NCATF Conservation Agriculture Awareness Event 2015 held in Nakuru County-Kenya

NCATF Conservation Agriculture Awareness Event 2015 Held In Nakuru County-Kenya

The National Conservation Agriculture Task Force (NCATF) of Kenya is a multi-stakeholder consortium established by various individuals, organizations and institutions representative working or implementing projects related to the promotion of conservation agriculture and climate change issues.

The task force:

offers advice to all stakeholders, including government agencies, donors and NGOs, on CA development activities.
analyzes and publicizes the results of CA activities in the country with the view to create awareness and promote the technology.
monitors and disseminates information on CA and CSA activities
advocates and monitors CA-related research and studies, including farmer and stakeholder surveys; and
Provides a link for stakeholders with and between national, regional and international CA networks.

On the 14th – 17th July, 2015, the taskforce organized and coordinated a Conservation Agriculture awareness event sponsored by FAO- Kenya in Nakuru County, Kenya. The event involved several sensitization meetings and activities which culminated in an highly attended Farmers’ field day at Pastor. David Langat’s Saptet Farm in Tegat Sub-location, Arimi Location in Elburgon Ward. The event brought together several members of the taskforce who included representative from; Food Agricultural Organization of United Nations Kenya, African Conservation Tillage Network (ACT), Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) Nakuru, Participatory Approaches for Integrated Development (PAFID) , Ministry of Agriculture staff (at national level and County level) and the farmers to share experiences and practically appreciate conservation agriculture potentials in comparison to conventional practices.

David's CA farm (top) & Conventional farm (bottom) – Taskforce members ’visit In Langat‘s demonstration farm, different CA practices demonstrated superiority of the technology over conventional
systems, these CA practices adopted include: sub-soiling and ripping, surface cover (mulching), chemical weed control and crop (intercropping system). Conventional field and Conservation Agriculture field conspicuously brought out clearly the effects of CA on crops performance. Notably, ripped portion of the farm with crop residue covers looked much better than ripped part with no residues; this still demonstrated another important aspect of organic cover on the soil.

During the field day, CA equipment and implement like Ndume Direct seeder, ripper and two wheel tractor implements were showcased. Ndume’s direct seeder and ripper demonstrated during the field day Most farmers who participated in the event especially the field day eventually got convinced about the technology since they were able to visibly observe the different look of main crop (maize) under conventional and conservation agriculture plots in respond to the dry weather conditions at the moment.

The event’s field day was graced by the County Executive Committee (Minister) of Agriculture, Chief Guest Dr. Chepkwony addressing the field day attendance Dr. J Chepkwony, together with other dignitaries from the ministry and members of County Assembly Nakuru County. The guest applauded the organizers of the event and confessed about what he has seen, the outstanding difference between Conventional and CA systems on crops. He promised to take up spirit and advocate for adoption this new technology in the region.

Most of the speakers during the field day requested for more of such events and emphasized the need to have rigorous and extensive re-training of agricultural extension staff on the new technology, as previously, agricultural extension training focused on conventional agriculture. This would enable the promotion of CA to be effective and ensure a critical mass adopting CA.