ASDSP hold weather sensitization training at Ng’arua Maarifa

By Bob Aston

The Agricultural Sector Development Support Programme (ASDSP) in conjunction with the Kenya Meteorological department on April 2, 2015 held a farming and weather pattern prediction training at Ng’arua Maarifa Centre, Ol-Moran Ward in Laikipia West Sub County.

The training was meant to sensitize farmers on preparedness for the long rain season in reference to weather forecasting and agriculture. This will empower farmers to understand about effects of climate change and develop suitable adaptation action plans as they prepare for unexpected climatic changes during the planting seasons.

During the training Erastus Githenya, Githiga Ward Agriculture Officer urged the farmers to learn about the importance of climate change mitigation measures. He said that farmers usually ignore meteorological findings by relying on traditional beliefs like God will provide rain hence realizing low yields when harvesting.

Githenya addressing participants

He said that weather forecasting will help them to plan their farming activities appropriately and decide wisely on the type of crop to plant and when to plant it. He urged farmers to plant crops that require minimal rainfall like cassava, sorghum and millet.

“Most Kenyans rarely follow predicted weather forecast. We have to accept that the weather pattern keeps changing and we need to change too. We want to ensure that farmers are better informed about meteorological news,” said Mr. Githenya.

Mr. Joseph Mwati, Chairman ASDSP Project Management Team (PMT), Laikipia County took farmers through traditional ways of predicting weather patterns. He said that as much as the traditional weather prediction has been reliable farmers now need to understand and integrate modern weather forecasting information into their farming calendar.

Farmers cited traditional rainfall prediction like plants that shed their branches prior to rainfall indicates a sign of heavy downpour while weaver birds predict rainfall by their mode of nesting. Less housing indicates less rainfall while more housing indicates more rainfall.

Farmers were informed that effective adaptation to climate change is dependent on access to climate information. The farmers present agreed to disseminate the information to the groups as well as attend trainings when they are called upon.

Celebrating the work of Ng’arua Maarifa Centre

By Bob Aston

Ng’arua Maarifa Centre located in Ol-Moran ward of Laikipia County has been facilitating learning and skills transfer among communities embracing a culture of knowledge sharing that has enabled individuals to make informed decision on their livelihood.

Recognizing access to information as a basic human right, Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) has been innovatively using community-based ICT facilities to enable some of the most remote communities to access the internet; library services and knowledge with the aim of improving their livelihoods.

Community members accessing information at the Maarifa Centre

The Maarifa Centre which was started by ALIN in collaboration with local communities and other stakeholders in the year 2006 is currently hosted by Sipili Assistant County Commissioner (ACC).

The Centre is equipped with computers with internet connectivity and contain information and knowledge products focused on sustainable agriculture, climate change, sustainable land management (SLM), markets and natural resources management (NRM).

The Maarifa Centre has been offering free services that include; Library services, E-government services, multimedia content, internet access, citizen journalism training, ICT training, advisory services, publications like Joto Afrika, Baobab and Laikipia Mali Asili as well as Sokopepe.

Since it was established, close to 28,000 community members have accessed various services at the Maarifa Centre. The Centre has shared more than 200 best practices on agriculture and climate change adaptation as well as increasing partnerships with government, local community based organizations and Non-governmental organizations. Additionally 41 groups have been reached with technical farming information.

Between 2011 and 2013, a total of 1,200 youths, women, farmers and government officials were trained in basic ICT skills to the level of certification equivalent to basic certifications required for the employment industry. As a result many of them were able to secure employment, job promotions while others have initiated business enterprises.

Champion farmers from six Maarifa Centres in Kenya

The Maarifa Centre also partnered with Kenya Seed Company Ltd, MEA Limited, Laikipia Produce and Marketing Co-operative Society and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock to establish five demonstration farms in Ol-Moran and Marmanet wards. A total of 188 community members as well as CBOs and self-help groups have also been trained on citizen journalism training.

The Maarifa Centre has also hosted a NRM and SLM knowledge sharing Mazingira Centre. The Maarifa Centre has been instrumental in sharing knowledge with farmers through organizing open learning days, exchange visits, video documentations and articles aimed at farmers and pastoralists.

ALIN in partnership with Act Change Transform (Act!), with financial support from Department for International Development (DFID) and Swedish International Development Cooperation (SIDA) through the Maarifa Centre is also implementing a climate smart agriculture project that aims to strengthen community resilience to impacts of climate change and stewardship of natural resources in Laikipia Country.

The project has supported Matwiku Horticulture Growers Self Help group to set up a drip irrigation system for horticultural production. They have already been taught about plant protection, harvesting, value addition and marketing.

With the recent government regulation on enabling access of government services on digital platforms, the Maarifa center has become vital in allowing close to 8,000 community members access e-Government services that include downloading Personal Information Numbers; pay slips, making online tax returns, online registration of exams, online job application and County development plans.

Ng'arua Maarifa Centre stand during the launch of Sokopepe

With support of the Ford Foundation, ALIN established an online market information portal known as Sokopepe at the Maarifa Centre. Recently it has been spun off as a full-fledged social enterprise registered in 2014 as Sokopepe Limited and offers two services namely; Farm Records Management Information System (FARMIS) which is a farm management and diagnostic tool based on the use of farm records aimed at identifying productivity trends, profitability of different farm enterprises and producing evidence for use in decision making at the farm, County and National levels.

The other service is SOKO+ which is a digital commodity trading and information system, linking small scale farmers to end retailers/bulk purchasers of produce. SOKO+ is designed to address transactions and extension needs along the entire value chain.

The uniqueness of Maarifa centers has led to winning of various prestigious awards notable the 2011, Access to Learning Award by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Maarifa Centre through its blog Laikipia Rural Voices also won the Youth in Agriculture Blog Competition (YoBloco Awards) in 2014.

Communities have been provided with a chance to improve their farming techniques and technologies through full access of information and assistance at the Maarifa Centre, something they were not privileged to access before.

Matwiku horticulture farmers benefit from an exchange visit

By Joyce Okuta and Bob Aston

Exchange visits, which are also called study tours, have been used for a long time as a way of sharing knowledge between farmers. They have been proven to lead to mutual knowledge increase, due to practical demonstrations and they have also enabled farmers to become more aware of their own skills and capacities.

In order to increase access to knowledge and information amongst farmers in Matwiku area of Githiga Ward, Laikipia County, the Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) organized for an exchange visit for three (3) members of Matwiku Horticulture Growers S.H.G on March 13, 2015 to travel to Ilchamus Ward of Marigat Sub County to witness the launch of Nolororo Horticulture Project, which was also an open day to showcase climate smart agriculture and offer farmers an opportunity to interact with county leaders.

Farmers and guests being shown the Nolororo Horticulture Farm

ALIN in partnership with Act Change Transform (Act!), with financial support from Department for International Development (DFID) and Swedish International Development Cooperation (SIDA) is implementing a climate smart agriculture project in Baringo, Laikipia and Kajiado counties with the aim of strengthening communities’ resilience to impacts of climate change while conserving natural resources.

The project supported Nolororo women group to establish a drip irrigation system for horticultural production. The group members have been taught about plant protection, harvesting, value addition and marketing. They are now using drip irrigation technology to produce nutritious food.

The objectives of the exchange visit included; to expose the farmers from Matwiku Horticulture Growers Self help group to the activities done by Nolororo women group, to allow the farmers to exchange experiences and plan for the future use of the practices they observe and to assist farmers to gain confidence with what they are doing in the project so that they can explain and teach others.

Mr. Peter Gicheru, Secretary Matwiku Horticulture Growers self help group noted that the exchange visit had proved to be an enriching experience as he had managed to learn a lot from Nolororo women group.

“The opportunity that ALIN provided for us has enabled us to learn better farming methods and crops that we can cultivate in our own project. I realized that farmers in Ilchamus ward are lucky as the climatic condition is ideal for water melon and tomatoes and they take a shorter duration to mature unlike Matwiku,” said Mr. Gicheru.

Farmers and guests being shown the project water source

Gicheru said that he is now planning to start farming in Ilchamus ward as cost of production is slightly lower there compared to Matwiku and the returns are also better. He added that horticultural crops can do well using drip irrigation and encouraged farmers to adopt the technology to increase their income.

The Nolororo women group activities focus on practicing Climate Smart Agriculture. This is agriculture aimed at reducing emissions at the farm level, conserving natural resources like soils and water while increasing nutritious food production at household level at the same time increasing family incomes.

On her part, Mrs. Lucy Mumbi a member of Matwiku Horticulture Growers self help group shared farming experiences with members of Nolororo women group. She noted that unlike Nolororo women group her group is composed of more men than women.

“Human-wildlife conflict is common in Matwiku area and we rely on men to offer security during such times. Nolororo women group is lucky since there is a steady supply of water from river molo,” said Mrs. Mumbi.

She thanked ALIN for the opportunity to visit the group and felt motivated to work hard and be more open minded when it comes to new technologies and farming methods.

ALIN has been involved in knowledge sharing for more than 22 years now, using various platforms that include the use of video documentations, exchange visits, open learning days and articles aimed at farmers and pastoralists. These experiences have helped farmers to access knowledge and information, which have helped to empower many farmers in arid areas.

Livestock stakeholders set to hold an agribusiness trade fairs in Nyahururu

By Bob Aston

The Kenya Livestock Producers Association in collaboration with the Laikipia County Government, co-hosts Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF), KCB Foundation, Agri Profocus, ACK Church, Isinya Feeds, Unga, FarmCare Ltd, Cooper K- Brands and Agricultural Industrial Network is set to hold the second agribusiness Trade fairs on March 27-28, 2015 at Nyahururu stadium, Nyahururu town, Laikipia County. The theme for the Agribusiness Trade Fair will be “Farming is big Business.”

The highlight of the trade fair will be road shows, demonstration plots, insurance services, agricultural products, agro chemicals and seeds, farm machinery and equipments, biogas and bio-fuels demonstration, financial services products, dairy products, edairy, rabbit, quails and bee keeping, artificial insemination (AI), greenhouse farming, new innovations, mcommerce, real estate and domestic tourism.

Governor Irungu at one of the exhibition stands during 2014 event

The objectives of the trade fair include; to afford the regions farmers, service providers and industry suppliers a unique opportunity to showcase their products for benchmarking and trade, expose agricultural sector stakeholders (practitioners and suppliers) to new technologies and ideas for better efficiencies and quality, provide a platform for short seminars and demonstrations to small scale and large scale players in the sector, to showcase outstanding breeds for different livestock and to encourage farmers to invest in farming as a business.

According to Patrick Kimani, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Livestock Producers Association, the trade fairs/exhibition will serve as a unique platform for all stakeholders in all sectors of the economy to meet to experience their fulfillment in their business through education, exhibition and entertainment.

 It will be an opportunity where one will be able to cost effectively, joyously, conveniently and easily conduct some business on wide range of products and services as well as introduce and demonstrate the latest products, innovations, machinery and techniques that are available to the citizen in those areas.

“Kenya Livestock Producers Association will bring unique audiences of these major sectors in one place for two days. We therefore invite you to take this rare opportunity where serious farmers and your clients will come together for you to exhibit your products and services by taking exhibition space,” said Mr. Kimani.

The trade fairs are monthly events organized by the Kenya Livestock Producers Association in various counties in the Country. Farmers and farmer groups are not charged for exhibiting during the trade fairs while entrance is free for members of the public. The guest of honor is expected to be Hon Joshua Irungu, Laikipia County Governor.

ALIN launches Nolororo Horticulture project

By Joyce Okuta

The Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) on March 13, 2015 launched Nolororo Horticulture project in Ilchamus ward in Marigat Sub County.  ALIN in partnership with Act Change Transform (Act!), with financial support from Department for International Development (DFID) and Swedish International Development Cooperation (SIDA) is implementing a climate smart agriculture project in Baringo County with the aim of strengthening communities’ resilience to impacts of climate change while conserving natural resources.

The launch was attended by Marigat Sub County Administrator, Ilchamus ward Member of County Assembly (MCA), Ilchamus ward administrator, Sub-county Agriculture Officer, Environment and Natural Resources officers, Agriculture Sector Development Support Program (ASDSP), ALIN project manager and Matwiku Horticulture Growers self help group.

Guest being shown the Nolororo Horticulture Farm

The project supported Nolororo women group to establish a drip irrigation system for horticultural production. The group members have been taught about plant protection, harvesting, value addition and marketing. They are now using drip irrigation technology to produce nutritious food.

Among the exhibitors included; Nolororo women group, Kerio valley development Authority (KVDA), Kapkuikui Self Help Group, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries development, National Irrigation Board (NIB) and Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

Speaking while launching the project, Mr. William Chelal, Marigat Sub-county Administrator lauded the efforts made by ALIN and other organization in uplifting the livelihood of farmers. He said that the field day was a wakeup call for the people of Baringo County to work hard in order to be empowered.

“It is a high time for the farmers to adopt appropriate technologies to ensure sufficient food production. Farmers should join organized groups in order to tap the vast opportunities available in the county,” said Mr. Chelal.

Hon. Wesley Kakimon, Ilchamus ward MCA said that he is ready to support Climate Smart Agriculture Initiatives in the area, since the initial cost for installing the drip kit is affordable and the county can support such initiatives.

Guests following proceedings during the launch of the project

He added that the community should embrace such technologies to avert poverty. He encouraged members of Nolororo women group to train other groups about the technology.

Mr. Levis Saning’o, Ilchamus ward Administrator noted that the project has eased the work of Nolororo Women group as they are now able to get time to engage in other development activities in the community. He noted that previously the group used to spend close to 8 hours irrigating their farm and this used to be expensive as they had to hire labour.

On his part, Mr. Noah Lusaka, ALIN Project Manager thanked the county government for the cooperation given throughout the project implementation. He pointed out the dissemination done on Sauti ya Mwananchi radio and Standard Newspaper as an indication that the work done by Nolororo women group is known.

”The group has realized a drastic reduction in use of fuel for pumping water. This has reduced emissions and also reduced time spent irrigating the farm. This has also helped to mitigate the effects of climate change as well as increasing food production,” said Mr. Lusaka.

The objective of the event was to demonstrate to communities and stakeholders the various opportunities in food production using minimal water resources and appropriate technologies as an adaptation strategy to climate change.

The Nolororo women group activities focus on practicing Climate Smart Agriculture. This is agriculture aimed at reducing emissions at the farm level, conserving natural resources like soils and water while increasing nutritious food production at household level at the same time increasing family incomes.