Foundations for Farming Report from Dove Africa

This year started well for us with a few activities here and there. 

Recent Events

Rongo

One significant activity we have been able to accomplish is the excavation of rocks on one section of the property. The fact that the land lies next to a river, rocks spread all over the property. We hired an excavator to help us do the work which took about 20 hours to excavate and thereafter push the rocks to one corner of the property.

This will enable us to utilize and maximize on the space available to do other activities such as planting crops and other things that need to be done and also making sure that things are done up to the required standard.

During the rock excavation process, the tree stumps were also uprooted. Somehow, the neighbours collected them for firewood and charcoal burning. The rest that were not uprooted will be done with other activities, others will decompose naturally.

For the rocks, we are looking at a possibility of breaking them to be used in foundation construction and maybe, beautification where necessary in the near future.  

We have several other activities lined up for the year and our goal is that by the end of the year we would be able to get some harvest from this property and things would have taken shape. That is our wish. Every step is very important for the realization of our goal.  

Trainings

Mt Elgon
It has been the third year of us conducting a training at Elgon Bible College. This program has been incorporated in their course for one to qualify to graduate. Since this college is still very young, most students are pastors in the vast Mt Elgon region and the aim is to equip them with skills and knowledge to increase their production hence, more income and stop relying on their congregants for upkeep. 

This region was once a highly volatile area as there was land issues. This led to criminal gangs namely Sabaot Land Defense Forces taking charge of the area and misplacing several people. Most members of the force were later killed and some reformed and we had one of them in our previous training.

So, this training is also a powerful tool for evangelizing and the pastors can use it.

Kisii
Recently we held a training in Kisii at a place called Nyansakia which was attended by 20 farmers most of whom were ladies with just two men. We are hoping to follow up with them soon as it was one of the most active groups we have trained.

A certain man who is famously known as Mr WeWe is very much committed to empower his community with this Foundations for Farming teachings. He was once working with the Ministry of Agriculture in Kisii County but unfortunately, he fell ill and went partially blind. Even with this disability, he has been an ambassador for FfF teachings and implementation. He has been working with us voluntarily and organizing groups for trainings and sometimes follow-ups even when we are away. His wife has also been part and parcel of this. 

There are still several other groups he is organizing in very different parts of Kisii, and we will continue to incorporate trainings, follow-ups and the activities in Rongo.

Ideas for the Future

We are also trusting that we could probably once or twice a year, be motivating one or two farmers per group who have done the implementation so well with a reward which can be a farm tool or seed but not money. With a budget of about Ksh20,000 per year, we will be able to do this.