Field Attachment Report

Public International Law (University of Nairobi)

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 FIELD ATTACHMENT REPORT
YEAR: 2021
CENTRE: BOMACHOGE CHACHE SUB COUNTY (OGEMBO)
PRESENTED BY:
NAME: CALVIN MARTIN MANONO
REG NO: A83/5262/2019.
COURSE CODE:A83
FOR PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF A DEGREE IN BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN
AGRICULTURE EDUCATION AND EXTENSION.

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Table of Contents
PREFACE.......................................................................................................................................iii
DECLARATION..............................................................................................................................iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT...................................................................................................................v
ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................................vi
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONAMES..............................................................................vii
1.0 CHAPTER ONE...........................................................................................................................viii
1.1 INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................viii
1.1.1 BACKROUND INFORMATION.........................................................................................viii
1.1.2. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS AND AGRO ECOLOGICAL ZONES.............................................viii
1.1.3 STATE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION..........................................................................ix
1.1.4 MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE BROAD OBJECTIVES, VALUES AND COMPONENTS............ix
1.1.5 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND LINES OF AUTHORITY............................................x
1.2 DUTIES OF DIFFERENT CATEGORIES EXTENSION OFFICERS..............................................xi
1.3 EXTENSION PROGRAMMES AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES WITHIN
THE SUB COUNTY...................................................................................................................xiii
1.4 Extension agencies/providers active in the sub county...................................................xv
1.5 EXTENSION PLANNING, EXTENSION TEACHING METHODS AND APPROACHES............xviii
2.0 CHAPTER TWO........................................................................................................................xxv
2.1........................................................................................................................................... STAT
E OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION......................................................................................xxv
2.1.1 FISH PRODUCTION.........................................................................................................xxv
3.0 CHAPTER THREE....................................................................................................................xxvii
3.1......................................................................................................................................... LIVES
TOCK PRODUCTION............................................................................................................xxvii
3.1.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................xxvii
3.1.2 LIVERSTOCT IMPROVEMENT AND BREEDING............................................................xxviii
3.1.3 CREDIT AND LOANS....................................................................................................xxviii
3.1.4 MAJOR TECHNOLOGIES DISSEMINATED......................................................................xxix
3.1.5 DAIRY PRODUCTION....................................................................................................xxix
3.1.6 PIG AND BEEF PRODUCTION.......................................................................................xxix

3.1.7 RABBITS PRODUCTION AND POULTRY PRODUCTION...................................................xxx

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 3.1.8 BEE KEEPING.................................................................................................................xxx
3.1.9 MARKETING OF LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS......................................................................xxxi
4.0 CHAPTER FOUR......................................................................................................................xxxii
4.1 CROPS PRODUCTION IN BOMACHOGE CHACHE SUB COUNTY.........................................xxxii
4.1.1 BANANA PRODUCTION...............................................................................................xxxii
4.1.2 TEA FARMING IN THE SUB COUNTY..........................................................................xxxiv
4.1.4 VEGETABLE PRODUCTION.........................................................................................xxxvii
5.0 CHAPTER FIVE.....................................................................................................................xxxviii
5.1 CROSS CUTTING ISSUES..................................................................................................xxxviii
5.1.1 GENDER....................................................................................................................xxxviii
5.1.2 HIV/ AIDS..................................................................................................................xxxviii
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS..............................................................................xxxix
CONLUSION.........................................................................................................................xxxix
RECOMMENDATIONS..........................................................................................................xxxix
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................xl

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 PREFACE

Pwani university is among the public institutions which sends students to field attachment. The
purpose of the field attachment is to provide opportunities for students to practice the knowledge
and skills acquired in real life working environment. Field attachment also instills students with
the right skills, attitudes, collaboration and interpersonal skills as well as professionalism through
interaction with others in the working environment. In agricultural resource management, field
attachment boosts Agricultural resource management students competence in their area of
specialization . It also provides agricultural resource management students with an opportunity to
market their skills, professions and the university.
The duration of the attachment was Eight weeks in the months of June and July for those
undertaking a Degree in Agricultural Resource Management. The attachment fine-tuned me to the
facts theoretically covered, to full comprehension and applicability in the outside world and also
gave an exposition to the matters that are found wanting in their entirety in the coverage of class
work.

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 DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this report is my original work compiled after 8 weeks period of attachment
from 14th June to 6th August 2021, at BOMACHOGE CHACHE SUB COUNTY(Ogembo) in
KISII COUNTY and has never been presented for any award at any other university.

Name of the student: CALVIN MARTIN MANONO

REG NO. A83/5262/2019
Signature……………………………………….
Date…………………………………………….

Name of the supervisor: Mr. Moses O. Mecheo

Designation: Sub county Holticultural Officer
Signature………………………………………
Date……………………………………………

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I wish to acknowledge the consistent support of my lecturers during the initial preparations and
couching on field attachment at the university. I also thank my parents for timely support in both
moral and financial support. My gratitude goes to the sub county agricultural team especially Mr.
Moses Mecheo who is the sub county holticultural officer for his tireless effort in guiding me to
identify various targeted farmers, groups and institutions during my stay in the institution and
towards compilation of this report. I would also like to acknowledge Mr. Jepherson Kibagendi
who is the ward extension officer in boochi tendere ward for helping me in identifying target
farmer groups dealing with different crops and livestock enterprises. Mr. Mwangi, who is the
livestock production officer and Mr. Ouma, who is the fisheries officer in the sub county for
giving me information on the state of livestock and fish production respectively. I also wish to
acknowledge Mr. Ogendo who is the sub county agricultural officer ( SCAO) for his invaluable
support in organizing for field days and provision of means of transport to the fields. The same
goes to Mr. Charles Nyagesiba, who is the department of agriculture’s secretary for making the
office records, annual and quarterly reports available to me for reference purposes whenever I
needed them.

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 ABSTRACT
Field attachment is very important to both public and private institutions of higher learning and
the students .It is important as it provides opportunities for students to put into practice the
knowledge and skills acquired in the real life working environment. It also boosts the student’s
competency in their respective areas of specialization thereby shortening the on job training
requirements in their future respective working environments. The ministry of agriculture of
Bomachoge chache Sub County is a government institution which offers extension services to
local farmers. The ministry has a mandate to promote and facilitate production of food and
agricultural raw materials for food security and income; advance agro based industries and
agricultural exports and enhance sustainable use of various resources as a basis for agricultural
enterprise.

During the 8 weeks of my attachment in the institution I was instilled with skills such
communication skills by learning on how to create rapport and good relationship with farmers
and my colleagues through a number of interactions in the fields and interaction with my
colleagues in the office . I was also able to collect information and learn about the previous
and on- going extension programmes in the sub-County, their objectives, targets and
achievements during their implementation period. Such extension extension programmes
included the Njaa Marufuku Kenya which had an objective to increase food security and
reduce the number of people suffering from hunger . the current extension policy in the sub
county is the ASDSP. Through farm visits , field days and attending an agricultural show , I also
learnt about the extension teaching methods used by the extension personel use to reach
farmers and the stakeholders such as input suppliers , agrochemical companies and research
institutions which work in collaboration to improve agricultural production in the sub county. I
was also able to assess the state of both crop and livestock production in the sub county ,
constraints and challenges in both crop and livestock production and the challenges faced by
both the farmers , extension agents and other stakeholders . I was also able to collect
information on the cross

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cutting issues in extension. Such mainstreaming issues include gender, HIV/AIDS, drug and
substance abuse and environmental conservation

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONAMES

1. SCAO : (SUB COUNTY AGRICULTURAL OFFICER)

2. SCCO : (SUB COUNTY CROPS OFFICER)

3. SCAE : (SUB COUNTY AGRICULTURAL ENGINEER)

4. SCADO: (SUB COUNTY AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER)

5 .SCLPO:(SUB COUNTY LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION OFFICER)
6. WAEO:(WARD AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION OFFICER)
7. NALEP:(NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION PROGRAMME)

8. NMK:(NJAA MARUFUKU KENYA)

9. SHoMaP:(SmallHOLDER HORTICULTURAL MARKETING STRATEGY)

10. NAAIAP:(NATIONAL ACCELERATED AGRICULTURAL INPUT ACCES)

11. ASDSP:(AGRICULTURAL SECTOR DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT PROGRAMME)

12. MOA:(MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE)

13. SGHs:(SELF HELP GROUPS)

14. DAP:(DIAMMONIUM AMMONIUM PHOSPHATE)

15. KALRO:(KENYA AGRICULTURAL & LIVESTOCK RESEARCH ORGANIZATION)

16. CAN:(CALCIUM AMMONIUMNITRATE)

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 1.0 CHAPTER ONE

1.1 INTRODUCTION

1.1.1 BACKROUND INFORMATION

Gucha is found in Kisii County. It covers an area of 10630 hectares with a population of about
106,720 people {2019 census} and an arable land of about 9600 hectares. The sub county has
three wards which include Boochi/ Tendere, Sengera/ Bosoti and Machoge Bassi . The sub
county has three locations, ten sublocations,3 extension units and 15,528 farm holdings. The
area under crop is about 6300hactares.The people are agricultural in occupation mainly
subsistent with a fast growing interest in commercial agriculture. The main economic activity in
agronomy include; tea farming and processing, coffee growing and processing, banana growing
, pineapple growing and maize farming

The bulk of land is owned by individuals who are issued with title deeds. However most title are still
under the names of parents ,a situation that makes it difficult to use such assets as a collateral
to acquire credit .Immense population pressure on land has resulted in land fragmentation thus
reducing the available arable land

1.1.2. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS AND AGRO ECOLOGICAL ZONES

Rainfall is bimodal and adequate. The areas receives rain in two seasons long rains which are
experienced between February and June and short rains which are experienced between august

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and December .The district has one major distinct agro ecological zone;um1 [upper midland
zone 1 or tea/ dairy zone].the other minor zone islm1[ lower midland zone or sugarcane zone]
which is insignificant. Undulating topography with several noticeable hills and valleys mainly in
the southern parts with an altitude ranging from 1460 to 2100.The soils are deep to very deep
friable clays .the soil types are mainly nit sols and phaezems. The inherent soil fertility is on
decline because of continuous cropping with little or no replenishment. Recent research which
was carried out in Ogembo showed that soils have generally become acidic some to as low as
PH4.This has been attributed to low levels of organic matter, continuous use of DAP fertilizer
without the accompanying of topdressing with CAN. Use of tea fertilizer in maize production
has also been implicated. Relative humidity; the highest is 91.0% and the lowest is 68.0%

1.1.3 STATE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

The main food crops grown in the sub-county includes; maize, beans, finger millets, sweet
potatoes. Various vegetables such as: kales ,tomatoes, cabbages, passion fruits and Irish
potatoes are also grown. The main cash crops includes: tea, coffee, pyrethrum and chewing
cane. The main livestock enterprises within the sub county include; Dairy, indigenenous and
exotic poultry, dual purpose cattle and bee keeping .sheep and goats are also kept but in small
numbers per farm. Pigs and other poultry breeds are kept by isolated farmers.

Crop produce and livestock are both sold at the markets within the districts as well as outside
the districts. Bananas, finger millets, chewing cane, fruits and vegetables, commonly sold in
outside markets. Readily available markets include:, kisii, rongo, migori, rannen, riosiri and
other numerous upcoming centres in Gucha district. Among the crops commodities brought in
from outside include: maize, beans, cassava chips, potatoes, cabbages, mangoes, citrus fruits,
pears, pineapples. Livestock commodities; millk, eggs, beef cattle for slaughter, honey fish,
indigenous chicken, goats for slaughter.

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1.1.4 MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE BROAD OBJECTIVES, VALUES AND COMPONENTS
MANDATE

The ministry of agriculture South Gucha sub county mandate is to promote and facilitate
production and agricultural raw materials for food security and incomes ;advance agro based
industries and agricultural exports; and enhance sustainable use of land resources as a basis for
agricultural enterprise.

VISION

To be a leading agent towards achievement of food security for all, employment creation,
income generation and poverty reduction in Kenya

CORE VALUES

The core values of the ministry of agriculture South Gucha include;

✓ Professionalism
✓ Accountability
✓ Commitment
✓ Efficiency and responsiveness
✓ Partnerships
=gender equity

CORE FUNCTIONS

• Formulation, implementation and monitoring of agricultural legislations,

regulations and policies
• Provision of agricultural extension services
• Supporting agricultural research and promoting technology transfer/transfer;
• Facilitating and representing agricultural state corporations in the government;
• Development, implementation and coordination of programmers in the
agriculture sector;
• Regulating and quality control of pests and and diseases in crops;

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 • Promoting management and conservation of the natural resources base for
agriculture Collecting, maintaining and managing information on agriculture sector

1.1.5 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND LINES OF AUTHORITY

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER [ECM]

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE MINISTRY OF LIVESTOCK (MOL)COOPERATIVE FISHERIES

COUNTY DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE ( CDA)

CROPS AGRIBUSINESS ENVIRONMENT HOME - ECONOMICS

SUB-COUNTY AGRICULTURAL OFFICER [SCAO]

SPECIAL MATTER SPECIALIST (SMSA) GRIBUSINESS ENVIRONMENT HOME-ECONOMICS

WARD AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION OFFICER (WAEO)

The ministry consists of the sub county agricultural officer [SCAO], the sub county crops officers
[SCCO]Sub county agricultural engineer [SCAE], the sub county agribusiness development
officer [SCADO], the sub county livestock production officer [SCLPO] and the ward agricultural
extension officer [WAEO].

The SCAO is the chief agricultural officer within the sub county as he/she is involved in
implementation of agricultural policies ,projects and harmonization of programmes in the sub
county.

The SCAO, SCAE, SCADO and the WAEO reports to the SCAO based responsibilities in the different
departments in which they play their roles respectively

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1.2 DUTIES OF DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF EXTENSION OFFICERS

1.2.1 THE SUBCOUNTY AGRICULTURAL OFFICER

The SCAO plays roles such as Implementation of agricultural policies within the sub county,
Harmonization of extension approaches and methodologies of various projects or programmes
in liaison with all stakeholders in the sub county. He or she is Member to various relevant
boards and committees, secretary to the sub county agricultural committee [SCAC]. He is also
involved in Organization and management of resources in the sub county. Oversees the
operation of ATCs in the sub county, Coordinates preparation and implementation of work
plans and budgets, Promotes collaboration among stakeholders in delivery of agricultural
services, Coordinates and organizes of field days and exhibitions and also coordinates
preparation of periodic reports.

1.2.2 SUB COUNTY AGRICULTURAL ENGINEER

Reporting to the SCAO, the sub county the SCAE is responsible for; implementing of
environmental, agro-processing and land development projects and programs and strategies in
the sub county. He/she pays a role in capacity building and backstopping on riverbank
protection, land use development, urban and peri-urban agriculture ,environment
management, soil and water management. The SCAE also plays a role in water harvesting
techniques promotion, participate in monitoring and evaluation agricultural projects and
programs, collects, analyses, stores and disseminates information on environmental and land
development within the sub county. He/she also liaises with the principals of ATCs in the
development of training package on environment, agroforestry and land development. He is
also involved in the soil fertility management activities in the sub county.

1.2.3 SUB COUNTY CROPS OFFICER

Reporting to the SCAO the SCCO is responsible for: implementing crop development
programs in the sub county, capacity building and backstopping on crop management and
development, participates in monitoring and evaluation of agricultural programs in the sub
county. He/she also collects analyses stores and disseminates crop information, promotes
emerging crops
,monitors migration of pests ,promoting compliances to standards of crops production, liaises

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with principals of ATC in development of training package on crop production ,asses food
requirements deficits ,post harvest losses and establish production trends. He/she
participates in field days ,exhibitions and shows, prepares and implements work plans and
budgets.

1.2.4 SUBCOUNTY AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Reporting to the SCAO, The SCADO has many responsibilities including: coordination of
implementation of projects and programs related to agribusiness development in the sub
county, promoting holistic approaches to farm business development, establishing farming
systems and land use patterns in the sub county, establishing economic performance trends of
major enterprises in the sub county, helps in capacity building and backstopping in
agribusiness issues ,disseminates information on input availability, quality and prices. The
SCADO is also responsible in the formation of producer market groups ,promoting and
monitoring cross border trade and also prioritizing potential areas for business development
within the sub county. The SCDADO also monitors agricultural credit levels of lending
agricultural finance corporation [AFC] and other financial institutions, promotes collaboration
in agribusiness development and also compiles sectorial periodic reports

1.2.5 WARD AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION OFFICER

The ward agricultural extension officer implements agricultural programs and projects in the
ward .he/she are also the secretary to the sub county agricultural committee [SUB SCAC] at
the ward. The WAEO also tasked to capacity build farmer in formation by organizing
consultative for a with various stakeholders and collaboration The WAEO also implements
work plans, budgets and performance contracts within the sub county and finally he/ she is
participate in agricultural shows and exhibitions so that they can access new technologies and
information for them to disseminate to local farmers in their respective wards

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1.3 EXTENSION PROGRAMMES AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMMES WITHIN THE SUB COUNTY

1.3.1 NATIONAL AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK EXTRAMENSION PROGRAMME

NALEP is one of the past extension programmes which was developed and implemented in
many parts of the country. The programme was developed in the former Gucha district
between the year 2008 -2010.the main objectives of the program was to promote demand
driven extension services and to increase agricultural productivity and empower farmers. The
program was funded by government of Kenya via the ministry of agriculture in which the
former Gucha district received about 2-3 million shillings with the two years of its operation

The program targeted to reach about 24000 farmers by creating about 80 common interest
groups and organize about 17 farmer field days. At the end of the implementation period a
good number of common interest groups were formed, the extension officers organized and
carried out 17 farmer for 7 field days .they reached and trained about 22,213 farmers

1.3.2 NJAA MARUFUKU KENYA

It was also developed with the main objective of increasing food security and reduce the
number of people who were living and suffering from hunger. It was also funded by the
government of Kenya .it was projected to cover the whole district, proposals were to be
vetted and submitted to the secretariat and farmer groups were to be formed and a few
groups were to be funded and trained

The program was efficient in its operation and implementation as about 20 proposals were vet
and submitted to the secretariat .this resulted to training and funding of farmer groups .for
instance 7 farmer groups and Kenyenya farmers cooperative society was funded and trained on
tomato production , soya processing and dairy farmers were also funded.

1.3.3 SMALLHOLDER HORTICULTURAL MARKETING PROGRAMMES [SHoMaP]

This was mainly developed to improve marketing of domestic horticultural produce. Its main
goal was to increase incomes and reduce poverty among poor rural households in medium and

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high potential farming areas and also increase health and welfare of Kenyans by increasing the
quality of horticultural produced within the county

The program let to formation of 6 sub committees and they were operationalized, 6
stakeholders were effectively mobilized, 10 farmer groups were mobilized for pilot initiatives
of which 15 were trained. The proposals for market improvement were forwarded for
consideration .through the initiative of the program 1 minor proposal for roads improvement
was forwarded for consideration and 10 proposals were vetted and forwarded for
consideration, 2 of them were approved for funding and 19 officers were trained

1.3.4 NATIONAL ACCELERATED AGRICULTURAL INPUT ACCESS PROGRAMMES [NAAIAP]

Was also developed within the same period as NALEP and its main objective was to enable
vulnerable members of the society to acquire inputs to increase food production

The program targeted to reach 1000 farmers .by the end of extension period,1000 farmers were
supplied with inputs as a kick start to improved food production in kenyenya nyacheki and
sameta divisions.10 stockists were also sensitized on the programme

1.3.5 THE TRADITIONAL FOOD CROP PRODUCTION PROGRAMME

Is one of the oldest extension programs in Kenya. Its main objective was to enable food crop
diversification of food crops to ensure food security in the face of the ever changing climatic
patterns .The program was effective in that during its implementation 20 bags of sweet potato
vines and 10 bags of cassava cuttings were distributed to farmers for multiplication, 5 acres of
potato and 3 acres of cassava was also planted. The programme is still on going in some parts
of the county. Farmers get advisory services in food crop production such as some farmers in
boochi tendere ward, kebere village where some farmers practice production of new varieties
of sweet potato [vita and carbode]

1.3.6 AGRICULTURAL SECTOR DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT PROGRAMME [ASDSP]

ASDSP is the current extension programme in Kenya, based on the Agriculture Sector
Development Strategy [ASDS] that was set to run between the year 2009 and 2020 .The
program was launched in 2012 and took over from NALEP 2.The overall goal of ASDSP is to

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support the transformation of Kenya’s agricultural sector into an innovative,
commercially oriented ,competitive and modern industry that will contribute to poverty
reduction and improved food security in rural and urban Kenya

The vision of the sector is; a food secure and prosperous nation. The overall goal is to achieve
an average growth rate of 7% per year over the next 5 years .the strategic mission for the
sector is an innovative and commercially oriented and modern agriculture

The overall development and growth of the sector is anchored in the following two strategic
thrusts: increasing productivity, commercialization and competitiveness of the agricultural and
commodities and enterprises and developing and managing key factors of production. The
ASDSP has the following targets :reduction of people living below absolute poverty lines to less
than 25 percent to achieve the first MDG, reduction of food security by 30 percent to surpass
the MDGs ,increase in the contribution of agriculture to the GDP by more than Kshs 80 billion
per year as set out in the vision 2030,divesture in all state corporations dealing with
production, processing and marketing that can be better done by the private sector and finally
reforms in and streamlining of agricultural services such as research, extension and regulatory
institutions so as to be the most effective and efficient. The extension policy has not been
implemented fully in most parts of the country. If measures are going to be taken to help
implement the policy, agricultural production will be boosted and the key targets such poverty
reduction, reduction of food insecurity and increase in contribution of agriculture to the Gross
Domestic Product.

1.4 Extension agencies/providers active in the sub county

1.4.1 Ministry of agriculture

The is the lead public institution with overall mandate to promote agricultural development. It
provides comprehensive extension in all aspects of crop, livestock development ,soil and water
conservation , farm management and home economics. It also runs rural youth programmes
intended to create interest, educate, and improve attitudes amongst youth school age towards
farming

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In Bomachoge chache sub county the MOA offers extension services to rural people with the
help of its extension agents deployed in departments of agriculture, livestock production
,fisheries and veterinary services. The agents have identified farmer groups in different location
and wards .they use these common interest groups to disseminate new technologies and
advisory services to farmers

1.4.2 Agrochemical companies

These are companies which supply chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and
fungicides. They also help in extending knowledge of disease and pest control to farmers. Such
companies include green life crop protection. Green life crop protection for instance is the
most common agrochemical company which reaches farmers via its extension agents in the
sub county. They organize field days to advise farmers on how to prevent major crop pests
such as the fall army worm, African army worm, bean flies and other crop pests. In a field day
which was organized by OCP Africa in collaboration with the ministry of agriculture bomachoge
chache sub county in sengera bosoti ward ,the agent showed the farmers different
developmental stages of the fall army worm which are destructive ; he also gave them both
chemical and cultural control measures .farmers were also advised on management and
control of the bean angular leaf spot which is caused by a fungus .they were told that the
disease is favored by warm temperatures about 25 degree centigrade and the most important
diagnostic feature of the disease being the striking angularity of the spots on the leaves .they
were advised to use fungicides such as CHARIOT 500C ,MEGAPRODO LOCK 525WP AND
PYRAMID 700WP.

GREENLIFE also taught farmers on how control bean fly which is a major pest of beans by use
of chemicals such as KINGCODE ELITE 50 EC , LEXUS 247 SC and PRESENTO 200SP.they also
advise farmers to used copper based fungicides such as GREEENCOP 500NP ,TRINITY GOLD ,
and colonizer in control of bacterial diseases in vegetables such as bacterial wilt in tomatoes.

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1.4.3 INPUT SUPPLIERS
These provide limited advice o the use and application of agricultural inputs or equipments
that they sell to farmers. They are more of a marketing strategy than extension officers. They
occasionally organize field days. Large companies deploy field officers or agents in many cases
to establish regular presence. input suppliers in Bomachoge chache sub county include ; Kenya
seed company limited which deals with distribution of hybrid maize , wheat , grain , pasture
seeds and sundry seeds. other input suppliers include western seed company which deals
maize seeds , cooper Kenya TSM , OCP Africa which has come up with newly formulated
fertilizer “ NPS , NPKBNZ’ and DAP”.in maize production . The company organized for a field
day on 12 July 2017 at sengera bosoti ward to demonstrate how maize performs under a
newly formulated fertilizer.

1.4.4 RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS

Kenya agricultural and livestock research organization; Is an institution under the public sector
extension organization which is funded by the government through the ministry of agriculture.
The main purpose of KALRO is to conduct research in various field of agriculture such as crop
and livestock production. For instance KALRO kisii in collaboration with MOA and AFRICA
harvest carried out research I banana production and came up with tissue culture bananas
which they supplied to farmers in different sub counties within kisii county in order to boost
banana production in the region.

1.4.5 NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS

Africa harvest with funding from KHCP and USAID initiated projects to reverse productivity
decline in banana production. In collaboration with the county government, MOA and KALRO;
Africa harvest executed the programme of advising farmers to adopt new technologies in
agriculture such as use of tissue culture red banana .Africa harvest working with existing farmer
groups, it also partnered with other players in the banana value chain such as MOA, chiefs to
identify farmer groups that had interest in banana production

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Africa harvest continued to drum up banana seedling access and green banana marketing
activities among the beneficiaries. This led to a good number of farmers earning some income
from banana.

Other NGO’S include one acre fund which also helps farmers to form groups to acquire inputs
practice small scale agricultural production as producer groups and help them market their
produce

1.4.6 FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Famers in bomachoge chache Sub County get loans to aid them in their farming activities .The
major financial lending institution witin the sub county is the Wakenya Pamoja Sacco Society
Limited Which has a mission of increasing stakeholders wealth through viable and sustainable
investments built upon a foundation of invention and financial strength.

Wakenya gives different types of loan products to farmers ranging from : AGRICULTURAL
LOANS in which for a farmer to be eligible for such loan he/she has to be a farmer and a
member , the crop he/she produces proceeds to be processed via the sacco. This kind of loans
are common to small scale tea farmers within the sub county.

Group based loans targets members who have registered with self help groups such as Kebere
self help group in boochi tendere ward.

Other accounts include: Ukulima savings account which is a transaction account, okoa account
targeting farmers not in the main stream banking and okoa main which targets all farmers in
the main stream banking. Digital Account targeting individual savers especially the youth and
women

Most extension programmes such as NALEP and ASDPS are funded by the government
through the ministry of agriculture livestock and fisheries. The county government also
allocates budget to help in learning extension services in different sub counties

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1.5 EXTENSION PLANNING, EXTENSION TEACHING METHODS AND APPROACHES

1.5.1 INTRODUTION.
An extension programmed refers to a statement of purpose and objectives of an extension
service as well as to activities to be carried out in order to achieve the objectives. Extension
planning refers refers to continuous series of activities and operations leading to development
of a definite plan of action to accomplish its way to identify and to move towards future state.

The sub county agricultural officer uses a participatory approach in the process of planning and
developing extension programmes as he involves both the sub county staff in various
departments , the ward extension officers and farmers in in analyzing the agricultural situations
, identifying problems coming with objectives , developing work plans , implementation of the
plans and evaluation of the plans In order to ensure that there is sustainability of the projects or
programme in cases where some stakeholders pull out before completion of the programme.
During extension programmes or projects implementation various methods are used to reach
farmers ; the methods include group methods such as demonstrations, field days ,seminars
workshops, shows and exhibitions ; individual methods such as individual farm visits and
farmers visiting sub county agriculture offices ; mass methods used to reach large groups of
people by use of mass media.

1.5.2 INDIVIDUAL METHODS

They include farm and home visits, office calls, telephone calls, personal letters and informal
contacts .individual methods involve personal [one to one] communication between the
extension officer and the individual farmer. The personal influence of the extension worker is
vital force in securing cooperation and participation in extension activities and adoption of
improved practices on the farm and in the home

Individual farm visits are the most common and most effective extension teaching methods in
the sub county as it is difficult for extension officers to trace group of farmers with common
interest’s .Extension officers visit individual farmers in their farms to introduce them to new
technologies and help them come up with solutions to challenges and constraints in
agricultural production.

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We carried out a number of individual farm visits in different wards within the sub county
including a farm visit to Mr. Otwere’s farm at misesi village in boochi tendere ward where
were able to learn the challenges that small scale farmers was facing in the dairy production
more especially the mastitis disease, we educated the farmer on the control measures of the
disease.

Farmers in the sub county made office calls visited the sub county agriculture offices to get
advisory services from different extension personnel in various departments, others relied on
telephone calls to help the address emergencies and others even often wrote personal letters to
the SCAO.

Individual methods were more effective in that; by working individually with the clientele we
able to learn the people of the area, their thoughts, their needs and even able to know how
they lived. Also by working individually with the clientele we were able to create a personal
bond with individuals and the community and also helped to nurture our credibility and
integrity.

1.5.3 GROUP METHODS

They include meetings, demonstrations, tours, field trips, group discussions field day’s seminars
workshops, shows, exhibitions and farmer cig trainings. Group methods are effective in moving
people from the interest stages to the trial stages of the adoption process. The group members
also influence one another to proceed to the adoption stage, when the reaction of the majority
towards the trial is favorable.

Field days

KISII FARMERS EXPO AND TRADE FAIR in collaboration with the county under the ministry of
agriculture organized for a farmer field day which was held in kisii university grounds on
Wednesday 25th September 2019 .The main theme was promoting innovation and technology in
agriculture and trade. There were so many agricultural organizations for various departments
including livestock department, crop department on various sections, fisheries department,
apiculture department, whereby they demonstrated to farmers on how they can improve their

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agricultural output through the applying of modern technology of agriculture. Also the sub
county officers arranged the field visit to getuki village where we demonstrated to farmers on
the establishment of the avocados. Also we carried a visit to kebere village to Mr .Nyakundi
who doing fish farming whereby we demonstrated to him on the proper hygiene management
of the fish pond.

SHOWS

Agricultural society of Kenya 9( A.S.K) organizes for shows In different parts of the country. The
society is a non political body concerned with encouraging and promoting agriculture .Its
principle activities are the staging of the 16 shows and ploughing contest as held annually in
Kenya . It also organizes for visits for its members to the government experimental stations,
farming areas and many other organizations of interest to the farming community and the
public in general.

In a country such as Kenya which its economy depends on agriculture and it is an allied
trade, there can be a few people who find nothing to interest then in the ASK many other
activities; these include sponsoring young farmers club , the Kenya study book and granting
agricultural bursaries and sponsorships among others. ASK also has an objective to promote
research and extension services in agriculture, trade and allied sectors.

International organizations such as Biotech foundation international exhibited their new

technologies in food crop production value addition with a mission of integrating farming
systems in order to ensure sustainable livelihood for smallholder farmers in east Africa

Farmer groups such as omoringamu women group showed how they value added bananas to
make crisps, flour and other pastries. Nyangorora banana processing group which has been in
the business for the past three years also showed their products which include banana wine ,
banana juice , jams ,and pastries such as breads cakes and buns. OCP Africa used a
demonstrations maize field which they had prepared next to the show ground to farmers how
maize performed under a newly formulated fertilizer(NPK fertilizer).

BARAZAS

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This is one of the most effective extensions teaching method in the sub county .the extension
officers request local leaders such as chiefs to help them gather people when they have new
technologies or disease outbreak emergencies.

I attended a farmer baraza together with my supervisor at Bosoti sengera ward and taught the
farmers on how to control the emergent pest (fall armyworm ) which had become the most
serious pest in cereal crop production .

Greenlife crop protection, an agrochemical company also attended the baraza where they
marketed their pesticides which control the army worm

Jiinue women group also attended the baraza where they displayed their locally value added
products such as banana crisps , banana flour , chapattis and mandazi made from a mixture of
banana flour and wheat flour. They also taught other farmers on how they made flour out of
the orange sweet potato and the various products made of the carbode flour . they also
showed how they used indigenous knowledge to preserve milking gourds

1.5.4 MASS METHODS

Mass methods are used to reach a number of people quickly since personal and group
methods cannot reach everyone who wants and needs information. These methods are
particularly useful In making large number of people aware of new ideas and practices or
alerting them to sudden emergencies. while the amount of detailed information is limited that
we can transmit through mass media they will serve an important and valuable function in
stimulating farmers interest in new ideas . Once they are made aware or stimulated through
mass media farmers seek additional information from neighbors , friends , extension workers
and progressive farmers in the area.

Although mass methods are important for making people aware of innovations and stimulating
their interest they have little direct influence when finally it is time to make a decision. They
have the effect of changing people’s knowledge but rarely bring about changes in behavior by
themselves. They include radios, televisions, newspapers, magazines, posters, exhibits, films,
and printed material, internet and mobile phones.

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In bomachoge chache mass methods are not commonly used .the most used form of mass
media include posters for advertisement or inviting farmers to attend field days .extension
officers use media forms such as radios , televisions and newspapers to advertise new
technologies in agriculture, emerging pests and diseases; they also give some advisory services
to farmers through local stations . An example is the mosanto seed company which uses local
radio station ‘Egesa’ Fm in advertising their maize hybrid seeds.

Magazines, newspapers and other forms of printed material are also being used to disseminate
research information and new technologies to farmers. The use of internet and other forms of
social media is not common as the numbers of farmers who have a ready access to electronic
gadgets with internet facilities are few and the county has not invested much in information
technology.

1.5.5 COMMODITY PRODUTION/COMMODITY BASED EXTENSION APPROACH

This involves farmers who are engaged in specific commodity usually of high value for example
tea.The extension service is provided by a company that is interested in the production of a
particular commodity. In bomachoge chache sub county the approach is mainly used in tea
production, processing and marketing. The Kenya tea development authority [KTDA] has
entered into a contract with the local farmers, whereby farmers commit themselves to
produce the commodity using specified techniques and inputs. The company commits itself to
buy the green tea at an agreed price. The extension is provided as a package which include
inputs provided by the company [KTDA] to farmers as well as marketing [technology transfers]
and other agricultural services

In Bomachoge chache sub county KTDA has a processing factory which is based at tendere
.they collect green tea from farmers from various buying centers within the sub county, they
process it made tea grade it and sell to consumers . Farmers are paid their incomes and
bonuses and they also get inputs such as subsidized fertilizer which is offered to them annually
as a package

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 2.0 CHAPTER TWO

2.1. STATE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

2.1.1 FISH PRODUCTION

Fish farming is rarely practiced in bomachoge chache sub county as there are a few farmers who
have developed interest and ventured in fish farming as a business. two species of fish; tilapia
and cat fish are commonly reared due to their perceived high prolificacy and adaptability.
Tilapia ( Olecromis niloticus ) is the most common preferred by farmers in the sub county .
farmers source their fingerings from fish hatcheries which are found in counties bordering the
lake region

2.1.2 Fish culturing systems

Farmers in the sub county employ different types of culture systems depending on the
management practices required on the pond, fish species being reared and sex of fish being
stocked. The systems ranges from extensive, semi intensive, intensive and super intensive
based on management practices carried out in the ponds. Monoculture and polyculture
systems based on the species being and lastly mixed verses mono sex system based on the
sex of fish being stocked in ponds.

In extensive systems of fish rearing there is interventions as the fingerings/fish are supplied
with quality feed and fertilization is done to enabe growth of zooplanktons and
phytoplanktons hence the stocking rate is high as compared to extensive systems. Intensive
systems usually has a high stocking rate as most management practices such as water level
control are automated and controlled.

The super intensive system which is mostly practiced in developed countries such as china uses
modern technologies to control aeration ,use of auto feeders, temperature regulation
mechanisms has led to fish farming in china to grow as a business due to super stocking and
faster growth rates .Monoculuring where only one species of fish is stocked (commonly
tilapia)is a malor rearing system .Also some farmers practice polyculturing where they stock
both tilapia and cat fish in the same pond. Farmers are advised by extension officers to
practice

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monoculture system of tilapia (male)as they grow faster and attain market price faster as
compared to other systems such as mixed systems .Female fish usually have a slow growth
rate as most at the food is used for production rather than growth.

2.1.3 CHALLENGES FACING FISH PRODUCTION IN THE SUB COUNTY

Diseases are rare in fish production but some of the predisposing factors such as poor water
quality, poor nutrition, not cleaning the pond and immune system depression can trigger
contagious and non – contagious infections which often leads to deaths hence bringing losses
to the farmer.

Extension agents ratio to farmers is really demanding; there is a large number of farmers
withi the sub county who require advisory services in fish production from the extension
officers with technical knowledge in fish farming.

The extension

officers also lack appropriate modes of transport to enable them reach the rural farmers as
most roads within the sub county are impassable especially during rains .other challenges in
the fish production industry within the sub county include ; poor infrastructure , diminishing
size of land , farmers lacking funds to purchase fingerings and establish fish farms . Farmers
also travel long distances to search for fingerings as there are no fish hatchery units in the sub
county.

2.1.4 FISH MARKETING AND VALUE ADDITION

A good number of fish sold within the sub county is imported from various counties within the
lake region. The readily available markets include; sengera , egetuki , ogembo , and ikoba.

Because fish farming is a small scale farming enterprise within the sub county, there are no
industries responsible in value adding fish. Farmers usually use traditional methods of food
preservation such as sun drying, salting and use of smoke to dry and preserve fish before
transporting them to the nearby markets

Some farmer groups formed such as KECOTO who deal with multiple enterprises in crop,
livestock and fish production and marketing are currently trying to move towards modern

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methods of preservation but due to difficulties in getting loans and grants from financial
institutions it has not been an easy task hence fish has registered a decrease trend in production
over the recent past.

3.0 CHAPTER THREE

3.1 LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION

3.1.1 Introduction
As per the annual report for the calendar year 2011 , mos livestock enterprises such as dairy ,
zebu cattle , indigenous poultry production , local goats , dairy goats , rabbits and sheep
registered a tremendous increase in production while other enterprises such as exotic beef
production layers , gees and honey bee ( apiculture) registered a decrease trend in production.

Table 1.1

Livestock production trend for the years (2016,2017 & 2018) in South Gucha.

TYPE OF 2011 2010 2009

LIVESTOCK

YEAR

CATTLE Dairy 5363 5256 5149

Zebu 5857 5797 5740

POULTRY Indigenous 26383 25644 24905

Layers 5109 6850 5349

Turkeys 144 134 132

GOATS Local 6196 5948 5700

Dairy 19 16 12

BEEHIVES KTBH 59 179 160

Others 18 38 28

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RABBITS 141 139 136

3.1.2 LIVERSTOCT IMPROVEMENT AND BREEDING

Most farmers use bulls in their breeding programmes as compared to a few who use artificial
insemination which expensive as compared to the use of bulls. Artificial insemination cost 1000
shillings per service while the bulls cost 500 shillings per service. Some farmers also import their
dairy breeding stock from Eldoret and Bomet , beef cattle from rongo , migori and trans mara .
Dairy and local goats are bought from rongo , mt Kenya and transmara markets. Poultry and
hybrid layers, dock and bullets are also supplied by specific companies such as the one hen
project and KENCHIK which have ventured into poultry production.

It was noted that most cattle breeding stock is acquired from outside the province mainly the
bomet and and Uasin Gishu counties of the rift valley.it was also noted that most farmers do
not practice pure dairy or beef cattle production as most farmers rear cross bred cattle. A
good number of farmers also prefer keeping indigenous poultry breeds as compare to those
who keep exotic ones. Most farmers in the sub county also don’t venture into livestock
production as a business as the farmers in other parts of the country

Farmers in bomachoge chache sub county mainly depend on natural pastures and fodder in
feeding their livestock; they include napier grass, sweet potatoe vines which is a by -product of
sweet potato production, a few farmers have planted calliandra, leucaenia and sesbania to
feed their dairy cows .most farmers use maize stovers, banana pseudostems, finger millet
stovers and molasses in feeding their animals. Also there are few numbers who grow
desmodium and Rhodes grass. Commercial feeds were also available in agrovets and they
include; dairy meal for dairy cattle, chick and duck mush for poultry farmers and mineral salt
licks from a variety of millers such as Acacia Company , Unga Feeds ,Kays and Unifeed.

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3.1.3 CREDIT AND LOANS
Various financial institutions give loans to farmers to support them in different areas where
they need support. The financial institutions include: EQUITY BANK; which gives dairy farmers
funds to purchase farm inputs and also support them in the Dairy value chain.

K-REP (juhudi kilimo) also supports farmers in the dairy value chain. By 2011 the former larger
gucha district where bomachoge chache is found had 172 beneficiaries from from Juhudi kilimo.
Agricultural finance cooperation (AFC) also supports farmers in dairy farming and chicken value
chain. Cooperative bank and wakenya pamoja which has a branch in ogembo also supports
farmers in both Dairy value chain and chicken value chain

3.1.4 MAJOR TECHNOLOGIES DISSEMINATED

The stakeholders in livestock production industry such as extension agents ,farm input
suppliers such as cooper limited , financial institutions , feed suppliers such as syngenta
collaborated in the recent past to disseminate technologies such as tick control by use of
preventive , control measures and by use of chemicals such as acaricides. They also
disseminated technologies in biogas production and usage, nappier grass establishment using
Tumbukiza, Newcastle control and on farm feed ration in dairy and poultry production.

3.1.5 DAIRY PRODUCTION

Milk collection and marketing

The 2019 annual report showed that dairy production trend is on increase. The major livestock
breeds in the dairy industry include the dairy cattle , zebu cattle and dairy goats. The dairy
cattle breeds comprised of the Fresian which was the most common, a few arshyres , very few
jerseys and cross breeds which were very common .Farmers in the sub county had formed
farm self help groups .liberalization of milking processing resulted in mushrooming of SGHs
which came up to fill the gaps which were created by cooperative societies in which milk
farmers had lost trust. The self help groups in the sub county include; KECOTO self help group
in boochi tendere ward, KINENI BLOCK D in sengera bosoti ward and Nyamoteneni self help
group in machoge Bassi ward. Farmers in those groups collect and markets the milk in places
such as kisii town.

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Bomachoge Chache Farmers Cooperative Society is also among the milk marketing groups. The
cooperative society is located in Ogembo. The dairy value added products available include;
boiled milk, yoghurt and fermented milk.

3.1.6 PIG AND BEEF PRODUCTION

Farmers in the district do not keep cattle primarily for beef purposes. The emphasis is more on
milk production. Most animals sold for beef are those raised for financial security and dairy culls
most cattle slaughtered are sourced from the neighboring transmara and migori districts.

Zebu is the main beef cattle reared in the sub county. There are no pure zebu and what is
indicated as zebu are actually the zebu upgrade or inert breeds between upgrades the major
constraints to beef production is the diminishing and fragmentation nature of land the fact
that the region is a high potential are hence farmers prefer dairy farming to beef farming

Pig rearing is the least prioritized livestock enterprise in the region though net income is quite
high owing to religious and cultural beliefs. Pig production recorded a drastic decline over the
years due to insufficient market and impact of socio – religious beliefs. There are no pigs
reported currently in the sub county.

3.1.7 RABBITS PRODUCTION AND POULTRY PRODUCTION

Rabbits production is an enterprise that is largely ventured into by youths with little or no
contribution from adults. Still it is regarded as a youth enterprise with little or no input from
adults.

Poultry production is an enterprise of immense importance to the socio – economic status of

farmers from the region. The number of farmers venturing in indigenous poultry production is
high as compared to those venturing in hybrid.

Both indigenous and hybrid commercial farmers face constraints which hamper the poultry
production in the region. Indigenous poultry farmers face challenges such as attack by killer
diseases like the Newcastle disease, inadequate feed resources, diminishing sizes of land and
lack of literature on husbandry. On the other hand hybrid poultry farmers face challenges
such as high cost of inputs compared to low produce prices, lack of proper marketing
channels, the

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source of one day old chick normally far from farmers and infiltration of the industry by
unscrupulous supplies of a day old chicks.

3.1.8 BEE KEEPING

This is the third most preferred livestock enterprise in the sub county with low production costs
but high net returns. The Honey bee forages on maize, coffee, guava, calliandra and leucamia.
The main hive products which or of high importance to bee farmers include the honey and bee
wax. Honey and bee wax annual production as per the 2018 annual report was increasing over
the years.

Despite the high returns with low production costs bee farmers face a number of challenges
and constraints which may end up demoralizing farmers. They include lack of trained artisans
to make bee handling gadgets , small diminishing land parcels , budget allocations in most
cases biased towards other livestock enterprises and less towards bee farming, bee farming is
also viewed as a dangerous insect by most farmers. Farmers also lack right marketing channels
with producers having to rely on willing – seller willing – buyer system

3.1.9 MARKETING OF LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS

The readily available markets for livestock products within the sub county include sengera ,
egetuki and ogembo. A good number of slaughtered bovines are importance notably from
trans mara , migori and other neighboring districts. Almost all the slaughtered ovines are kept
locally. On the other hand imported goats form a good portion of the slaughtered goats.a good
numbers of the slaughtered chickens are locally reared.

Table 1.2

Livestock Value added products in South Gucha during the years (2016, 2017 &2018)

PRODUCT UNIT MEASURE UNIT PRICE QTY PRODUCED VALUE

BEEF Kg 300 101.250MT 30375000

CHEVON Kg 400 5.913MT 2365000

MUTTON Kg 400 4.125MT 1650000

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POULTRY Each 400 54.90MT 15496000

MILK 1 litre 65 7 325 639 293025560

MALA 1 litre 60 N/A N/A

YOGHURT 1 litre 80 N/A N/A

EGGS Tray 300 N/A N/A

HONEY Kg 50 850 552500

BEEWAX Kg 500 360 18000

CATTLE HIDE Kg 100 1027 102700

SHEEP SKIN Piece 80 430 34400

GOAT SKIN piece 50 1178 58900

4.0 CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 CROPS PRODUCTION IN BOMACHOGE CHACHE SUB COUNTY

4.1.1 BANANA PRODUCTION

The kisii county banana industry ranks second after meru in Kenya. In view of Importance of
banana in the county and given the fact that banana productivity has been declining over
several years, Africa harvest with funding support from KHCP and USAID initiated projects to
arrest and reverse productivity decline.

Non certified banana seedlings, high infestation by pests and diseases, poor marketing and lack
of organized markets were the obvious culprits

During the last year of its project, Africa harvest intensified its use of the whole value chain
approach. Working with like minded organizations such as KALRO and the county agricultural
officers and forged the necessary partnerships ensured successful execution of its project. Small
scale farmers remained the core of the project , with a view to ensuring the quality of final
products met market demands . During the period under review, a lot of emphasis was put on

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building the capacity of different players in the value chain based on and earlier needs on and
earlier needs assessment research.

Africa harvest worked with existing farmer groups or where none existed groups were formed.
Africa harvest partnered with with farmers in the county. This was done through building the
technical capacity of the various players in the whole value chain, improving access to clean,
disease free tissue culture banana seedlings and creating necessary linkages between the
producer groups and the banana traders

Africa harvest continued to drum up banana seedling access and green banana marketing
activities among the beneficiaries. This led to a good number of farmers earning some good
income from banana production and an increase in the number of farmers using tissue culture
banana as the planting material.

Africa harvest trained a good number of farmers through the farmer field days (1731) and
Africa harvest open days (1001). To ensure the project sustainability during the period under
review Africa harvest focused on capacity building along tissue culture banana value chain. The
project technical staff was trained to handle all the aspects of banana value chain. Late
expanded to community mobilizers to ensure sustainability after the project comes to an end.
Topics taught to farmers groups were; establishment of banana orchards, good agronomic
practices, in banana production, management of pests and diseases, effective management of
producer group and business management

4.1.1.1 BANANA VALUE ADDITION

Banana value addition is gaining momentum in kisii county . farmer self help groups such as
omoringamu self help group in sengera bosoti ward in bomachoge chache sub county which is
basically owned by women with common interests in small scale crop production value addition
and marketing.

Nyangorora banana processing group (NBPG) has also been in the business of value addition for
the last 3 years. Having partnered with Kenya industrial research and development institute

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(KIRD) . Nyangorora begun as a youth – owned company investing in tissue culture bananas
with the aim of alleviating poverty in kisii county

The company collects bananas from so contracted farmers in specified collection centers in the
county. The produce is brought to processing centre where it is weighed, washed, peeled and
used to process various products.

According to the core founder jared omiso , the company products range from banana wine ,
crisps , flour , juice , jam , and pastries such as bread , cakes , and buns . The crisps and
pastries are distributed in local super markets in Kisii , Nairobi and Mombasa. The same are
available in gas stations, schools and hospitals. In a day the company can produce 1000 bags of
crisps in different pack sizes.

Other than Omoringamu SHG, there exists a number of women groups such as JIINUE WOMEN
GROUP and TUMAINI WOMEN GROUP which also deal with banana value addition.

The main source of funding to the SHGs range from contributions from members, loans from
financial institutions such as KCB and women enterprise unions

4.1.1.2 CHALLENGES FACING THE BANANA INDUSTRY

Short funding periods makes it difficult to unlock maximum value from the crop value chain.
Also the subtle of culture of individualism by the beneficiaries makes it difficult to aggregate
substantial volumes green volumes of banana at producer group level and collection centre
level. Farmers rate of adoption of tissue culture is slow due the perceived high costs of the
tissue culture plantlets {Kshs 110) per plantlet

The main challenges which face the farmer groups include; lack of enough funds to operate the
enterprises .

4.1.1.3 FUTURE OUTLOOK OF BANANA INDUSTRY IN BOMACHOGE CHACHE SUB COUNTY

/ KISII COUNTY
The soils in the region and the agro – ecological zones favour banana production. if the
extension agents within the sub county/county take the initiative to reach the farmers through

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field days, seminars and shows and give advisory services such as field establishment and
management practices and also casgate the idea of TC, help them form farmer groups,
marketing groups and cooperative societies; the new harvest will be so eloquent and this will
help the ministry achieve one of its millennium development goals (MDGs) that is poverty
reduction.

4.1.2 TEA FARMING IN THE SUB COUNTY

Tea is one of the perennial crops being produced and processed in bomachoge chache Sub
County and the larger kisii county. Farmers practice small scale tea farming in the region due
to the diminishing land parcels which hampers plantation farming. KTDA offers extension
services to farmers via commodity based extension approach where they help farmers acquire
inputs such as fertilizer and tree seedlings to farmers as a package. There are about 13000
registered growers, 30 coded collecting centres and 11678444 censured bushes

KTDA officials inspect 50 kg bag of fertilizer of NPK fertilizer at Mombasa port. The fertilizer is
then transported to various tea growing areas and distributed to tea growers who are registered
with KTDA

In bomachoge chache Sub County there is tea factory; Ogembo tea factory which buys tea
from farmers and processes it to made tea. The factory also is involved in various corporate
social responsibilities such as feeder road maintanence , purchasing tree seedlings for planting
, KTDA foundation scholarships , providing drinking water for the local community and
wellness training issues.

CHALLENGES FACING TEA FARMERS IN THE SUB COUNTY

The crops continually gets attacks from attack from pests and diseases and makes the farmers
go to use waste as they attack some parts of the whole crop making it hard to survive and
well to survive. The most serious diseases which attack tea in the area include armillaria root
rot, branch and collar canker and dumping off. We advised farmers to practice field hygiene
and

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ensure that the cuttings are dipped in fungicide solutions before planting to prevent the fungal
diseases.

Bomachoge chache farmers are experiencing a lot of hardships when it comes to the
production of huge amounts of tea. Majority of them spend a lot of money in trying to employ
labour needed to harvest the crop which is expensive and in most cases unavailable.

Tea farming also requires a lot of skills from farmers making it an essential part of life .farm
visits to various farms in the sub county showed that many farmers plant tea in the wrong way
hence tea grows under the wrong set of planting procedures

4.1.2.1 FUTURE OUTLOOK OF TEA INDUSTRY IN THE SUB COUNTY

Due to increase in population which has resulted to land being divided into small diminishing
parcel, most tea farms have been replaced by human settlements leading to decline in the
total yields. Some farmers have also decided to do away with tea farming to practice
horticultural and food crop farming. Delayed bonuses and payment of farmers by the Kenya
tea development authority has also demoralized most farmers hence most of them have opted
to other farming enterprises.

4.1.3 MAIZE FARMING

Maize is the stable food for the people in the region .largest percentage of the population also
depends on maize farming as an income generating project. At least every farming household in
the sub county owns a maize farm

Farmers in the sub county are advised to register for the government subsidized fertilizers
(DAP & CAN)at every planting season. Some fertilizer companies such as OCP Africa also offer
extension services to farmers to farmers in the region on the use of their newly formulated
fertilizer (NPS).

Hybrid seed companies such as western seed company which supplies hybrid maize suitable in
the region such as AMINIKA WH 403, AMINIKA WH505 & AMINIKA WH404. Other seed

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companies include the Kenya seed company and Monsanto who also produce hybrid seeds.
Some farmers also use the open pollinated variety seeds.

Constraints facing maize production

Land fragmentation and diminishing parcels of land is a major problem. Mixed farming practice
such that maize has to share space with other enterprises has led to reduction of yields in the
region

A number of maize farmers who we met on our daily farm visits said that they experienced
financial constraints, high cost of farm inputs inadequate and poor storage facilities, poor
state of the roads and the markets. They also experienced high interest rates on credit from
financial institutions and lack of improved maize seedstoves use due to presence of many
seed varieties in the markets from different seed companies which has created an avenue for
unscrupulous vendors to sell the uncertified seeds in the area.

4.1.3.1 Future outlook

If the government via the ministry of agriculture will take an initiative to subsidies farm inputs
and impose control on essential farm inputs and direct the financial instititutions to lower the
interest rates on credits borrowed farmers and also ensure that the number of demonstration
fields are increased in the area and employ qualified extension officer , the new harvest in the
maize production industry will be so eloquent hence will help to reduce the number of people
living below absolute poverty lines to less than 25% in order to achieve the first millennium
development goal.

4.1.4 VEGETABLE PRODUCTION

Vegetables are plants which are consumed in relatively small amounts or quantities as a side
dish with a stable food. Farmers in the sub county grow various classes of vegetables ranging
from indigenous vegetables which are often gathered and cultivated and they include
Amaranthus , the African black night shade and spider plants to exotic or imported vegetables

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which are purely cultivated and are of major economic importance and include vegetables
like cabbages , kales , cauli flower , broccoli , beans , soyabeans , onions and tomatoes.

The favorable climate and readily available markets favor vegetable production in the
area. However fungal and bacterial diseases are the most common challenge facing
farmers who produce high quality vegetables such as onions, kales and tomatoes.

For instance Eunice who does vegetable farming as a business especially on the tomatoes said
that bacterial diseases such as bacterial wilt and bacterial canker were the most common
diseases which attacked her tomato plants and they were difficult to control leading to about
100 % crop loss.

To curb the crop losses experienced by vegetable farmers the government should employ
trained horticulturalists who have the technical knowledge to extend the new technologies in
vegetable farming to help them reduce the losses they encounter in the field hence increasing
their incomes by helping them reduce production costs such as purchasing of fungicides hence
also reducing the number of people living below absolute poverty.

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5.0 CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 CROSS CUTTING ISSUES

5.1.1 GENDER
Gender refers to socially defined roles that are assigned to men and women to boys and girls on
the basis of their biological roles. Gender is basically about social roles not biological roles.
Gender mainstreaming calls for the integration of gender perspective in the programme
activities with the ultimate goal of achieving gender equality in accessing productive resources
and in decision making and agricultural rural development .the sub county department of
agriculture has not taken into account the issue of gender mainstreaming and gender equity as
there is a dominance of male extension workers. It was noted that all the 6 technical officers
were male and only 1 is a lady. The community was also found to be assigning agricultural
enterprises and activities on the basis of sex differences. For instance for male extension
officers are accepted as compared to female .on the other hand women are more involved in
agricultural activities. (Up to 70% agricultural labour comprise of women) .Most farmer groups
such as KINEN BLOCK D , nyamoteneni and omoringamu constitutes a large number of women.

There is need to educate the community members so that they appreciate each gender group
so that they can distinguish between gender roles and biological roles. The extension officer
also need to develop extension programmes that accommodate both men and women so as
not to favour one group and disadvantage the other. It is also important for extension to focus
on enterprises that are of interest to women as well as men.

5.1.2 HIV/ AIDS

It affects the extension staff, the farmers and the community. It may cause inability

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To offer extension services due to sickness, stigmatization and rejection of the extension
workers. It might also lead to diversities of resources meant for agriculture to medical services.
The death will also deprive of the community the most productive people leading to reduction
of agricultural activities hence the number of people living with poverty will increase.HIV /AIDS
cases of AIDS orphaned children, widows and ailing numbers of farmers are prudent but due
to stigmatization it is not easy to get information on the actual number of people living with
the disease .The county should ensure that the agricultural officers try to mainstream the
disease as a cross cutting issue because without a healthy generation agricultural productivity
will decline.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

CONLUSION
Ministry of agriculture Gucha south sub county is a government institution which offers
extension services to the public but most rural farmers in the sub county are not aware of the
mandate of such an institution hence finding that most of them are reluctant to visit the
department of agriculture’s offices. Gucha south department of agriculture uses focal area
approach and target groups to reach farmers. This approach has been found convenient
because the number of technical staff with the technical knowledge to disseminate knew
technologies to farmers is low as compared to a large number of farmers. They also encounter
challenges such as lack of enough funds to help them implement community development
projects and lack of proper means of transport as they are only provided with motorbikes
wheels because the rural roads are impassable especially during long rains

RECOMMENDATIONS
• The county should employ more extension agents in various departments to ensure
that more farmers are reached.
• The county should budget and provide means of transport to both their employees
and students who are in field attachment and even interns.
• The county should also ensure that there is a constant flow of resources and funds to
the sub counties to ensure that the projects or programmes developed are
implemented fully before they collapse

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 • The institution should broaden its industrial attachment to surpass Kenya to other
neighboring countries such as Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda in order to broaden
the students’ skills and expose them to other working environments.

REFERENCES

❖ Kenya Literature Bureau (book 3)

❖ Institutional documents and reports [Office monthly and yearly reports]
❖ Agriculture ,M.O.(2013).crop, livestock production, fisheries and
corporate development.
❖ The organic farmer magazine

APPENDICES
A field visit to farmer Euniah who was doing tomato farming as a vegetable at
nyabisiongororo village boochi tendere ward

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DEMONSTRATION FIELD