Extension: The ups and Downs.

During the past one year, I have been involved in training of farmer groups on organic
farming techniques with KIOF. Some of the outstanding factors which have contributed
to adoption include farmers seeing the success on other farms. This we do by taking
farmers for exchange visits to farms where the techniques are already practiced. This was
also evident where in one of the groups (Baraka group), 6 neighbors adopted even
without training. After last year’s rain failure, the neighbors noticed one of the Baraka
group members had harvested some maize since she practiced the water saving technique
on her farm, whereas there was a total crop failure on his farm. In the following season
(April 2009) the neighbors did not ask how the member had done but only went ahead
and dug holes the way they could observe from far. When the Baraka members realized
this, they called the neighbors and taught them how to do it. The farmers were able to get
some yield, the poor rains not withstanding. The neighbors also joined the group. In other
areas where I have been able to set demonstration gardens, adoption rate is higher than
where demo plots are not set. In other words farmers want to first see an innovation at
work before they transfer to their farms due to fear of the unknown.
Personal experiences by some farmers do help change perception by others. I was
involved in survey where we were looking at rice straw utilization options in rice
growing scheme. Most farmers believed that the use of straw as compost or mulch
attracted pests, diseases and rodents. Confession by one of the farmers who explained
how he was able to reduce input costs and get rice grain with higher density after the use
of compost made the others reconsider their stand and were able to start composting of
the rice straw. Another factor is when farmers are in a group and have something else in
common e.g. merry go round as is the case with (Baraka group). The dropout’s are few if
any since they use money generated from sale of vegetables from their demonstration
garden to buy chicken and goats for their members hence the group is vibrant.
Hindering factors include:
Illiteracy which is rampant in rural areas ensures most trainings are for the elite which
means most of the elite’ jumps from one seminar to the next and rarely do they train
others, much to the peril of the illiterate. Cultural beliefs also contribute negatively to
project implementation. I witnessed a project fail simply because the farmers were given
cocks to upgrade their local chicken. But traditionally, only a cock owned by the head of
the family was supposed to crow in the household. As a result 78%of the cocks were
slaughtered before dawn of the first day to avoid a curse. In Kenya there are other tribes
who believe that an old man cannot be taught anythingof importance by a younger person
than him. This means you can spend a whole week training farmers but most of them
don’t take you seriously. They will only be present for training allowances, if available.
In conclusion, some initiatives will be picked and others rejected simply on basis of
cultural inclination. Also target group will determine adoption, techniques which require
heavy labour may only be picked by youths. The old may be willing but energy may fail
them e.g. double digging techniques.
There are very important experience which can teach other extensionists the importance
of their clientele’s opinion and cultural diversity, to emphasize that there is no one- fits-
all solution in extension.
The experiences also stress the importance of participatory approach in projects.

Semantics

Increasing agricultural production alone does not alleviate hunger.

The amount of grain produced in the world in1999 could by itself sustain 8b, 2b more than the population. Total food production is estimated to provide each human being with at least 3500 calories per day. Many Bangladeshis starved during the 1974 floods, 4million tons of rice produced in that country were stacked in warehouses for want of buyers; the people were too poor to buy. India regularly exports food and animal feeds despite an estimated 200million in starvation.

In the Kenyan chapter, 10million are starving while grains are being exported to Sudan.

All these figures will never bring put food on the table for the poor. The issue of hunger, it appears is not lack of food but lack of entitlement to food. Those lacking the ready cash to buy food or the resources to produce it themselves seem destined for hunger no matter what miracles agricultural technology provides. Irrigation increases productivity in dry areas but is only viable for those with the resources.

The world’s nations will need to deal with issues of equity and democracy first if hunger is ever to be effectively addressed.

No Agriculture can continue to feed a growing population if it depletes or fouls its resource base. The path undertaken by conventional agriculture is ultimately a dead and in this regard, though there is an almost mystical faith that Genetic Engineering and other complex technologies will always triumph. Agriculture needs to be sustainable. Therefore we who promote organic agriculture as a true alternative are well advised to do our part in ensuring that certification and regulations do not create a compliance agriculture in which sustainability becomes little more than an afterthought.

Simple Solutions

The global crisis cannot be overstressed, especially climate wise. We already believe that we can solve big problems with simple solutions; it does not call for rocket science. But at the same time, we have to be careful with how we bring in the simple solutions not to blow the situation out of proportion.
The other day one article author talked of how near we are to the day when humans will only have to sit out in the sun to make their lunch!(after inserting the chlorophyll gene on our skin) That’s how reductionistic we can go; I mean how possible is that? Bearing in mind the other physiological and anatomical systems of the body.
GMOs will not solve our problems. This is evident in the statistics which show the cost of the technology compared with losses caused by some of the aspects being manipulated by the GMOs.So why not approach the subject with care and sobriety it deserves?

THE KENYA WE DO NOT WANT

Humanity's most sacred possession, its freedom of subjective thought,
action and feeling, will be literally trodden underfoot by people who were
never really in a position to intervene in a positive way. In such a situation
the colours under which these leaders choose to march is quite immaterial,
because the same oppressive drive exists everywhere.
Generally, the inner
perception of the true causes has been lost, and consequently, the last
chance of really effective help. Moreover, those in positions of power, who
are incapable of forming their own opinion, must constantly rely on the
advice of so-called experts who are themselves victims of a universally inferior
education. As a result, they are unable to realize that it is precisely their
advice, and the actions arising from it, which will inevitably transform this
Kenya of ours into a hell, when it could be a paradise.
The hippocracy of our leaders is alarming, we cannot even talk of the grant corruptions.

Time To wonder and Ponder.

Sometimes its inevitable to stop and think why most things tend to remain the same.
This is the case as partains the social and economic sructures in the society especially poverty and behaviour of individual e.g social vices like drug abuse and theft.
Am tempted to think of the gaia theory to explain such but to what level this is justified is subject to debate since it might reduce to the reductionist school of thought.
Its impossible to think of issues in a linear manner especially concerning social issues.

Genetic Determinism

This is a science which has failed the reality test.
Some scientists after understanding the DNA and the gene concluded that an organism is just but the sum total of its genes i.e your genes determine ehat you are, do and even ypur diseases.
But reality proves thet not only does DNA give instrictions, it also gets information from the environment and changes accordingly-fluidity of the genome.
Before Dolly was cloned, they had made Tracy after genetically manipulating her genes so as to produce a certain Amino acid in large quantities but failed to pass the same genes to her offsprings hence the Idea of cloning was born so as to avoid loss of essential genes.
Some genes have been associated with some diseases E.g diabetes,cancer and cystic fibroids to mention but a few.But reality has proven that environment plays a part for disease development.
So genetic determinism is fundamentally wrong.

Genetic engineering

This guys talking of genetic engineering as the only technolgy to feed the world.
This is a case of genetic determinism which is imposible considering that genes do not function alone but are influenced by very many other interelated factors. This means that even if you transfer the genes this does not mean they will function as in their previous niche.
This is true considering that different genes provoke different reaction in different individuals.
Therefore its better we approach these issues bearing in mind the wholeness of cells.
If we have the principles wrong i.e our research paradigms revolve around the wrong assumptions it means everything we do will be wrong.