REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

NANDI

Our Field Officer, Nandi County conducted visits to three selected demo farms. The goal was to assess each site for accessibility, water availability, and overall suitability, ensuring all necessary details are ready for stakeholders. Soil samples were also collected from each farm to support effective planning for the demonstrations.

In a hands-on learning opportunity, agriculture students from Aldai Technical College joined the Field Officer at their farm in Kemeloi/Maraba Ward. Together, they practiced soil sampling techniques, including collection and proper packaging for testing, providing the students with valuable practical skills in soil analysis as they contribute to the project’s success.

Nyandarua

To ensure success in the ongoing potato demo which are to culminate into a field day, a site visit was done on all four demo sites distributed throughout Nyandarua County, including Magumu in Kinangop, Ol-Jorok, and Olkalou. Each demo site was ensured to sit on atleast half acre land on which quarter acre is to be used for planting and the rest for accommodating farmers during different trainings. The following factors were considered during site selection,

(i). Irrigation water availability; this as to ensure the demo will have continuous access to irrigation water incase of rainfall inadequacy,

(ii) Soil test, soil samples were collected and submitted for a test to establish the nutrient availability including checking of other factors that could contribute to the nutrients unavailability to the crop such as pH, and EC. The soils were also tested for diseases to ensure proper mitigation and preparation in efforts to control available diseases were set.

(iii) Farm history- the previous planted crops as recorded to ensure the probability of a given disease arising was narrowed down to and necessary measures taken to prevent occurrence and or treatment.

(iv) Road network- this was to ensure the accessibility of the demo is possible during the demo management and during the field day.

During these operations the activities were done in presence of the farm owner and the Village Based Advisors(VBAs)involved to ensure that they were aware and informed and involved in the plan as they play a vital role in the success of the demos.

These demos under the KSPI project funded by AGRA are meant to ensue farmers are made aware and educated on the following including, importance of using certified seeds and how to access them, good agriculture practices (including but not limited to; disease and pest control, irrigation systems, crop feeding, crop rotation etc.), storage of tubers, marketing etc

Above is one of the demo site.

A water pad to be used as a water source incase of need.

Laikipia

The KSPI project has 3 demonstration plots in Laikipia county for the short rain season; in Laikipia East sub-county, laikipia North sub-county and in Laikipia West sub-county. Planting has already been done in two of the sites by NPCK and the following partners ; Egerton University, Solynta, Agrivive and Kisima farm. The varieties panted are Wanjiku, Dutch robjin, KVW, Sherehekea, Challenger and Unica. The partners for fertilizers are OCP-Africa, Yara EA, Fanisi and Ayendos. In addition, there are consortium partners for Agro-chemicals and they include; Twiga chemicals, Corteva, Bayer, BASF and Syngenta. Farmers were involved in site selection, soil testing, land preparation, planting.