University’s Engagement with Small Scale Farmers through Student Attachment Program

1. University’s Engagement with Small Scale Farmers through Student Attachment Program

2. Egerton University Vision & Mission Vision • To be a world class university for the advancement of humanity Mission • To offer exemplary education to society and generate knowledge for national and global development

3. Egerton University • Focus; • Agriculture • Environment

4. Relevant Strategic Objectives • SO1: Improve the quality of higher education and training • SO2: Increase research, consultancy and community outreach • SO4: Increase linkages and collaborations These have a direct bearing on FA program

5. Role of Egerton University • Generation of information and training •  Dissemination of agricultural information through facilitating participatory learning • Production of agroecological relevant information materials • student attachment programs that can serve as an avenue of dissemination

6. Dissemination of information • Effective dissemination of relevant agricultural information enhance agricultural services •  Source of information for small holder farmers is mainly local – neighbours, markets, CBOs • Current government strategy includes private – public partnership

7. Extension System (up to 3.2013) • Households receiving extension training achieve significant productivity improvement • Farmers’ improvement in knowledge and skill is not a sufficient condition for adoption. • Most effective duration to spend in a focal area is 3 to 5 years • Poor market and capital access and availability of labour were major constraints to adoption.

8. Extension System (after 3.2013) • Extension devolved to Counties • Yet to mature

9. The Current situation • In high altitude areas 90% of the farms are under 10 acres • Average age of farmers is > 60 years • Majority of them practice subsistence agriculture

10. Program Objectives The main goal of this program is to : • contribute to enhanced agricultural productivity through development of agricultural professionals with practical field experience and who will effectively catalyse sustainable rural development:

11. Specific Objectives 1) Create and strengthen linkages between universities, farming communities and other stakeholders to improve service delivery and market access (2) Develop a framework for farmers’ interaction with key stakeholders to obtain appropriate solutions using novel approaches such as mobile-based technologies (3) Pilot experiential learning for undergraduate students with practical agricultural advisory techniques

12. Program implementation • Egerton implements an internship program in which interns will engage the same farmer(s) continuously for at least 3 to 5 consecutive years • Each cohort of students will build on and follow-up on recommendations of the previous group. • The program will involve different stakeholders to ensure that relevant information is communicated to the farmers

13. Expected Benefits/Outputs • Increased awareness and utilization of available agricultural technologies by farmers. • Increased productivity at farm level which translates to improved livelihoods at the farming household level. • Graduates with hands-on experience of real farm situations, hence increasing their chance for self or institutional employment

14. Expected Benefits/Outputs Cont • Improved linkages between Egerton University, ASPs and farmers that will influence curricula development and research agenda. • Increased customer base for agricultural service providers and increased visibility.

15. Facts about the Program • Program started in November 2013 with a stakeholders meeting that brought together • Farmers • Ministry of Agriculture officials • Regulatory bodies for agricultural input e.g. KEPHIS • NGOs • Banks • University staff & students • The first group of 28 students were attached to 26 farmers in Jan – Mar 2014 • Overall positive feedback was received in April from farmers and students

16. Farmers’ Feedback • Posting of students on the farms should be done when farm activities are many • Identification of students, prior to meeting with student • Networking of the farmers and the university should be enhanced and formalized • Some students were not open • University to consider immediate benefit for the farmer e.g. free soil testing, inputs • Involvement of farmers during research • Certificates of participation in the program

17. Students’ feedback • Communication barriers • Financial challenges for students who did not get accommodation, transport cost, finances for implementation of advised • Feeling that some farmers were too knowledge • Farmers’ expectation were too high • Some students were treated as casual labours

18. Second group of students attachedJune – August, 2014 • A stakeholders meeting was held on 23 May, 2014 in which 40 farmers, 22 students and 9 staff members attended. The program for this second stakeholders meeting was similar to that of November 2013. • A total of 28 students have been attached for this session. The students were fewer that the farmers interested in the program. • Farmers are drawn from Nakuru and Baringo Counties

19. Contacts • James K Tuitoek • Vice Chancellor, Egerton University • P O Box 536, Njoro, Kenya • vc@egerton.ac.ke

20. Questions? THANK YOU