Implementing Silvopastoral Systems in the North Rift

Located in the former Rift Valley Province, Kenya Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot counties have a population of approximately 1.1 Million people. The agriculture and livestock sector is the most important segment of the counties’ economies with 81% of the population relying on the sector directly.

The project targets 1000 farmers in total with a special focus on young female farmers. It also addresses political stakeholders who are involved in agricultural policy making.

• Project finalised
• 1000 farmers trained on Silvopastoralism
  • with 700 female farmers
  • and 400 farmers under the age of 35
• national consultation meeting dialogue held, with 56 stakeholders engaged
• 2 Multi Actor platforms formed
• establishment of fodder banking through the silvopastoral systems approach
• 12,000 seedlings availed, for planting in farmers’ and communal land.
• 4058 seedlings planted
• field demonstration days for 390 champion farmers executed

KENAFF offers an intensive facilitation experience on the overview of the silvopastoral systems (SPS), the systems’ components, traditional versus improved silvopastoral systems and the benefits of SPS, that empower smallholder farmers to establish the most fertile combination of agricultural practices on their land. The training combines facilitation, knowledge-building methods and participatory approach with farmers providing experiences, for peer-to-peer learning, focus group discussions, world café and plenary discussions.

Initially, 1000 farmers participate in trainings that guide them through the techniques of silvo-pastoralism. 390 silvo-pastoral champions are selected from this group to receive personal guidance in implementing silvo-pastoral systems on their fields. Through farmer field days and planting sessions, native plant species are cultivated, and extensive peer-to-peer learning drive dissemination and exchange of experiences among farmers.

The project takes the political level into account. KENAFF takes up and pursue, with relevant stakeholders the need to entrench silvopastoral system in Kenya through policy dialogues at the county and national levels. Mainstreaming of silvo-pastoralism helps to recover degraded rangeland, increase livestock productivity, improve environmental sustainability, and build resilience to climate change. As a result, joint policy briefs and action plans for Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot are drafted and fronted for adoption.

KENAFF also leverages on her organisational structure (ward to sub-county to county to regional and then national) to disseminate information and share knowledge among its members and the general farming population in Kenya. Dissemination and knowledge sharing is done through the quarterly KENAFF newsletter (Farmers’ Voice) and the USSD code (*501#) under the technical advisory services menu item on the latest scientific findings concerning agricultural practices, food security, and climate change impacts on food systems.

IKI Small Grants supports KENAFF in their organisational capacity development through:

• Capacity development on fundraising and proposal writing, presentation and negotiation techniques, and conflict management skills
• Capacity building on lobby and advocacy for agricultural policy action at the county level

Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (“KENAFF”), founded in 1946 as the Kenya National Farmers Union (KNFU), is a non-political, non-profit making member-based umbrella organization registered under Section 10 of the Societies Act Cap 108, Laws of Kenya. The Federation represents the interests of over 2 million farm families. Her core mandate is embodied in the motto: The Farmers’ Voice: to represent, articulate, protect and promote interests of Kenyan farmers through targeted lobby and advocacy, policy action, farmer empowerment, capacity building, and promotion of sector stakeholders’ cohesiveness in dispensing progressive uptake of agricultural innovations for enhanced socio-economic status of the farmers.