Land & Water

Farmer Innovation and New Technology Options for Food Production, Income Generation and Combating Desertification in Kenya

Field preparations by FFS group prior to the cropping season, Mwingi district, kenya

The Kenyan 2-year UNDP-funded project "Farmer Innovation and New Technology Options for Food Production, Income Generation and Combating Desertification" (PFI-FFS) started in May 2001 under the management of the FAO Representation in Kenya.  The project worked in 7 Districts in Kenya: Kilifi, Taita-Taveta, Kitui, Mwingi, Bomet, Narok and Nakuru.

Objectives

The objective of the project was to increase the uptake of farmer innovations and new technology options at the community level for food production, combating desertification and income generation.

Methodology

The project used two approaches in an integrated manner: Promoting Farmer Innovation (PFI) and Farmer Field Schools (FFS).

Activities and outputs

Main activities included promoting the role of indigenous knowledge through farmer to farmer extension, and supporting field-based farmer-driven learning and experimentation through the Farmer Field School approach.
Activities:

  • An assessment of the main production constraints;
  • Training of FFS facilitators and technical training of extensionists and farmer trainers;
  • FFS/PFI activities - identification of farmer innovators, FFS, field days, exchange visits; and,
  • Development of training materials.