Agriculture education for smallholders to address food insecurity in Kenya.

Agriculture Education

the first step to self-sufficiency and an improved livelihood

THE CHALLENGE

Subsistence farmers in Africa continue to struggle to survive due to a very dire set of circumstances which is beyond their control. A lack of agricultural extension services by the government, small landholdings, soil erosion, overused and infertile soils, erratic rainfall patterns due to climate change, lack of access to quality seeds, little crop variety, lack of knowledge of effective farming techniques and rudimentary tools have resulted in very low agricultural yields, which leads to food insecurity throughout the year.

Lack of access to clean and safe water also greatly contributes to this desolate situation, which has disastrous effects on the general health and productivity of the population. Malnutrition has consequences that range from morbidity to mortality. These adverse conditions affect bodily functions and lead to a vicious cycle of medical, economic and social problems. Especially children are severely affected by malnutrition and stunting, which are at high levels (25 to 32% in some of the areas where we are active).

OUR APPROACH

SOFDI has developed a holistic approach which counteracts the above-mentioned problems. As a first step toward improving the existing situation, SOFDI gives farmers access to clean water through spring protection (see WATER PROJECTS). This lays the foundation for further interventions. The second step is to offer farmers a free 5-day intensive practical and theoretical training carried out in the farmers’ communities (schools, churches) so that farmers do not have to travel far.

The training covers the following aspects:

Introduction into Agroecology / Organic Farming / Sustainable Farming
Introduction into Conservation Agriculture
Agroforestry
Soil and Water Conservation
Composting
Animal Husbandry and Animal Welfare
Community Seed Saving and Banking
Spring Protection, Hygiene and Sanitation
Family Nutrition
Soya Bean Production
Diversity and Cropping Systems
Organic Top Dressers / Integrated Pest Management
Leadership and Group Dynamics
Farmers Work Plan

After this foundational training, farmers form themselves into groups and establish a demonstration plot under the guidance of SOFDI. They are given African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) as starter seeds for their farms and demonstration plots.

From there we continue to roll-out a full range of advanced trainings to help them cultivate a diverse range of crops, combat pests and diseases, maintain their own community seed banks, and grow their productivity and income potential. Over a period of 2 years, our professional staff and trained lead farmers regularly visit the farmers to monitor progress and to assist them in overcoming challenges. We are always at their disposal and continue to support the SOFDI network of farmers after they’ve competed the program

WE DO NOT “TOUCH AND GO” AS MANY NGOs DO. WE STAY WITH THE FARMERS AND ASSIST THEM FOR AS LONG AS THEY NEED US IN ORDER TO ENSURE A TRULY SUSTAINABLE IMPACT.

Check out Videos and Stories to see how our work is changing farmer’s lifes.

CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE – improving farmers‘ adaptability and resilience to Climate Change

Left side: Traditional Farming / Right side: SOFDI

THE CHALLENGE

Farmers in Kenya are experiencing widespread effects of climate change, including irregular temperatures, changes in rain patterns, and resulting periods of severe flooding and draught. These climate-related changes are significantly increasing the vulnerability of rural communities who largely depend on agriculture for their livelihood.

These communities, which are highly dependent on rain-fed crop production, are already struggling with depleted soil quality, erosion problems, pests like Fall Army Worm and moles, as well as declining plot sizes due to high population density. This contributes to critically low yields, and the lack of local agronomic knowledge and limited access to affordable inputs keeps them on the brink of crisis. Climate change only exacerbates these problems and the potential for widespread disaster.

OUR APPROACH

The goal of SOFDI is to help small-scale farmers respond to climate variability through a variety of measures and technologies that will improve their knowledge and production capacity. These strategies and farming methods will ultimately make them more resilient to withstand the potentially devastating effects of climate change and continue adapting as new patterns arise. SOFDI is working with the county government extension agencies to enhance this process of local adaptability.

Since 2017 we have worked in collaboration with the Kenyan Meteorological Department to deliver weather forecast information. Seasonal, monthly and weekly Climate Information together with Agricultural Advisories are disseminated to farmers and 46 schools (teachers, pupils and parents), so far 12,000 people (farmers and schoolchildren) are benefitting from this service.

We also integrate all Climate-Smart Agricultural measures into our school programs, in order to equip the next generation with the knowledge and skills needed to deal with the consequences of climate change well into the future. Parents of pupils are also included in the dissemination of weather forecasts and advisories, which ensures these SOFDI resources are reaching as wide an audience as possible.

SOFDI response to Fall Army Worm (FAW)

FAW is a pest alarmingly threatening harvests and subsequently food security in many African countries (http://fao.org/africa/news/detail-news/en/c/469532/)

After the first appearance of the FAW we took immediate measures in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture combating this menace with the following key activities:
– organising a stakeholders workshop (with the Minister of Agriculture, Crops Officers and County Directors of Agriculture, KALRO National Director of Crops, USAID, ICIPE and SOFDI agriculturists and lead farmers)
– staff training/institutional capacity building
– Lead Farmers training on FAW (detection and control through a variety of measures, etc.)
– distribution of spraying kits and safe application of chemicals
– set up of an early warning system
– monitoring and regular review meetings with farmers
-Farm activities additionally informed by SOFDI bulk system timely weather information

Feed-back from farmers showed that measures taken were successful and this rapid-response model has helped us address other critical threats as they arise.

True to our holistic SOFDI approach, we address the problem of Climate Change through different measures, including the following:

Sensitization and Awareness Creation: improving knowledge about climate risks and variability in seasonal rainfall, dry spells and drought on food production, plant diseases and pests.
Sustainably Increasing Agricultural Productivity and Incomes in the Face of Climate Change: providing farmers with the insight and resources needed to increase capacity
Dissemination of Climate Information: enabling informed decisions for planting, harvesting and storage. In collaboration with The Kenyan Meteorological Department, SOFDI established a bulk texting system, disseminating timely weather forecasts and agriculture advisories to farmers, schools and communities at large.
Access to Appropriate Apps: for correct and timely identification of pests and plant diseases, which have a higher prevalence due to climate change.
Soil Testing: to optimise inputs for healthy and productive soils and help reduce greenhouse gases through minimising the release of nitrous substances into the atmosphere. The testing is carried out with mobile soil testing facilities shared with farmers and communities.
Easy Access to (and Production of) Sufficient Improved Seed and Propagation Material: increasing access to nutritious and viable crops, such as Tissue Cultured Bananas, Cassava, and Vitamin A enriched Sweet Potatoes, which improve nutrition, food security and income generation.
Promotion of Agroforestry: teaching how to strategically combine agriculture with forestry to prevent soil erosion, rehabilitate encroached land, capture C02, conserve water and encourage nitrogen fixation. This holds numerous benefits for food production, commercial potential, and is a key feature of a sustainable and integrated agriculture system.
Organic Soil Improvement: reducing greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding inorganic fertilisers, which significantly contribute to the release of nitrous substances into the atmosphere.
Integrated Farming Systems: lessening dependence on crop production by integrating animal husbandry including goats, rabbits and poultry. This provides farmers with access to manure for organic soil improvement and production of organic pesticides/insecticides, as well as access to protein and a potential source of income.
SOFDI Agriculture Advisory Manual: providing farmers with a quick reference guide to Climate Smart Agriculture.
Promotion of Conservation Agriculture: incorporating a planting system that has been shown to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Water Management: making better use of changed rainfall patterns through water conservation, harvesting, irrigation, and appropriate planting systems, which lessen water evaporation and erosion.
Promotion of Solar Drying: improving access to food during the dry season.
Promotion of Fuel Efficient Stoves, JIKOS: reducing greenhouse emissions and reducing pressure on forest land for firewood.
Family Planning: reducing family size to ease encroachment of forest land and mounting pressure on other natural resources.

“FARMERS ARE TOO POOR, THEIR SOILS TOO DEGRADED, THEIR MARKETS TOO FRAGILE. SOLUTIONS HAVE TO BE TAILORED SPECIFICALLY TO THE REALITY OF RURAL LIFE AND SOCIAL CONSIDERATIONS THAT DO NOT FAVOR BIG DEVELOPMENT BLUEPRINTS.”

(“40 CHANCES: Finding Hope in a Hungry World,” by Howard G. Buffet)

“DEVELOPMENT WILL BRING FOOD SECURITY ONLY IF IT IS PEOPLE-CENTERED, IF IT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND, IF IT IS PARTICIPATORY, AND IF IT BUILDS LOCAL AND NATIONAL CAPACITY FOR SELF-RELIANCE. THESE ARE THE BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SUSTAINABLE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT.”

(James Gustave Speltz, UNDP, 1994)

“Climate change will have a significant impact on the livelihoods of the rural poor in developing countries. The Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that climate change is likely to have a significant effect on agricultural production in many African countries. Projected reductions in yield in some African countries could be as much as 50% by 2020, and net crop revenues could fall by 90% by 2100 (Boko et al. 2007). This amounts to a serious threat to food security and to the achievement of major developmental goals.”

(FAO)