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Hundreds of Farmers from North Sakwa Ward, Bondo Sub-County gathered at Mr. Peter Wambi's Farm during a Field Day organized by the County Department of Agriculture in partnership with Cereal Growers Association and Farm to Market Alliance to enlighten them on the benefits of Conservation Agriculture (CA) on August 7, 2024.
As changes in climatic situations continue and the population increases, the food situation in Siaya County has been stretched, meaning that there is need for improvement in systems of farming. As a result, the Siaya County Department of Agriculture has resorted to offering farmers tangible on-farm advisory in Technology Innovation Management Practices (TIMPs). These practices are aimed at improving resilience and enhancing the yield of crop production.
The department is not only using these strategies in each and individual farm but also utilizing the field days to apply information to farmers on the need to use certified seed, minimum tillage, mechanization and controlling post-harvest losses. The department wants to prepare farmers, providing them with the knowledge and instruments that will help to employ such progressive methods of farming to achieve the targeted food security and proper agriculture development in the county.
Furthermore, one of the main aspects of these advisory activities is the advocacy of the CA practices as it has been evidenced that they hold a great potential for increasing yields especially in cases when the climate influences are adverse. Due to its focus on the health of the soil, the moisture, and the minimized application of chemicals, CA practices add up to four folds the yield from the same area as that of the conventional methods, as in the case of Mr. Wambi (Host Farmer) who boasts of up to 40 bags of maize per acre.
The approach does not only increase the production of the land, but it is also economically viable, environmentally friendly by retaining the soil organic matter and structure. From such intensive-training sessions, the Department of Agriculture has equipped the farmers with sustainable farming practices to boost food production for the region in the current climate change situation and increasing population pressures.
With farming made easier and higher yields achieved, farming is envisaged to attract the younger generation and help meet the dream of sustaining food security and transforming the economic situation of the great County of Siaya, as envisaged in the County Integrated Development Plan and the NYALORE Manifesto.