Lessons from Nyeri agricultural show

Farmers learned of a technique where a poultry house is built on top of a fish bond such that chicken dropping provides feeds for the fish.

The method is called, integrated nutrient management technology.

Skills and innovations on Irrigation were taken a notch higher. A water pump using the ''Boda Boda'' bike engine is here with us. 

You just buy and fit the gadget plus the pipes and pump water to the farms, when you are done you fix you Boda and ride home!

ADC was exhibiting a technology called embryo transfer. 

A Boran cow is given a fertile embryo from a high grade Friesian cow, the former plays the role of a surrogate mother due to its strength to deliver; a well fed Borana cow can produce just enough milk to feed the calf.

 The were moved by breathtaking learning experience, each of them marveled at seeing a cow which can produce over fifty litres of milk per day! 

There were various designs of farm machinery to assist in chopping

pasture for the animals.

  

Fire tragedy destroy property and homes

By Bett Kipsang’ 

Sipili residences were on Tuesday again convened by the power of voluntary will, to respond to a fire disaster. Violent flames broke out and consumed a timber residential building leaving four families in the cold.  

The same disaster befell the small trading centre one year ago and many businesses and residential homes were razed down. Traders and residents incurred heavy losses in the twin disasters.

Volunteers try to bring down adjacent buildings to prevent whirling

flames from spreading to the neighboring plots

Property goes up in flames 

 Many questions are lingering in the minds of Sipili residents. What should be done to contain the frequent fire accidents? What about the building materials for the urban and Peri-urban residential areas? 

Are there residential policies in place? What are are policies stating if any? For how long will the efforts of hardworking peoples be consumed in the raging fires? 

Those are the many questions eating up the mind of residents, who are living in fear of possible fire accidents in future.

 Concrete block buildings were not wiped out as those made of timber.

As the adult rescuers ran halter-skelter to salvage at least some of the valuables from

the burning houses, these young lads had already rescued their treasured pets. 

The lucky kittens are safe from danger. 

N’garua farmers attend Nyeri ASK show

By Bett Kipsang’

The thirst for information and new knowledge, saw thirteen farmers from Sipili sponsor themselves to attended the Nyeri National Agricultural Society of Kenya (A.S.K) show. Sipili stakeholders forum; an umbrella development body organized the trip that saw six women and seven men contribute fare and hired a Nissan Matatu to ferry them. Their sole objective was to learn from the rich display of information at Kabiruini showgrounds. This year’s theme for ASK shows was "Enhancing technology in agriculture and industry for food security and national growth."  

 Gauging from the conversations farmers had in the vehicle on their  way back, i am convinced that the trip to the show grounds will have a lasting positive impact on the participants. 

The Nyeri Agricultural show took place between 12th and 15th Sept 2012. It is one of the National shows organised by  A.S.K. The Central Kenya (Nyeri) National Show was started in 1968 at Ruringu Stadium, it was later moved to the new Showground in Kabiruini in 1997. 

Being centrally located in the Central Kenya region, the show was elevated to National Show status in 2004 to cover Nyeri, Nyandarua, Kirinyaga, Murang’a and Kiambu counties.

The show was attended by 71 exhibitors who included stakeholders in the following sectors; Agriculture, Livestock, Horticulture, Tourism, Beekeeping, Transport and Communication, Agro Industries and Financial Institutions among others. The latter showcased their products and services to thousands of participants drawn from all over East Africa. See more exhibitors on the link; http://www.ask.co.ke/branch-events/national-shows/nyeri/participation-5

Motor Bike fitted with water pump

There were unique technologies one of them being the use of motor bikes ‘‘commonly referred to as Boda Boda’’ to pump water into farms for irrigation. You no longer need to purchase  a water pump. You just need small gadget which can be fixed on the Motor bike’s engine and the work is done. Unlike the water pump, motor bike can be used for other activities other than pumping water.

The dairy sector was a source of inspiration for Mr. Peter Muturi. He was amazed to see a cow which can produce as much as 50 Kilograms of milk per day. Most of the farmers had never seen a cow capable of producing up to sixty litres of milk per day. ‘‘Am going to buy a cow and start upgrading to the highest pedigree level’’, said Muturi. He recounted that there were a lot of pasture back home especially during  rainy seasons as now. Milk fetches very high prices in Sipili almost throughout the year.

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) put up impressive performance that saw the varsity excel in the various themes of the show.

Among notable research projects that are generating great interest at the University stand include; rice production using reduced amounts of water, a simple and affordable capillary wick irrigation kit designed to increase food production at household levels while other scientists at the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences are conducting studies aimed at providing a cure for snakebites rampant in Kenya.

Other interesting inventions at the exhibition include a multi-purpose energy saver machine developed by a second year student of mechanical engineering, Ms. Sarafina Maina that is capable of performing up to ten different functions at the same time. The machine can be used as a water boiler, a cooker, domestic water heater, and for baking among its other functions.

In his speech President Kibaki directed that a technical team be formed to investigate a new viral strain disease that has wiped out the maize crop in some parts of the country.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) stand has emerged the best in two categories scooping top awards.

The IEBC stand took position one in the information and communication category and was also declared the best state corporation in theme interpretation. 

Curious members of the public are flocking to the IEBC stand to inquire on various electoral issues. IEBC staff took the opportunity to educate visitors on Biometric Voter Registration (BVR), elective positions in the next general elections, political parties and the use of information technology in the electoral process.

ASK generated revenue to run the show through charging exhibitors between 40,000 and 30,000 for large and small stand respectively. Adults paid Kshs.200, while children paid - Kshs.150 at the gate. Special Parties paid  Kshs.150 for Adult and Kshs.100 for children.

Sources:

1.     http://www.ask.co.ke

2.     http://www.iebc.or.ke/index.php/September-2012/iebc-scoops-top-awards-at-nyeri-ask-show.html

ICT Centre Aid youth career Opportunities

By Bett Kipsang'
 
Access to current information in the remote arid areas can be as hard as squeezing water out of a piece of rock! The story of David Toroitich 22, from Maundu Meri in Rumuruti Division paints a grim picture of a community living far from the information age, where internet and newspapers are as scarce and hard to find as water.

David went to Dol Dol secondary school, where he studied under difficult financial situations. Hard work and determination saw him complete in 2009 with a C+ in the dreaded KCSE.

His parents are small scale farmers, keeping a few cattle, goats and sheep on a small piece of land. David is the second born in the family of nine and his father being polygamous has eight more children from the other family. 

All Davids siblings have faced financial difficulties in the pursuit of education. One of his elder brothers only completed form four and stayed at home for lack of school fees. The other one has managed to complete a teachers trainings collage recently. It was a big challenge to raise school fees, they almost dropped Midway. ‘‘To easy the burden for the parents, children in our family are admited to college in alternating sequences where one is admitted and the rest waits for him or her to finish before the other one is admitted’’ David said.

‘‘I have been working as untrained teacher in Minjore primary school, for the last one and a half years’’ he said.

 David has always had a burning ambition to pursue a career in journalism, but he did not have an idea of how to get a place in college and even if he found the place, raising fees was another mountain to climp. At some point he applied for admission in a private institution  and was admitted. His brother advised him to try any government institution, saying it was better off in terms of fee payment. His brother however never had the information about any of the government institutions offering journalism courses. 

‘‘As a coincidence i tuned the radio one day and overheard of a traffic update, that there was a snarl-up near the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication’’. Said David. With curiosity he travelled for over twenty kilometers to Sipili looking for a place where he could access the Internet and check for the website of the institution. 

In Sipili, David bumped into the Ngarua Maarifa Centre, ‘‘I thought it was another cyber business in town’’ he said. He was assisted with the contacts for KIMC. He called and got information of a September 2012 intake and that the advertisement will be published in the local dailies in June. Staff at the maarifa centre promised to get him the advert because David come from far and may not get the daily news papers on time. ‘‘I dont know how else i could have gotten the newspaper, i wanted to send the teachers who frequently goes to Nyahururu town to get me a daily newspaper but it became very expensive because i did not know when it would be published’’ he said. 

A parent whose daughter is currently studying at the institution and is a regular visitor to the Maarifa Center brought the advert.  David collected in two weeks time then made the application. He had crossed the first hurdle, with a sigh of relief. 

On 7th of August 2012, David received a call from the post office asking him to go and collect his parcel. He rushed there and opened the admission letter to the collage of his choice in great delight. He immediately scanned through the letter and the eyes stopped at the fee structure, David almost gave up because he was well aware of the position of his family! 

The fee was too high for his parents to afford. He however took the letter home, sat over it and discussed with the rest of his siblings and parents. They resolved to give it a try. David took off on a journey of Kilometres to visit the Maarifa Centre again. This time to report the news of his success and seek further information.

The news was received at the center with jubilation. It was a good testimony of how the centre is serving the hardly reached populations in the vast Semi-Arid Laikipia west. One of the staff at the centre called a lecturer to inquire for accommodation in the college and opened a social media update to show David the new college hostels where he will be residing. 

Though David is still pessimistic because of the financial difficulties, he has received a lot of insights including advice on how to seek financial assistance. An area chief who was downloading university fees structure for his daughter advised him to get the CDF application for in a nearby shop and biggin the application process. He was also connected to one of the KIMC lectures who can assist him immediate he arrives in Nairobi. David has been to Nairobi twice on school tours. 

The N’garua Maarifa fraternity is wishing David good luck as he set out to pursue his career ambitions.

Library handy for Extension staff

By Bett Kipsang' 

 Samuel Mureithi works with the ministry of livestock as an extension officer in Sipili division. He is a graduate in Animal Health from Egerton University.

Samuel Mureithi Accessing Internet at Ngarua Maarifa Centre

 When Mureithi was posted to Sipili eight months ago, his major concern was the availability of a community library or internet cafe in the area where farmers can be accessing updated information on new farming techniques from reliable institutions.

 He found the Ng’arua Maarifa Centre where he accessed all kinds of information he needs. He has participated in Focal Group meetings and outreach activities organized at the Ng’arua Maarifa Centre.

As an extension officer Mureithi, frequently need updated information in the field of livestock production like health, feeds, breeds, and general management. He has found free access to internet useful for research on information about livestock breeds, research on new fodder varieties, new breeding systems and feed conservation methods.

 Mureithi reported that, he has found information about improved indigenous chicken breed from KARI,

 to respond to the needs of farmers, who prefer to keep the improved indigenous chicken breeds other than their local breeds. The information sourced from the Maarifa Centre is processed and introduced to farmers through extension programs. He has done this through group trainings, farm visits, field days where he has reached over 300 farmers. 

 Mureithi recommends addition of more resource materials with information related to livestock health and production. He is very grateful for the services offered at the N’garua Maarifa Centre.

 Mr Mureithi can be reached through email- samuelmuriithi83@yahoo.com

Help comes in hand for Bondeni

By Dennis Kipkirui

After Laikipia Rural Voices (LRV) highlighted the plight of pupils in Bondeni Primary School in Laikipia West District on 24^th May 2012, help has trickled in quickly for the school. Leaders from different walks of life converged three weeks later to raise funds for the school which is located in the semi-arid areas of Kenya. On 15^th June the old pupils raised Ksh.250,000 and later the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) donated a further Ksh.250,000. This saw the construction of two new permanent classrooms which are now complete.

 On 26^th July a further 1,050,000 was given to the school by the CDF to build more classrooms after they realized that the first donation built only two.

 LRV posted a story indicating a looming disaster after heavy rains pounded the area and ripped off the roof and part of the wall. Since there was no other place where the pupils would learn, they had to study under the precariously dangling roof supported by poles. Even with that state of affairs the pupils were expected to compete equally with their colleagues who come from the affluent society.

 CDF officials became proactive after reading the story from the LRV blog which had drawn attention to many people especially political aspirants from the area. With the general election being round the corner, the political class could not leave anything to chance. LRV had explicitly written that many pleas had been forwarded to CDF office to help the school but only turned a deaf ear on them.  The office has however given much attention has provided full support to the school.

On their part, the old pupils gathered and raised funds to have the school build permanent classrooms. From the onset it was evident that the school had produced prominent personalities working in different sectors. 

 Priests came together with teachers, doctors, security officers and business merchants. Although the notice of raising funds was short, all of them spared time out of their busy schedules to come in aid of their former learning hub. Most of them pitied the state of the school and said that despite their successes they have never had a forum which brings them together to facilitate the progress of their former school. They confessed that it was a big shame for them to enjoy the fruits of their success earned through the school while turning their backs on it. They said that they would not wish to have their friends and associates know the state of their former learning institution.

 They were grateful to LRV for drawing to their attention on the plight of the school. “We are thankful to Laikipia Rural Voices for informing us on this issue. I was going through the blog and saw the story. I contacted one of my former school mates, and we began calling one another and the attention grew. We then saw the need to meet in the school and see what we can do to alleviate the calamity,” said Mr. Muya, a police officer who attended the school in the 80’s.

 The school was started in 1979 with 265 pupils and 6 teachers and sits in on an 8 acre piece of land.  After its inception it has had its fair share of problems. It took the intervention of the then area MP Godfrey Gitahi Kariuki (famously known as GG) to have eight semi-permanent classrooms constructed which have been in use until the recent calamity hit the school.

 Bondeni stakeholders have had a myriad of challenges in their quest for better education. The hostile environmental conditions in this part of the country could not allow parents to have better learning facilities for their children. They had to go through thick and thin to fend for them and had nothing to spare for the school infrastructure. Poverty has taken toll of most homesteads. As fate would have it, wild animals in the neighboring conservancies had scared off the pupils and would not turn up early enough for their lessons.

 LRV acknowledges the contribution of all and sundry towards making the lives of pupils in Bondeni Primary School better.