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KEN07c - DOVE Africa - Got Osimbo Community Development: Partnership Reports

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Report Date: February 23, 2018

Update from DOVE Africa

Recent Events

Kisii Foundations for Farming Training 15-18 November

On 14th November 2017 Francis and Jesse travelled to Kisii for a four day training to farmers in two separate locations. They gave two days of training in each of the locations.

15-16 November
well received training Before the commencement of the training Francis and Jesse took time to visit two different farms planted using Farming God’s Way (Foundations for Farming). All the surrounding farms planted using the conventional farming system had their maize crop lying on the ground while amazingly the same crops using Farming God’s Way were all standing steady and looking so healthy. That was very encouraging and was due to prior trainings and the implementation by farmers. This also helped them gain trust from the community members.

Later on the training was conducted as had been planned for two consecutive days. Reports concerning the same was given by farmers who had agreed to implement this system. One of them reiterated “I will chop off the hands of anyone who will try to go to my farm to turn the soil at any given time”. That could be extreme, but at least they were convinced and convicted about implementing this method.

By the end of the training almost every farmer present had a request that in 2018 the trainers should be on the ground during the planting season to work with them and help them plant using the Farming God’s Way system. A total of 11 farmers were trained. Others stayed away from the training because they feared that they would be disadvantaged due to illiteracy.

17-18 November
well received training On the first day in this location the training was held in the home of one of the farmers. However, the second day they had to move to a church so as to create enough space to accommodate everyone comfortably.

This group was so ignited and excited about this farming system as they recalled the very many years that they used to cultivate land, plant crops and harvest little as opposed to what they get now in terms of quality and quantity. It was so exciting listening to them, how they battled it out to welcome this new system.

One of the pastors who was in the training requested that another one be organized where most churches are informed and involved.

Another request is that seeds and fertilizer be provided to farmers as a loan that should be paid back at a small interest. This is because most farmers are poor and at times not able to get these inputs on time.

Here a total of about 15 farmers were trained.

Conclusion
The Farming God’s Way system gains momentum with repeated trainings in the same location. When properly implemented the results are clear as there is less labour involved, less inputs used and good crops with high yields are guaranteed.

Nakuru Foundations for Farming Training 21-23 November

keen to learn On 20th November Francis, Jesse and some of the staff from a Christian organization called Life Ministry travelled to Nakuru for a three day Foundations for Farming training. Among the organization staff was their director.

From 21st to 23rd there was a vigorous training which included both ‘classroom’ and practicals. Most of them had an idea about farming but the concepts of Farming God’s Way was a very new thing for them. One of the core activities of the organization is missions (being fishers of men), so it was exciting for them to know that this farming system is a very powerful tool for evangelism, especially in farming communities.

It was quite exciting when one of the participants made a phone call back to his village during the training to tell those who were working on his farm and his mother’s farm to stop ploughing until he was able to return home and show them the correct methods!

Several times during the training, the participants would interrupt in the middle of a class session out of excitement and just talk of how powerful this was. All throughout, they were vigorously involved.

At the end of it, they promised to go out and spread the word besides implementing in their own farms.

keen to learn