Farmers in Laikipia East encouraged to adopt Conservation Agriculture

 

Farmers receiving training at the demonstration site during the field day

Conservation agriculture is emerging as an alternative farming method by many smallholder farmers. Farmers in Matanya Location in Laikipia East Sub-County shared this fact during a field day organized by ACT in collaboration with Ministry of Agriculture and Kenya Agricultural & Livestock research Organization (KALRO).

The event held on 18^th December 2014 was hosted by the Kavenge Dairy Goat farmers group at Mrs. Grace Migwi farm in Weru-Ini Village in Laikipia East. The event was attended by a pool of over 130 farmers drawn from the Tigithi and Ngobit wards and other neighboring areas. The County government officials present were; The County Director of Agriculture (CDA), Sub-County Agricultural Officer (SCAO) and the Member of the County Assembly, Tigithi ward  (MCA). Eight partners, including Faulu-Kenya, Olpejeta Conservancy, Agriculture Sector development programme (ASDSP), TIST, DUNPONT, Taifa SACCO, Sunrise Ago-dealers, Kenya Dairy Goats Association (KENGAP) and Plan International representing seed companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and banking institutions  participated in the field day.

The following objectives were covered;

1.   To show farmers the difference between conservation and conventional agriculture.

2.   To increase awareness of conservation agriculture in the area.

3.   To learn from the successes and good practices of the host farmer.

4.   To identify the major challenges farmers face in production and marketing.

There were over 8 stations of learning, including ISFM trial site, Going Beyond the demo (GBD), Permanent planting basins under CA, cover crops, CA with trees, CA equipments, Hay production under CA and contract farming.

The host farmer (Grace Migwi) shared her CA experiences to the participants through practical demonstration using Hand CA tools (Hand ripper, Jab planter and Weed scrapper) and engaged the farmers in discussions so as to enable them learn from each other. This season (Sept 2014-Feb 2015) the host farmer decided to adopt conservation agriculture (CA) methods at her entire farm. "I started practicing CA with the hope of getting better yields, since I was no longer able to feed my family. I’m fully convinced after observing the performance of my farm that this was the way to go”

Peter Kuria, ACT Program Officer for Kenya noted that some of the farmers have adopted CA in the area as a result of the trainings that they have been receiving from ACT at the demonstration sites in the area. He urged farmers to practice CA at commercial levels so as to improve their socio-economic status.

The area MCA appreciated the efforts of ACT in building the capacity of farmers towards improving agricultural productivity in the area. 

Mrs. Kimaita, The County Director of Agriculture was the guest of honor during the event. She urged farmers to adopt CA so that they can realize better productivity and reduce the cost of production.  “Food insecurity and Cost of production is on the rise in this part of Laikipia”. Conservation agriculture not only increase yields but also has a large bearing on the cost of production” Mrs. Kimaita told the farmers.