoonik festival?
First things first, the event guarantees a chance to showcase products and service providers to a wide network across Africa. Secondly, it’s a great opportunity to create awareness of certain products or services through live demonstrations at the exhibitions. Furthermore, key players in the agriculture financing industry will be in attendance. This is a great prospect for expanding one’s company profile as well, through networking, activation, and interaction.
The select exhibition categories for the 2022 Turoonik festival are; Agriculture technology, agriculture Small and Medium Enterprises, financial service providers, technical service providers, regulatory partners, agriculture input service providers, development partners, and fintech companies.
For participation through the various levels, rates are as attached;
It is a wholesome experience to impact your agricultural needs as well as indulge in the rich heritage of modern and traditional farming. What then, is your Turoonik story?
