Through door-to-door sensitization of communities, 40,000 households have been reached with messages promoting consumption of diverse and nutritious food for improved health and nutrition. In addition 2,500 women have been trained on healthy cooking and an additional 3,000 have been trained on nutrition education. These activities are part of a larger endeavor to mainstream changes … Continue reading
In March 2017, United States Ambassador to Kenya Bob Godec together with Turkana County Commissioner Stephen Ikua, Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, Turkana Governor Koli Nanok, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett, Marsabit County Governor Ukur Yatani and USAID Kenya Country Director Karen Freeman launched three projects to boost economic growth and improve water, … Continue reading
In spite of the below-average rainfall received during both long and short seasons in 2016, production of drought tolerant crops in Makueni, Tharaka Nithi and Kitui counties in Kenya has been remarkable. Farmers who planted sorghum, pearl millet, pigeonpeas and green grams have learnt wonderful lessons to share with others and to help forestall any … Continue reading
Through the 3-tier model, a network of trained community diseases reporters accessible at the village level has been created. Trained to be the first responders to animal health issues, they serve as an immediate resource for herders and are in position to respond to reports in multiple villages. The community disease reporters train herders on livestock … Continue reading
This March in Nkuene ward, Meru County, potatoes were in flower, farmers were busy in their potato farms attending to their precious cash crop. Decentralised seed multipliers also known as Village Potato Advisors (VPAs) are busy too, doing a routine follow-up on farmers’ plots advising them on crop management of at this critical stage. Farm … Continue reading
Between January and March, most of Western Kenya experiences a climatic dry period, when grass and other plants stop growing, forcing farmers to buy fodder from outside their area to feed their cows or face huge reductions in milk production. This year, the area has suffered from a pro-longed drought, with no rains since mid-November, … Continue reading
Written by Raymond Jumah and Dave Priest (FIPS-Africa) FIPS VPA Edward Kirinya harvesting the Sherekea potato variety. He planted 50 kg in July and has harvested 1,322 kg in November 2016. Photo: Raymond Jumah/FIPS-Africa A cool breeze sweeps across Kioru village in Abothuguchi West ward, bringing freshness to the otherwise misty agricultural highlands of Meru … Continue reading
Just through feeding her cow on Brachiaria grass and proper maintenance, a smallholder farmer in western Kenya has improved her milk yield more than two-fold. Continue reading
A group of farmers in Kisumu County of Kenya promise to lead the western region of Kenya as the next frontier in dairy production. So successful has the group been in marshaling collective action, that they have received policy makers’ recognition. Continue reading
Originally posted on Livestock Systems and the Environment:
Moses Muyang’ai (centre) shows his farm records (photo credit: ILRI/James Audho). The north eastern region of Kenya is home to pastoralists whose livelihoods mostly depend on the sale and consumption of livestock and their products. But the pastoral production systems in the region are characterized by low growth rates…
