Component objective:- Improving access to quality planting seeds

1. Integrating Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change into Sustainable Development Planning in Sakai seed production demonstration Pilot Project (Land preparation, seed selection, planting and agronomic practices) September – December 2006 PRESENTED BYDANIEL MBUVIDrought Management OfficerARID LANDS RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROJECTMAKUENI DISTRICTProject Review Workshop (Garden Hotel Machakos) on 4th – 7th January 2007

2. Component objective:- Improving access to quality planting seeds Specific objectives: To conduct field demonstrations using key crops to enlighten the farmers on: • appropriate crop varieties; • appropriate crop husbandry practices; • effective use of weather and climate information in agriculture; • benefits of using clean seed; and • Initial seed bulking.

3. The implementation of the field activities is undertaken in partnership by the Arid lands Resource Management Project and the Ministry of agriculture Crop development Extension service. The District Crop Development Officer and the DMO provides supervisory services to the Divisional agriculture extension officers based at the division who work with the participating farmers on a the day-to-day basis.

4. Project period: March 2006 to February 2009 ACHIEVEMENTS as at 31st December 2006: • Participatory project site selection and baseline surveys • Presentation of the project concept and components for consideration and approval by the DSG • Community consultation and awareness creation through a series of 3 main community meetings (Barazas).

5. Achievements cont’d • Downscaling of weather forecasts, packaging into brochures and dissemination through community meetings, local radio announcements and a newspaper • Participatory selection of pilot farmers and self help groups. Out of the total population of 4800 people comprising approx. 500 households, 150 people attended the community selection baraza. An initial 60 farmers from 5 villages were selected out of which 40 were to be prioritized based on a selection criteria as follows:- 1. Muiu Sublocation – 7. 2. Kathamba S/location – 9, 3. Kiteani S/location – 9 4. Nthongoni S/location – 7, 5. Linga S/location 8. Making a total of 40 farmers.

6. SELECTION CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPATING FARMERS.

7. Achievements cont’d • Capacity building of pilot farmers through training Topics covered:- Soil and water conservation. Weather prediction and interpretation Importance of Drought escaping/ Tolerant crops. Choice of the appropriate drought escaping/ tolerant crops/ varieties for the area. Importance of early land preparation and planting. • Farmer led crop variety identification and selection

8. Achievements cont’d • Procurement, distribution and field application of 84 MTs of FYM for early land preparation and planting • Acquisition and distribution of an assortment of drought tolerant crop seeds to 40 pilot farmers 1. Maize(80 Kgs) - DLC- 40 Kgs & KCB- 40 kgs 2. Gadam sorghum- 20 kgs 3. Millets- (20 Kgs) -PM1- 7.5 Kgs, PM2 -7.5 Kgs and FM- 5 Kgs. G.Grams N26- 20 Kgs. 4. Cow- Peas M66- 20 Kgs, K80- 20 Kgs & KVU 27-1 – 20 Kgs. 5. Pigeon Peas- 60/8- 20 Kgs & Mbaazi -1 – 20 Kgs. N.B • Mbaazi 11 which is long duration was not available. • The farmers were to provide 40 Kgs of local maize ( 2 Kgs each).

9. Achievements cont’d • Provision of extension services to participating farms • 98% of pilot demonstration farms dry planted by 25th October • 85% of other Non-pilot farms practicing dry planting • 90% germination achieved before end of the first week of rains • Crop performance monitored at every stage and emerging cases noted by the farmers and the field extension staff. • As at end of December, DLC and KCBmaize was at grain formation. All sorghums and Millets were at milk stage. Green grams and Cow peas were podding while Pigeon peas and Kikamba maize varierities were still actively growing.

10. Drought tolerant crop varieties grown under rain fed cropping system A Early land preparation for planting Farmer training session Early crop germination in one of the plots

11. Mixed cropping as normally practiced by the farmers A demonstration of proper spacing advocated by the project Millet crop in a Demonstration plot A close up of the current millet crop in one of the farms

12. Samples of legume and cereal seed bulking plots already in field The positive impact of water management efforts in the demo plots Farmer’s bean crop as a result of current enhanced rains What a beautiful maize plot !!

13. CHALLENGES • Climate data and information updates not availed as frequently as required. • Shortage of rain-guages for measuring rainfall amounts. • Leaching and water logging was experienced in plots with sandy soils and resources were not provided for top dressing to supplement the farmers’ efforts. ---------- Need to activate the credit component. • Field attack by many types of insects due to enhanced moisture and the farmers’ inability to cope with the attack due to inadequate resources. • High expectations on the part of the participating farmers. • Lack of funding for follow up activities (as requested for in the supplementary budget).

14. Thank you for your attention !