HomaBay ATC Principal makes a Field follow up to Got Kowiti Livelihood 6 months after a production Training

On the 12th Feb 2014, Mr. Adel, the Principal of HomaBay Agriculture Training Centre and the farm manager found time amidst their tight schedules to make a follow up trip to Got Kowiti Livelihood and Development Group, a team that had been supported by ALIN and Kobama Ministry of Agriculture to attend a one day training at the centre.
The team had been trained on the bulb onion production and local poultry production in mid last year after they had made consistent request of their interest. 
From what the two officials saw in the field (1 Acre farm of bulb onions), they got pleased and encouraged members present to keep up the amazing spirit. Later after the farm visits, the group received further training from the ATC teachers and i tell you this day was amazing.

Groundnut growth and yield response to fertilizer application

 Groundnut is an important food, feed and cash crop in Eastern Africa but in Kenya it has a yield gap of 2.5 t ha-l and this is attributed to low soil fertility, diseases, poor seed quality and poor husbandry practices. Soil exhaustion being ranked as the major groundnut production constraint in Sub Saharan Africa and particularly in Western Kenya it was necessary to evaluate the response of growing high yielding and disease tolerant (groundnut rosette virus disease) varieties with the use of various fertilizer types and rates. This would ensure increased productivity for the smallholder farmers who predominantly produce the crop at a profitable production regime. On-station experiments (fertilizer types and rates) were conducted in two sites, which included Kenya' Agricultural Research Institute (KARl) site at Alupe in Busia district and Ministry of Agriculture's Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) site at Siaya district during the long rain (March - July 2007). Read more..

Courtesy of University of Nairobi.

Renewable World Visits Ndhiwa Maarifa Centre

On the 24 February 2014, Mr. Nick Viir from Renewable World organization and Mr. Noah Lusaka from ALIN held a fruitful meeting/discussion with  Ndhiwa residence on the need of embracing cheap green energy.
Issues on solar, wind and Biogas energy dominated the discussion with members citing that firewood is no longer accessible in the region but with the availability of Tubular or SimGas Biogas technology since a number of farmers here keep livestock in large numbers.
The visiting team agreed to work on the proposed ideas from the community and give a feedback on the way forward by possibly end of the year 2014.

Sorghum, Alternative Climatic Change Reselient Crop in Ndhiwa

Visualizing the potential and contributions of family farmers worldwide

The International Year of Family Farming (IYFF) highlights the decisive role of family farming in the sustainable production of 80% of the world’s food and in the conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity. The IYFF-2014 Photo Competition collects visual expressions to build stronger recognition and support for family farming, and encourage broad participation in the IYFF.

The IYFF-2014 Photo Competition is calling for photos that represent the motto: Family Farming: Feeding the world, caring for the earth. Entries must visualize the strength, potential and challenges of sustainable, multifunctional family farmers worldwide, in all their diversity and contexts. 

A jury consisting of Angèle Etoundi, Bernward Geier, S.Jayaraj, Tomás Munita, Deo Sumaj and Jun Virola will choose the winning photos. The deadline for entries is 1May 2014, but we appreciate receiving photos earlier. 

The winning photos will be announced in October 2014. The photo competition is an initiative of the AgriCultures Network and the World Rural Forum, in close collaboration with the Asian Farmers Association, CLOC/La Via Campesina and the More and Better Network. Read more and submit your photo at www.agriculturesnetwork.org/photocompetition 

This is an opportunity worth trying. 

Rainwater harvesting

 A sufficient, clean drinking water supply is essential to life. Millions throughout the world still do not have access to the basic necessity. After decades of works by governments and organizations to bring portable water to the poorer people of the world, the situation is still dire.

As a measure towards this complexity, rainwater harvesting is an option than has been adopted in many areas of the world where conventional water supply systems have failed to meet people need. It is a technique that has been used since antiquity.

Looking at the high number of wasted decilitres running along our roadside tunnels, I simply sympathize with our people and their leaders. If you think these are personal opinions, then watch this space again come February where all our headlines will be reading severe droughts and deaths. 

I would like to urge all the stakeholders with inclusion of the communities to take an advantage of this prime time and advocate for rainwater harvesting.

Let the communities not rely on the government to initiate some of these projects like the earth dams or even placing gutters on their roofs, we can always begin small and as a team we spread our wings to the desired dreams. Water is life; with its presence, we can make all our dreams come true.