The following are highlights of an agricultural field day held in collaboration with National Agricultural and Livstock Extension Program, (N.A.L.E.P), at a place called Olmoran approximately 20 km from Sipili town where the Ngarua Maarifa Center is located.
Olmoran is a cosmopolitan division, home to different ethnic communities: like the Pokots, Turkana, Kalenjin and Kikuyu. The field day took place at a farm in a village called Dam Samaki about five kilometers away from Olmoron trading center
To maneuver the long distance and the rough landscape, we hired motorcycle because there are no vehicles plying the olmoran route.
Info-dissemination
I went in company of the C.K.F, to ensure that people saw our publications, we had to spread them on a robe along the fence, and we had carried some publications, Ipods and the cameras to capture the mood of the event. The over 70 farmers went round the stands set up by the Ministry of agriculture, Ministry of water, Ministry of livestock, Ministry of health, A businessman dealing in agro chemicals and The Ngarua maarifa centre’s.
The event gave us an opportunity to talk to the communities of Olmoran concerning the services offered at the Maarifa center including E.Marketing through Sokopepe, Info-documentation and dissemination, computer training among other services.
The community members embraced the information and particularly liked the idea of E-marketing, a group of women told us that they have just harvested potatoes ready for marketing; we exchanged contacts so that we can communicate on how to they can be registered.
The publication on display were the baobab, Joto Africa and others hanged on a string along the fence since we did not get a table. The total number of people in attendance was a bout 70, 18 F and 52M, majority of the attendance were males from the farming communities, and the pastoral communities were underrepresented. We registered 49 members
The ministry of Agriculture.
The ministry of agriculture demonstrated how to use drip irrigation, and thought farmers on the procedure of laying the drip lines and it advantages, they also talked of value addition and demonstrated how to grow Cassava and sweet potato fines. Farmers learned how to add value to the crops to fetch money and provide the families with enough food. They were encouraged to diversify their eating habits and start food preservation to enhance food security.
Ministry of livestock.
The officer from the ministry of livestock though farmer the importance of fodder preservation. He emphasized on improving hygiene, water socked fodder turns greenish and may poison animals and people. To avoid this, the fodder are jobbed into small pieces and kept in a dry place. There are some ways of adding values to make the fodder more appetizing to animals, , like using urea fertilizer and storing them in silage backs, socking in Salt water and adding molasses. He also talked of improving the animal breeds, to increase production and income.
The public health officer.
The public health officer Mr. peter Ndonga Kariuki thought the community the importance of drinking treated water. He uses a water-purifying agent called P.U.R. the chemical purifies water and also kills the germs. One sachet of PUR is mixed and stirred in five liters’ of water, after 20 minutes the water is stirred again and left for some minutes then is sieved and he also advised the participant on the importance of deworming, for adults and children. He gave out the drugs for deworming, and administered on many people.
The following stakeholders graced the event:
· The area chief Mr. Francis Ngugi.
· Rev. Fr Sepastian S. Gathogo.
· Mr. Moses Lokwawi the DAEO Olmoran
· Nancy Njuka DIVADO/DIVHEO Olmoran
· Jeremiah O.Ouko -Relief monitor Olmoran.
· Stanley K.Wathuta - Agricultural officer Olmoran.
· Joseph M. Mathai - Agro-dealer Olmoran
· Richard Waweru Agriculture officer Olmoran
· Peter N. Kariuki - PHO Olmooran
· Charles Bett - Alin
Challenges
We observed the following factors, in the area.
· Language barrier. Illiteracy level is high.
· The pastoral communities have little interest in crop farming.
· Attendance by the youths was poor as compared to old men and women.
· The are is not accessible to good roads
· The prolonged conflict between crop farmers and livestock keepers slow down development.
· Poverty level in the division is high, (presence of relief agencies)
· Lack of ready market for commodities and livestock.
· Deliberate efforts to reach out and provide information to the rural the communities of Olmoran.
· Information repackaging and translation to serve the illiterate people
· Frequent follow ups
· Initiation of youth friendly programs
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