25 July
2003
‘FIELD DAY’ AT BAMBURI’S BAOBAB FARM LIMITED
Coast Smallholder Farmers Learn Up Sustainable
Agriculture Usage
Smallholder farmers trained on sustainable agriculture.
Over 150 subsistence farmers from Kilifi, Kisauni, Kwale and
Taita divisions, Mombasa have benefited from a technical and
capacity enhancement training organized by the Baobab Trust,
a non profit subsidiary of Bamburi Cement Limited.
The training focused mainly on educating farmers on the need
to practice sustainable agriculture by adopting mixed farming,
integration, inter-cropping, crop diversification, economic
use of fuel wood, bee keeping, sustainable land utilization
and organic pest and disease control, among others.
Dr. Marion Teichmann, an agricultural sector advisor with
the German Development Service (DED), in charge of technical
support at the Trust, said that their was an increasing need
for smallholders farmers to understand the importance of practicing
sustainable agriculture for purposes of income generation
and food security.
“There is need for the private sector and stakeholders
in agricultural development to support smallholders farmers
not only financially but technically, so that they can engage
in sustainable agricultural production,” she said.
Teichmann said the Coastal areas faced the prospect of recurring
food deficits owing to the over dependence of maize crop by
the farmers.
She suggested that the smallholder farmers would overcome
the threat of food insecurity and earn increased incomes if
the private sector and development organizations partnered
with the government.
The field open day, which shall be held twice every year,
was organized by the Trust in collaboration with the ministry
of Agriculture at the Baobab Farm, Bamburi.
Mrs. Hanna Mwangi, an extension officer with the Minister
of Agriculture in Kisauni division, Mombasa, demonstrates
to local farmers how to interplant crops for enhanced food
security during an open field day organized by Baobab Trust
and the ministry at the Baobab farm in Bamburi. |
