After several days of gruesome training, trainers of the Farmer Field Schools (FFS) finally graduated at a colourful ceremony in Nakuru recently in a ceremony presided over by the Deputy Director Forest Extension Services Mrs. Monicah Kalenda.
The FFS methodology is an extension methodology designed to reach farmers and encourage them to integrate tree planting and food crop farming apart from empowering farmers through capacity building to improve their livelihoods the establishment of various income generating activities.
The event was the culmination of several weeks of training which involved field visits to Farmer Field Schools in the Londiani area and other class work that will enable them adequately take farmers through the one year course. At the end of the course farmers are supposed to have learnt best farming practices which in turn improves their livelihoods.
The trainees displayed the different things they had learned in the course which included group dynamics, presentation skills and crop development analysis also known as AESA.
During the graduation ceremony, the guest of honour read a congratulatory message from the Director and reminded them that the concept of the FFS was to eradicate the rigid approach formally used by the government to promote tree planting among farmers. They were reminded that a lot was expected from them especially since this year had been designed as the “International Year of Forests”.
The graduates were awarded with certificates.
Story by Rahab Gitau
No comments:
Post a Comment