All set for eighth Seeds of Gold farm clinic in Kisii
Participants sample farm input at a past Seeds of Gold Farm Clinic in Meru. The eighth edition of the Seeds of Gold Farm Clinic kicks off in Kisii County next Friday. FILE PHOTO | NMG
What you need to know:
- Segmented into trainings, question and answer sessions, one-on-one interactions between experts and farmers and demonstrations, the clinics have always exceeded farmers’ expectations.
- The clinics, an initiative of Elgon Kenya, Nation Media Group’s Seeds of Gold and others partners, hope to visit all the 47 counties in the wake of increasing demand for agribusiness information.
- The partnership marks another milestone in the two companies’ longstanding relationship guided by their shared values and history in making Kenya a land of plenty by providing innovative and homegrown solutions to small-scale farmers.
- The clinics are a shot in the arm for the agriculture sector as the country counts on it to help reach the mid economic status by 2030.
The eighth edition of the Seeds of Gold Farm Clinic, mainly sponsored by Elgon Kenya, kicks off in Kisii County next Friday.
The initiative that has previously attracted farmers from all corners of the country is gaining traction as a one-stop shop where food producers, majority who are smallholder farmers, actively interact with experts in a one-of-a-kind engagement.
Segmented into trainings, question and answer sessions, one-on-one interactions between experts and farmers and demonstrations, the clinics have always exceeded farmers’ expectations.
The Kisii edition promises nothing less. The trainings will be carried out by experts and will tackle a variety of subjects from farming techniques, to low cost pest control methods and market access.
Modelled along the human health concept, the clinics involve plant doctors, usually researchers and agronomists who offer agronomic support while diagnosing ‘sick plants’. Farmers carry their diseased plants and explain the problems to the doctors who then prescribe the best remedy.
Fall armyworm
The clinics, an initiative of Elgon Kenya, Nation Media Group’s Seeds of Gold and others partners, hope to visit all the 47 counties in the wake of increasing demand for agribusiness information.
Climate change that has disrupted farming cycles, a growing number of new pests and diseases like Fall armyworm and Tuta absoluta, and agricultural land use for real estate and mining now means that farmers require new and innovative ways to optimise food production.
The plant clinics have sought to introduce these technologies to farmers.
Elgon Kenya has now partnered with Bayer East Africa in the clinics to bring closer to smallholder farmers affordable and modern products while investing in their training.
The partnership marks another milestone in the two companies’ longstanding relationship guided by their shared values and history in making Kenya a land of plenty by providing innovative and homegrown solutions to small-scale farmers.
Information is key
The newly unveiled animal health department of Elgon Kenya will also feature in the clinics. The unit seeks to respond to growing market demand for livestock products among smallholder farmers, especially those who have diversified into livestock farming.
Trained animal health officials will be available to answer any questions and offer timely interventions. The farm clinics are premised on the fact that information is key, and is what is lacking among many farmers following the collapse of extension services.
Previous clinics have been held at Practical Training Centre in Thika, Njoro, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation Kitale, Kaguru Agricultural Training Centre in Meru and Animal Health and Industry Training Institute in Nyahururu.
The clinics are a shot in the arm for the agriculture sector as the country counts on it to help reach the mid economic status by 2030.
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Mr Maina is the Communications and Marketing manager at Elgon Kenya.
