Conservation agriculture is emerging as an alternative farming method by many smallholder farmers. Farmers in Matanya Location in Laikipia East Sub-County shared this fact during a field day organized by ACT in collaboration with Ministry of Agriculture and Kenya Agricultural & Livestock research Organization (KALRO).
The event held on 18th December 2014 was hosted by the Kavenge Dairy Goat farmers group at Mrs. Grace Migwi farm in Weru-Ini Village in Laikipia East. The event was attended by a pool of over 130 farmers drawn from the Tigithi and Ngobit wards and other neighboring areas. The County government officials present were; The County Director of Agriculture (CDA), Sub-County Agricultural Officer (SCAO) and the Member of the County Assembly, Tigithi ward (MCA). Eight partners, including Faulu-Kenya, Olpejeta Conservancy, Agriculture Sector development programme (ASDSP), TIST, DUNPONT, Taifa SACCO, Sunrise Ago-dealers, Kenya Dairy Goats Association (KENGAP) and Plan International representing seed companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and banking institutions participated in the field day.
The following objectives were covered;
- To show farmers the difference between conservation and conventional agriculture.
- To increase awareness of conservation agriculture in the area.
- To learn from the successes and good practices of the host farmer.
- To identify the major challenges farmers face in production and marketing.