|
The Thika Event: Building Partnerships for Improved Agricultural Production
The first countrywide event was held on 23 October 2003 at The SACDEP Centre within Thika town in Central Province. It was organized and hosted by the Sustainable Agriculture Community Development Programme (SACDEP), a Kenyan NGO that is involved in the training of sustainable agriculture and community development in central and eastern Kenya. SACDEP has been an active FORMAT participant and presented one of the outstanding exhibits during the first FORMAT in 2000. All preparations were made by SACDEP which committed its entire field staff towards the preparations and hosting of the event. There was a good turn out from the members of the public and invited participants following local advertising conducted in parts of central and eastern Kenya. The event was also arranged to coincide with SACDEP’s annual “Farmers Exhibition” that brings together farmers working with organizations in various parts of central and eastern Kenya to exhibit their products and technologies learned through extension and outreach services organized by SACDEP. A total of 36 invited participants brought exhibits and made presentations in the six topics that were covered by all the one-day Countrywide Events: covering value-added processing (15), traditional foods and plants (6), soil fertility management (6), information and extension (5), waste management (3) and livestock management (2).
Although the event started slightly behind schedule due to late arrival of many participants and visitors, it was deemed an overall success as exhibits were well organized with products and informational materials, and the later presentations were very well attended. A number of speakers arrived ready with their presentations in PowerPoint while very few local participants made presentations using handwritten notes. Being the first event, there was evidence of enthusiasm, as participants came from far and wide with exciting exhibits. There was adequate space and time for exhibits although the presentation hall could not comfortably contain the entire audience. A majority of the exhibits described value-added processing of organic wastes and food products.
The team of 13 core participants drawn from different areas of specialization throughout Kenya attended the first event with anxiety. Their role was nevertheless significant as they presented high profile talks and exhibits, using up-to-date information tools. Each core participant explained his or her exhibit to over 100 visitors, an experience that helped them prepare for the Embu event the following day and for the other upcoming events. Members of the public collected informational materials and products, and also made new contacts. Local organizers were disappointed when their high table was not utilized as planned. FORMAT seeks to promote equality among participants and discourage high tables, but rather prefers that farmers, scientists, entrepreneurs and government officers alike interact as equals during the event. Some outstanding exhibits were invited to subsequent events. These included “Processing of grain amaranth and its products” by 3KM Women Group and “Fuel from avocado fruits” by Julius Muigai. First place was awarded to Mary Kavita with an exhibit on “A Hand Press for Making Fuel Briquettes”. The second place exhibit was “A Drum Oven” by the Murugu Youth Group while Jane Ndindi’s “Basket Weaving” earned third prize.
|
