Kenya: Kaloleni Sub-County farmers, around thirty (30) in Kilifi County undertook an enlightening exchange visit to Machakos County, as an initiative organized by the Anglican Development Services (ADS). The visit was designed to deepen the farmers’ understanding of dryland agro-forestry and sustainable livelihood practices by learning directly from successful counterparts in similar ecological zones.
Learning the Dryland Farming Successes from Machakos Counterparts, Kilifi Farmers delegations engaged with two standout beneficiaries of the Green Zones Development Support Project Phase II (GZDSP II): Kwa Muvuno Farmer Field and Forest School (FFFS) in Mwala Sub-County and Kyeni FFFS in Yatta Sub-County.
Reportedly, these groups have consistently demonstrated exceptional progress in sustainable land use and income-generating activities, serving as living laboratories for peer learning in Kenya.
At Kwa Muvuno FFFS, the visiting farmers explored practical demonstrations in tree nursery establishment and management, kitchen garden techniques and effective grafting methods.
As per the sources, the experience went beyond agriculture, incorporating cultural exchange as the Machakos hosts treated their guests to a traditional Kamba culinary experience, featuring dishes such as Ngunza, Misida, pumpkin chapati and organically grown vegetables.
Renowned for its success in poultry farming as a viable dryland livelihood, the second stop was Kyeni FFFS. Here, the Kilifi farmers acquired hands-on insights into poultry housing design, feed formulation, and bird healthcare practices.
Major highlight of the visit was a live demonstration on the use of solar incubators for egg hatching, which is an innovative solution for off-grid farming communities. Participants also learned best practices in egg handling, including collection, cleaning, grading and storage, which are essential for maintaining hatchability and product quality.
Notably, the exchange visit achieved its core objectives of promoting sustainable farming practices, fostering inter-county collaboration, and strengthening farmer-to-farmer learning networks.
Considering this, the Kilifi farmers appreciated them sincerely for the knowledge gained and the warm hospitality received, vowing to replicate the successful models back home to enhance food security and resilience in their communities.