Leleshwa Agricultural field day.

The Ngarua Maarifa Center participated in an agricultural field day held at the farm of Mr. Ndirangu Waruingi of Leleshwa village, Muhotetu division on 19^TH Jan 2010. 127 community members attended the field day, (84-M & 43-F). 10 stakeholders also attended from NGOs, CBO, Banks, companies and self help groups. 

 Ngarua Maarifa Center.

The Ngarua Maarifa center’s stand was strategically set up at the entrance of the farm. We displayed our magazines, books, and people watched videos in Ipods. We talked to the people about sokopepe, free ICT trainings, free information and Internet access among other services offered at the Maarifa center in sipili. Bett talked of the Maarifa centre’s role in packaging and dissemination of information. On E-marketing, he encouraged farmers to grow high value crops like passion fruits and register for online Marketing through Sokopepe at the Maarifa center.

   Ministry Agriculture

Figure 2: Madam Elcy Kigano, Agric officer.
Demonstrates how to make a vertical garden

 The Ministry of agriculture showcased the ‘‘vertical garden’’ used to grow vegetables during dry seasons. This technology involves the use of a sack filled with soil, holes are made on the outer wall were vegetables are planted. The vertical garden can be placed near building where the roof catchment water drops on it. They also taught lessons on home economics among others services.

Figure 2: Madam Elcy Kigano, Agric officer. Demonstrates how to make a vertical garden

 While addressing the participants, Mr. John Kamau from the ministry of agriculture informed the farmers that an individual needs one and a half bags of maize (the stable food) in a year. Families need this knowledge to know the number of bags they will stock depending on the sizes of their families. He advised farmers to grow crops that require little rain like beans and passion fruits.

  The event become interactive as farmers raised their concerns by observing that the food security situation in the area was not stable. ‘‘Food available in people stores can only serve until the end of March. The situation is worrying!’’ Said one farmer.

 Planting of indigenous species of food is recommended due to resistance and tolerance to arid and semi arid zones. The officer in the ministry of agriculture insisted that farmers needed to have an annual business plan to help in making decisions.

  FARMCHEM.

 Effective pest and diseases control methods were emphasized including, correct use of herbicides. 

Herbicides should be applied at the start of the rains. Farmers were advised to seek and heed to credible information, relevant to improved crop production.

Mr. Samuel theuri a representative from FARMCHEM; a chemical distributing com

pany, said that there is very high demand for passion fruits and advised farmers that they will never lack market for the crop.

 The host farmer Mr. Waruingi said that in Eldoret farmers are benefiting from exportation of Passion fruits. He encouraged the farmers to draw the farm layout on how to prepare the farm in advance. Farmers requested for advice on the good quality seeds, responding to the question Mr. Waruingi informed them that certified Passion fruits seeds are sold at Ksh 1000 per Kg in Eldoret.

Waruingi who is a prominent farmer in the area also advised farmers to start harvesting water. Farmers should never rely on relieve food since its only a few kilos.

 Tree Is Life

Mr. George Kamau from Tree Is Life Trust takes the farmers through captivation lessons on water harvesting and brooder making.

  Micro-Finance institution

 The farmers received information on credit facilities, from Equity bank’s staff who attended the field day. Mr. Munyaka talked of the credit services available in the banks that are customized to suit the farmers. Farmers were advised to form common interest groups since information can easily spread in-groups than through individuals.

  

 Farmers also got to know of seed certification. The representative from PANNAR Seeds Company explained what it means to plant good seeds and how to identify certified seeds from uncertified ones, that is by checking on the KEPHIS registration mark. The farmers from Leleshwa village were very grateful for the field day and asked for a repeat of the same.