By Bett Kipsang
Ngarua Maarifa centre is one of ALIN’s many telecentres and acts an information hub serving the communities of Laikipia West through the provision of information aimed at enhancing livelihoods. The old adage ‘‘Knowledge is power’’ is the backbone of our endeavors and our users access Information free of charge, through the internet, books, magazines and development DVDs.
Film review
For some time now I have been exploring the most effective ways of sharing information. The second weekend of the month of August 2011 is a time I will never forget. This is the time when I started practicing one of the most engaging methods of disseminating information to communities.
Armed with a laptop and a bunch of DVDs, I selected the themes relevant to my audience who in this case were three old men and two young men. Francis Kiarahu, Peter Macharia, Elvis Nderitu, James Muigai and Peter Gituru, who had come to the Maarifa centre to check for ‘‘anything new’’ .
The five DVDs featured topics on passion fruit growing and value addition, production and handling of fresh produce for export market, soil conservation, pest and disease control and gender roles at the family level.
Gender roles
Much has been said about gender, but little attention has been given to building capacities of men on gender related issues. After watching a film on gender, I moderated a survey to gauge the extent of my viewers understanding of the topics covered. I was delighted that the film elicited a lengthy, lively and constructive debate.
About the film
The film was about a peasant farming family, living in a male dominated society. The family had some few dairy cows, fodder crops and a vegetable garden. The two children go to a local primary school and are supported with income from milk and vegetable sales. The male figure in the family is Baba Saru, who does few family chores. He sleeps until late in the day and then goes out out to chat with friends after pocketing all of the revenue from the milk sales.
Mama Saru; Baba Saru’s wife, is in this case likened to the ‘‘beast of burden!’’, her time to rest is late at night when everyone else has gone to bed. She is also the first one to rise in the morning. Just before dawn, she goes out to milk the cows, prepares breakfast for the family and sees the children off to school. She comes back to cut the fodder and feed the cows.
An agricultural extension officer often organizes capacity building training for farmers. Baba Saru regularly attends these seminars, leaving his wife, who is the one responsible for most of the farming and livestock husbandry, at home. Mama Saru relies entirely on the secondary teaching received from her husband.
As per usual, the officer came to invite Baba Saru for a seminar, where farmers would be trained on improved zero grazing practices. At that point Mama Saru asked the officer why she could not attend the training. Her husband dismissed her and said ‘‘it is normal for women to quarrel’’. Baba Saru could not consider allowing his wife to go because the place was far and it would take many days, meaning an extended period away from her duties in the home and most specifically looking after the children.
Seminars proceedings
At the training Baba Saru and the extension Officer joined other farmers, together they visited many farms and had group discussions where the issue of gender roles came about. Farmers shared testimonies as to how their zero grazing projects were successful whilst others were complaining that their women were running down their noble projects.
Testimonies were given by women who received assistance from their husbands; they shared duties and made common budgets for household needs from proceeds of milk sales. Baba Saru was surprised, he stood up to strongly oppose the sharing of responsibilities and income. ‘‘I am the head of the family and my word should be final’’ he said. The extension officer and other participants rebuked him for the tough stance he was taking on the issue, especially touching on gender roles and family’s socio-economic affairs. The message had a great impact on him and he left the seminar a changed man.
One day the officer brought some seeds for a certain herb which is used to feed cattle to Baba Saru’s farm. Baba Saru and the officer sowed the seeds in the farm in the absence of his wife. Following that, Baba Saru never went to the farm again. After some time, the agricultural officer came to follow up on the seeds; he was accompanied to the farm by Baba Saru and found nothing where they had sown. Baba Saru called his wife to ask her about the herbs. His wife confessed she had uprooted them assuming they were weeds.
It became apparent to Baba Saru that that his wife Mama Saru also needed to be trained. But he insisted to only allow her to attend a one day seminar specifically when the venue was not far from home, so that she could continue to take care of the children.
Impact of training
Since then, Baba Saru started waking up earlier to go to the farm, and shared the milk proceeds with his wife. He organized for children to deliver milk on their way to school. Life in that family was never the same again; the change was witnessed in the faces of children and their mother.
Lessons learned
After watching the films I organized a discussion, to get the immediate feedback and gauge the possible impact of this method of information dissemination. I was amazed by the feedback. The participants were very happy and I learned that their retaining power was very high. From the passion fruits films Mr. Kiarahu, a diligent farmer, learned that the secret of success lies in acquiring good quality planting material, commitment and focus. James Muigai learned how to prepare the farm before planting.
For the first time he knew that passion fruits produce juice and how to make the juice using water, sugar and oranges. He also learned that passion fruits seedling is grown inside a green house, where adequate supply of water is necessary.
The video ‘‘keep it fresh’’ talked about the handling of fresh produce for export market. The viewers learned the importance of personal hygiene, proper handling, packing, transportation and maintaining the quality of commodities, in order to fetch higher market value.
‘‘Momonyoko wa udongo’’ is a Swahili title for ‘‘soil erosion’’. We watched the film dealing with soil conservation and my viewers observed that people end up with poor harvest and suffer food shortages due to poor soil conservation. They learned that top fertile soils can be carried away leading to massive crop failure. Mr. Gituro learned of a method of contour ploughing called Fanya Juu, whereby Napier grass is planted on terraces to fix the soil and prevents its downward movement. They also learned that rocky farms are not a hindrance to farming as the rocks are used to make contours and the cleared spaces can be used to grow crops.
Other pest control measures
After watching a film on crop pest and disease control they observed that there is a need to maintain cleanliness and hygiene on the farm and that weeding on time is necessary and personal hygiene is also key. They also learned that not all animals and insects should be eliminated from the farms and that in some cases small animals like Chameleons feed on the insects which are infecting crops with diseases. Likewise, there are certain plants like the Mexican marigold which produces a scent that can serve to repel insects.
Crop rotation is one important method of preventing harmful insects and also ensuring that specific nutrients in the soils are not depleted. Intercropping can also benefit production and a good example is the case of beans and maize which can rely on each other for sustenance. Beans collect nitrogen from the atmosphere and fix it in the soil where it can be utilized by the maize. The maize, in return, can provide supports for beans to climb and also much needed shade against the scorching sun during the dry seasons.
We also explored the use of indigenous methods, like the application of ashes, which can act as a way of reducing excessive use of chemicals in the farm. The viewers observed the importance of reading the instructions and labels on chemical containers before using them, and the need to allow time between spraying and the harvesting of crops. They also learned the correct processes for disposing of used containers.
Vote of thanks
Mr. Kiarahu could not have found better words with which to express his gratitude for the service and the lessons learned from watching the films. ‘‘I am very grateful for the information we accessed today, it is very important and I have learned a lot’’ he said. He added that the same knowledge is needed by farmers who work hard in the farms so that they reap the rewards of their sweat and toil.
Challenges
I asked them if they experienced any challenge. They cited a language barrier as one of the main hindrances; though most of the films were in Kiswahili some were narrated in English and it was hard for the older men to get the message.
Information needs
I thought it was necessary to identify the information needs of this group in order to prepare the relevant information material for future access. They requested more information on the following:
a) Passion Fruit farming
b) Pest and disease control
c) Soil conservation
d) Livestock husbandry and particularly poultry
e) Value addition especially cassava
f) How to make compost manure.
Bett Kipsang is the Field officer working for the Arid Lands Information Network, at the Ngarua Maarifa centre Laikipia West.
