ENHANCING AGRICULTURE

Held on 27th  – 28th July 2021

BAHATI SUB-COUNTY, NAKURU COUNTY

ENHANCING AGRICULTURAL AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF COUNTIES IN KENYA: REPORT ON THE EMPOWERMENT TRAINING OF ARAHUKA WOMEN DAIRY FARMER’S GROUP

In a mission to contribute to and enhance sustainable agricultural and livestock production in Kenyan Counties, three (3) KeAWARD scientists delivered a two-day empowerment training to Arahuka Women’s Dairy Farmers Group and Agricultural Extension Officers from Bahati Sub-County, Nakuru County on 27th and 28th, July 2021. The training focused on the preparation and formulation of high-quality dairy animal feed to boost milk production as well as economic multiplication of clean planting materials of crops such as tissue culture banana, cassava, sweet potato, and Brachiaria grass, and gliricidia fodder all obtained from Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization (KALRO).

During this activity, 15 members of the Arahuka Women’s group comprising 11 women and 4 men were trained to use available pastures and crop residues in their smallholder farms to formulate and prepare nutritious feeds to boost milk yields. In addition, ten (10) extension officers from the Sub-County were also engaged to enhance their knowledge, skills, and capacity in livestock production to support the women and other farmers in the County. Once empowered, the women farmers will have the capacity to prepare and feed their dairy cattle with high-quality total mixed rations (TMRs) formulated on-farm, cutting feed costs, boosting milk yields, and improving the quality of their dairy animals thereby raising their incomes from increased sales of milk and quality animals.

This will also enable them to prepare and sell quality feeds in seasons of abundant pastures enhancing their incomes. The agribusiness venture on the multiplication of clean planting materials is an opportunity for the women to become suppliers of clean planting materials to other farmers and groups resulting in improved incomes and livelihoods of women farmers in the County. Other than boosting their incomes, this activity will also contribute to the availability of clean planting materials to farmers, reducing disease burden and crop losses in the region directly contributing to food and nutrition security.