Nikodemus Wambua 38, married to Regina (25) has two children and is living in Kamuru, Makima, Kenya. He is one of 25 members of the Kamuru FFS (Farmers Field Schools) group. The 25 members are farming drought resistant crops and using new techniques that require less rainwater.
“There is no doubt, that the training has helped me raise the output of my farm. I am now one of the most successful small-scale farmers in the area.”
There are over 90 Farmers Field Schools in operation now since the drought in 2011. In essence they are farming cooperatives. Farmers and their neighbours are replicating what they learn in their households. So far the cooperatives have recieved 30 tones of drought resistant seeds, 40 hand irrigation pumps and 20 drip kits. These were distributed while 2 major water pans were being constructed.
The pupose of the cooperatives is to build resilience among smallholder farmers in arid and semi-arid rural areas to ensure food security and improve farm income at the family level. The farmers organize themselves into smallholder farmer’s cooperatives and Farmers Field Schools (FFS).The movements are important for lobby and advocacy groups at county and national levels. By supporting the new cooperative movement, 2,500 people’s lives are being improved directly and 10,000 people indirectly.
“I am one of 25 members in the Kamuru FFS group. Being a member has improved my life in many ways. My farm output has gone up and secured income and food for my family. My sense of belonging to this community has also improved – I have become proud and I interact with more people than ever before.”
Nikodemus has just harvested Sorghum for 32,400 shillings. This is the first time he has made such a big profit. After sowing, he had his first harvest. Then he cut the Sorghum down in a special way that he had learned at the Farmers Field Schools (FFS), and now he has harvested again. This way, Nikodemus has improved his income a lot despite low rainfalls in the past months.
“After advice from ActionAid, we are now growing a bigger variety of crops and I am using drought resistant seeds. We have sorghum, pumpkins, cassava, beans, peas, and many other crops on our fields. The big variety is good for the soil and the crop output. A shift towards drought resistant crops has really given my farm a boost.
Nikodemus received training in farming drought resistant crops, in using water saving methods, in crop management, in farming with new tools, in changing crops to maintain a healthy soil, and in many other areas.
At the FFS, members farm together under the guidance of agricultural experts. They share the output. However, the main benefit has been the knowledge and experience members have taken home to their own farms. The weather has become much drier, and therefore it is very important, that they are able to adjust with drought resistant seeds.
“My neighbours are looking at my success and I help them duplicate the new methods I am using. When everybody prospers, we benefit from a stronger and better community. ActionAid has also trained us in women participation. In some ways, I guess I treated my wife as an employee. She will not accept this anymore. Now we make decisions together. I feel it has helped me a lot when someone tells me not to be too single minded.”