Nairobi: An international non-governmental organization, Ripple Effect, is encouraging farmers in Kakamega County to embrace agro-ecology, sustainable and climate-smart agriculture to lower production costs and boost yields and soil fertility.
According to Kenya News Agency, during a smallholder farmers’ field day held at Emathayi, organized by Ripple Effect in collaboration with Vivamos, a Swiss organization, and the Kenya National Farmers Federation (KENAFF), farmers learned practical and easy-to-access technologies to improve food security, restore soil health, and support the transformation of rural livelihoods.
Farmers, agricultural experts, and agricultural officials attended the event where live demonstrations were conducted on making suitable homemade organic fertilizers, constructing keyhole gardens, fertility trenches, preservation of indigenous seeds, bee farming, and producing Black Soldier Fly larvae as inexpensive manure for poultry industries.
Speaking at the event, the Kakamega County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Mophat Mandela, emphasized the county’s encouragement for farmers to practice climate-smart agriculture to lower production costs and boost soil fertility and yields. He noted that overdependence on costly farm inputs burdens many farmers, suggesting locally made organic fertilizers as a sustainable alternative.
Mandela pointed out the acidity and low nutrient levels in the county’s soils, noting improvements with the adoption of homemade fertilizers and commercial farming. He suggested integrating organic and conventional fertilizers to increase soil fertility and promote agripreneurs to support peer-to-peer learning opportunities among farmers.
Ripple Effect Country Manager Isaac Ogutu highlighted the organization’s promotion of agro-ecological farming to sustain the environment for future generations. He urged farmers to implement the knowledge gained and share it to help others understand and practice sustainable agriculture techniques.
Habakuk Khamala, representing KENAF, encouraged farmers to adopt new technologies and indigenous farming practices like keyhole gardens and fertility trenches, which aid crop production amidst changing climate conditions.
Peer farmer trainer Reuben Malinja showcased how Black Soldier Fly larvae could be used to feed chickens cost-effectively, emphasizing the profitable use of organic waste in chicken farming. Similarly, Benjamin Maina urged farmers to engage with SACCOs and self-help groups for training and access to modern farming technologies.
Maina also highlighted the economic and medicinal benefits of beekeeping, stating that bees provide additional income through wax production for candles and other cottage industries. Peer farmer trainer Evelyne Karakacha demonstrated successful local vegetable production using organic fertilizers, noting increased productivity and reduced costs.
Esther Osimbo, a beneficiary of the program, shared her journey from hardship to self-reliance after adopting the new farming techniques. She expressed how these skills enabled her to produce food, care for her disabled husband, and educate her children, a feat she found challenging before the training.
The field day concluded with an appeal for farmers to join groups and embrace climate-smart agriculture, adopting low-cost sustainable technologies to create resilient farms for improved household income and long-term food security.
