Kenya, Africa

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Report Date: May 5, 2021

Foundations for Farming Update

December

In December 2020, we visited Kisii with the aim of meeting farmers whom we had already trained in Foundations for Farming methods. Almost the whole of the year 2020 we didn’t do anything concerning trainings and follow-ups because of the coronavirus disease. So in December we managed to talk to three different groups of people. One we had previously trained but we went to talk to them about ways to prevent pests and diseases and also a bit of a recap on our previous training. The other two groups were new and we just did a small introduction to FfF methods. Both groups were very interested and we planned to conduct a full training come 2021.

January

In January 2021 we went back to Kisii and met with three groups. The first we had previously trained, the second we met in December 2020 and agreed to have training this year, and the last we just got introduced to. 

For the first group, we divided them into four sub-groups in two different locations because we wanted to set up demonstration gardens in four different areas. The two locations were Nyansaskia and Oaro. We did this over three days because it happened that the farmers got to understand better and they were able to ask and learn more about Foundations for Farming methods.

For the second group, we had a successful three days training and then we went to three different farms with the farmers to prepare land and plant. They very much welcomed the FfF methods. One of them who is a field officer in another farming organization and was present in our demonstrations was so amazed and has recently asked that we go to her location to train her and her neighbours. This second group is in a place called Ntana.

The last group is in a place called Nyakwerema. This name in Kisii language means ‘a land that ploughs itself’. The name came as a result of a mudslide that occurred several years ago. Here we went to just give a brief introduction about farming God’s way but since they were so interested we took almost a whole day until we had to go to the farm to conduct a demonstration. Hopefully we will be going back to do a full training.

We thank God for the success of the trainings and field work. 

Jesse and Francis 

 

Additional Comments

It has been really difficult for the training to go on. For a couple of months travel was permitted in Kenya but meetings were not. Then in late March, the Nairobi "borders" closed again and all in-person meetings, schools, churches etc, are not permitted. Jesse and Francis are keeping in touch with the farmers but are not able to travel for visits or training.