FORMAT Accomplishments

FORMAT participants have realized better linkages through frequent sharing of information, products, undertaking of joints activities and sharing of physical and human resources. FORMAT has grown into a platform for mobilizing stakeholders to appreciate the value of better management of organic resources through sharing and learning. These gains include improved communication among stakeholders, value-added processing, marketing and policy dialogue. Specific examples of these follow:

 1.      The International Plant Genetics and Resources Institute (IPGRI) made a contribution of US $2000 to FORMAT towards co-hosting of a traditional vegetable growing and cooking contest during the second national FORMAT event, REFORMAT as a recognition of FORMAT’s important role in promotion of agricultural practices that protect and promote plant biodiversity.

2.      Various grassroots NGOs that have participated in FORMAT now have better access to the media as many of them have published articles about their work in the Kenyan print media including weekly newspaper columns and agricultural periodicals. The most recent ones are articles on urine therapy by a Kenyan rural based herbalist James Wanjeru and an extensive six-page feature on crop residue and manure management by scientists from Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) in the December 2001/January 2002 issue of Farmers’ Journal magazine. The Nation newspaper environment column ran features by two western Kenya NGOs, Resource Projects Kenya and SACRED Africa, on soil fertility replenishment and sustainable agriculture training, respectively.

3.      Kayole Environmental Management Association (KEMA), an award winning exhibitor at FORMAT and a leading community based organization involved in recycling of urban wastes into compost, handicrafts and fuel briquettes has been contacted and is negotiating with the City Council of Nairobi to undertake recycling of agricultural organic wastes generated from the City Market centres. KEMA has also received invitations to exhibit in several national and international events within Kenya since their participation in FORMAT.

4.      The Millennium Fuel Project that makes cylindrical fuel briquettes (photograph above) from organic wastes and promotes their use as an alternative domestic cooking energy source, has greatly expanded its client base since their participation in FORMAT. Due to the uniqueness of their work they have tremendously benefited from extensive independent newspaper and television coverage.

5.      Four NGOs based in western Kenya, with strong interest in FORMAT, and with scientific support from Moi University are in the process of initiating a joint project on “Independent testing of best-bet soil fertility management recommendations”. FORMAT event of 2001 provided a forum for negotiations and initial consultations on the project. A proposal has been prepared towards that end.

6.      The Kihara Zero Grazing Group, a farmers’ association from central Kenya and twice award-winning exhibitors at FORMAT events, have excelled in cultivation of napier grass and do not experience shortages of animal feed like their neighbors. Their milk production, processing and sales business has improved greatly since they attended FORMAT and started working closely with KARI and other dairy farmers. Their work is frequently featured in national television stations which has brought them more business. FORMAT assisted the association in formalizing their group as a community based organization with Kenyan the government.

7.      Hyacinths Crafts, a Kisumu based group that makes handicrafts and furniture decorations using dried water hyacinth stems and award winners at FORMAT 2000 event, received a business development grant from the Micro and Small Enterprises Program (MESP) of UNCHS (Habitat) to promote their handicrafts business globally. They have since held an exhibition in Birmingham, UK and greatly improved the quality and variety of their products. Their award-winning exhibit at FORMAT initially won them an invitation by UNEP to prepare and present a paper on “Water Hyacinth Utilization for Handicrafts Production in Kenya” at a UNEP meeting on ‘Micro and Small Enterprises and their Impact on Environment’ held on 21-22 February 2001 at UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi.

8.      Over 42 Kenyan NGOs participating in FORMAT run a joint policy advocacy and lesson sharing initiative (L-SPIN) on organic resource management in Kenya. They made useful recommendations to Kenya’s strategy papers on Poverty eradication and Rural Development, which are now the country’s official policy guidelines on poverty and rural development.

9.      SACRED Africa has been able identify and organize training in sustainable agriculture for various groups and now hosts students and interns resulting from its greater exposure through FORMAT.

10.  FORMAT collaborated with two Kenyan television stations, Nation and Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, to produce and broadcast documentaries on organic resource management in Kenya. Viewers subsequently called the stations to request repeats and get contacts of the organizations and individuals appearing in the documentaries. The stations have been running the documentaries once a month since July 2001.

FORMAT plans to build on new interactions and partnerships made in the last two years and follow up with partners on improvements in extension of organic resource management technologies and development of appropriate information materials and feedback mechanisms. Emphasis will be placed on strengthening the capacities of grassroots organizations and movement from subsistence to value added processing and marketing.