The Coast Event: Promoting Farmer Innovation for Improving Food Security

Isaac Mambea of EM-Kenya explains the importance of organic waste recycling.

The Coast Event was held in Mombasa on 11 November 2004 at the Mbaraki K.P.A. Sports Club. It was organized by Jamii Humanist Development Centre, Mwamko youth group and other community-based organizations at the coast.  A total of 157 participants were invited to present exhibits and presentations on value-added processing (53), soil fertility management (50), traditional foods and plants (17), resource conservation (21), information dissemination and extension (7) and waste management (6). Over 215 members of the public attended the event. Besides the presentations by core participants, local presentations were made on integrated farm production, natural resource utilization, EM technology in agriculture, utilization of the agro forestry and women in development.  A traditional vegetable cooking contest was conducted to entertain and educate the participants on value addition and the role of traditional vegetables. Afterwards, some participants visited fortified composting field sites in Kwale.  The winning exhibits were: “Farm and agroforestry produce from Kwale” by Ali Saidi Banzi, a subsistence farmer (First place), “EM-Compost and related EM products” by Isaac M. Mambea, EM Kenya (Second place) and “Mijikenda and traditional foods” by Mwaka Jaffa of Vyamtswano Women Group (Third prize).

Compost production was discussed during the Coast Event field day.