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 Sustainable livestock systems:
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 and off-takes…
On 13-16 Dec 2016, USAID-funded projects working in western Kenya met in Kisumu for a 4 day USAID poverty learning event. The teams including Kenya Integrated Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Project (KIWASH), Financial Inclusion for Rural Microenterprises (FIRM) Kenya, Kenya Agricultural Value Chain Enterprises (KAVES), One Acre Fund, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Africa Lead and … Continue reading
To improve the nutritional status of women in the reproductive age and children below five years, an awareness drive under the Smart Food campaign has been launched in selected counties in Kenya. The aim is to promote increased consumption of nutrient dense, drought tolerant crops (sorghum, millets, pigeonpea, groundnut, cowpea and green gram) and appropriate … Continue reading
In an effort to promote engagement with members of the press the AVCD program held it’s first media round table on Wednesday 19th October 2016 in Kisumu city. The topic of discussion for this inaugural event was the dairy value chain with a emphasis on the improved technologies and interventions under way in the … Continue reading
Eight months after rolling out into the field, Farm Input Promotions Africa (FIPS-Africa) has established 73 decentralised seed multipliers (also known as Village-Potato Advisors (VPAs) in Meru County. The VPAs are supported through US government funded program Feed the Future Kenya Accelerated Value Chain Development (AVCD) Program in partnership with the International Potato Centre (CIP) … Continue reading
The western region of Kenya is not a traditional dairy production area, although having significant resources that can support dairying. One of the challenges that hinder farmers’ entry into this profitable industry is the use of local breeds of cattle with low productivity. Additionally, in most cases cattle in smallholder settings are predominantly ‘multi-functional’ used for … Continue reading
Isaac Mugedi, a 43 year-old farmer from Bungoma County first heard of OFSP in 2013 through the International Potato Centre (CIP). Since the 2015 start of the Accelerated Value Chain Development (AVCD) program, his role in as a OFSP farmer have evolved significantly. Today he multiplies vines, produces roots and provides extension services to OFSP buyers. … Continue reading
Through the scenic valleys of Ngachara village, one cannot help but appreciate the beauty of the surrounding farms; greenery as far as the eye can see. Situated in Meru County, one of the leading potato producing counties in Kenya, Ngachara village contributes greatly to the production of popular potato varieties. Consumers repeatedly request for Meru … Continue reading
