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Summary

 

FORMAT organized eight Countrywide Events in eight different locations throughout Kenya during 2003. There were six, one-day and two, two-day events. Outstanding participants from past FORMAT events were provided opportunity to organize district-level events as a means of taking the platform closer to the grassroots in order to better popularize organic resource management technologies and products. To enhance the quality of exhibits, presentations and demonstrations at the events, several innovators were organized into a group of 13 “core participants” who presented high profile talks and exhibits in their areas of specialization at all eight events.

 

As in the past three years, FORMAT mobilized innovators and stakeholders and popularized technologies and products involving innovative management of organic resources. During the Countrywide Events, methods and tools for processing organic resources and foods into various products were presented and discussed. One of the achievements of the FORMAT Countrywide Events was the exchange and dissemination of information on organic resource management to participants, the public, institutions of learning, business and grassroots organizations. Over 1000 copies of the book “Organic Resource Management in Kenya: Perspectives and Guidelines” were distributed during the events. The events allowed numerous grassroots stakeholders to access useful technologies and products in organic resource management. They also promoted discussions on several topical issues and technologies in organic resource management.

 

The local organizers invited local participants and organized the venues, meals and event logistics. They received support during preparations from community-based and non-governmental organizations, government departments, the private sector, churches, schools and colleges.

 

Immediate Outcomes from the Countrywide Events

  • FORMAT and collaborators’ publications were distributed to many organizations and individuals.

  • Local organizations were better oriented towards improved agricultural resource management and their national linkages were strengthened. Nakuru, Kisumu and Mombasa events were organized by different organizations that will continue to operate as points of local network activities; and a new focal point, FORMAT Kisii, was launched during the Kisumu event.

  • Local organizations showcased and promoted their work to local communities. For example, SACDEP-Kenya Annual Farmers’ Exhibition and Manor House Agricultural Centre graduation ceremony were organized to coincide with the Thika and Kitale events, respectively

  • Research and development organizations met new clients and entrepreneurs discovered customers for their products. Youth United Against Environmental Pollution was identified by the Nakuru Municipal Council to negotiate a waste recycling business opportunity; scientists from Maseno University involved in mushroom and vegetable production, and waste recycling were invited to conduct training by various organizations attending the Kisumu event.

  • EM Technologies-Kenya identified Kenyan Smallholders Advancement Group (KENSAG) for distribution of its products in Kiambu. KENSAG has since organized a field day on dairy management for a group of farmers from Ruiru. A demonstration on the use of EM for waste management and crop production was organized by EM Kenya to over 40 farmers from Kiambu district. EM Kenya is conducting a composting experiment with a farmer who attended the Kiambu event. Also, Bukura Agricultural Collegehas agreed to assist innovators within western Kenya.

  • Kenya Television Network will broadcast two features on “Processing of avocado” and “Utilization of grain amaranth” based upon exhibits within the Countrywide Events.

  • Several farmers will receive seedlings from a University of Nairobi project that is developing and promoting disease resistant citrus varieties

  • FORMAT will present trophies to Chavakali High School for the best class in agriculture and to Manor House Agricultural Centre for the best graduating student from the center

  • Kayole Environment Management Association will supply briquette-making machines to innovators in Muranga town.

Participation at the Countrywide Events

These organizations also popularized the events and mobilized their collaborators and members of the public to attend. The events were cost-effective, since only local travel within the respective region was reimbursed, venues and meals were affordable and organizers in some cases co-financed the events and provided their staff time and facilities. Several grassroots organizations seized the opportunity to showcase their work to hundreds of people who visited the exhibits. This effort  advanced emerging technologies and products.  FORMAT plans to build on these positive developments by organizing more Countrywide Events and promoting key innovations in 2004 and 2005.

One weakness experienced with the one-day events was the failure of most scheduled live demonstrations of technologies and products to take place due to time restriction. Most events also started late and closed early to enable participants to travel back to their places of origin. Limited use of computer aids such as PowerPoint presentations occurred among local participants unlike those from larger organizations and the core participants. It was evident from the events that innovators need support to acquire patents for their products and technologies, to organize dissemination activities and market them. FORMAT should continue to document and widely disseminate innovations. Participants suggested that publications be prepared in both English and Swahili and that hosts of Countrywide Events continue to operate as local FORMAT focal points and organize additional events in the future.

 

Participation in the Countrywide Events

 

The FORMAT Countrywide Events were a departure from past national events organized in Nairobi as more members of the public found opportunity to attend the events following local advertising and mobilization. The location of events at district venues significantly improved participation of farmers and farmer associations, the elderly and micro-enterprises working in resource management. A total of 470 participants were invited to the eight events with each event attracting an average of 59 participants from different organizational backgrounds. Community-based organizations (CBOs) comprised the largest group of participants at the events although NGOs maintained their strong presence for the fourth year running at the FORMAT events. Another significant improvement was fuller participation by colleges and schools, which can be attributed to shorter distances to venues, and the greater effectiveness of more localized advertising.

 

Category Talks Exhibits Total
-------   Number    ------- (%)
Value-added products 26 111 27
Soil fertility Management 43 75 23
Information Dissemination 48 36 17
Traditional Foods and Plants 10 51 13
Waste Recycling 17 26 8
Natural resource conservation 21 8 6
Crop improvement 6 7 3
Livestock management 3 6 2
Agricultural Credit 3 0 1
Total 177 320 100

 

Opening the events to the members of the public resulted in the attendance of 1261 visitors, representing an average of 159 visitors per event. In Embu, Kakamega and Kiambu, there was an overwhelming response with the halls virtually overcrowded with visitors. For example, the Embu event attracted over 300 visitors to its modest venue. Attendance by invited participants was excellent, with some events having 100% attendance and participants showing up ready with exhibits and presentations. The events attained a reasonable gender balance with 316 (67%) males and 154 (33%) females invited, which is consistent with previous national events. A more balanced gender representation was realized in some events as a result of mobilization and participation of women groups that are active in value-added organic resource and food processing, marketing, composting, traditional vegetable production and natural resource conservation.

 

A major shortcoming was the limited participation of international research and development agencies in the events. Although we do not fully understand the reasons behind this situation, it is likely that the ‘grassroots stage’ was not attractive to these organizations, unlike the national and international arena where they normally operate. FORMAT will continue to encourage participation of these organizations, and with the success of the Countrywide Events they may improve their participation. Participating in FORMAT events is in the interest of these organizations, as they will realize a stronger grassroots connection. There are countless groups in  rural areas in need of the services of the various international organizations, and resolving problems of underdevelopment in Kenya requires concerted efforts by all stakeholders.

 

Presentations and Exhibits

 

All the presentations, demonstrations and exhibits at the Countrywide Events covered nine main topics (see Appendix 1). The eight Countrywide Events attracted 177 talks and 320 exhibits that were distributed among these topics. A total of 69 talks and 87 exhibits were presented in more than one event. This is attributed to both participation of core participants in all the events and attendance of several of the participants in more than one event. Exhibits were allocated over 70% of the events’ programs and in some cases were conducted throughout the duration of the events. Talks were allocated less than 30% of the time in order to better allow participants and visitors to interact and exchange information. It was the intention of the organizers to give opportunity to  outstanding local innovators to exhibit diverse technologies and products. In addition, they sought to realize a balance in the different categories of exhibits and talks.

 

Analyses from all the events indicate that value-added processing, soil fertility management, information dissemination and extension, and traditional foods were the dominant topics. Natural resource conservation and waste management also received significant attention during the events. The  importance  placed  upon  presentations and  exhibits in  value-added  processing cannot be over-emphasized.

 

  

Many organic resources are more valuable when processed either into farm inputs or marketable products than when utilized directly as raw products. A majority of the presentations were made using audio-visual aids while a few speakers used handwritten notes. Numerous publications, products and contacts were also exchanged. Exhibits at FORMAT events are used to share and disseminate organic resource management information and allow for closer interaction among participants. There was a remarkable improvement in the quality of exhibits at FORMAT Countrywide Events. At each event, an independent panel of three judges was selected by local organizers to evaluate the exhibits and award prizes. Members of the panel were drawn from research, business and development communities. Exhibits were evaluated along two key themes:  Innovation in Organic Resource Management and Community Service through Organic Resource Management with prizes awarded to outstanding exhibits during the closing sessions. The judging of the exhibits and award of prizes is FORMAT’s way of recognizing the efforts of innovators and letting them know their work is greatly appreciated and valuable. Prizes awarded for first, second and third place exhibits were KSh 3000, KSh 2000 and KSh 1000 for the two-day events and KSh 2000, KSh 1500 and KSh 1000 for the one-day events. In some cases, local organizers sponsored additional prize categories and supplemented amount of cash awarded.

 

 

The use of agricultural wastes for mushroom production was demonstrated by M. Kariaga of Maseno University (left) and for ornamental fish development by J.K. Oketch of KMFRI Sangoro (right).

  

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