Over 100 Farmers Trained on Soil Protection and Organic Farming in Ugunja

Farmers across  Ugunja Subcounty gathered yesterday at Ngodhe village for a field day dedicated to improving soil health and boosting farm productivity through low-cost, organic methods.

The training, held on a demonstration plot belonging to a member of a 25 farmer group, focused on conservation agriculture, composting, cover crop planting, agroforestry, and termite management research.

The initiative is part of a project sponsored by GIZ through the Eco Sustainet Group, supported by Siaya County, and implemented by the Tembea Youth Center for Sustainable Development.

Joshua Omondi Amollo, the project manager, said such field days are key in turning theory into action.

“When demonstrations are combined with training, farmers get to see the practical side of what they are taught and are able to put it into action,” 

he noted.

He added that the learning extends beyond field days through weekly group sessions and smaller clusters of eight farmers, ensuring peer-to-peer learning and better retention of skills.

Maurice Akero, Ugunja Sub-County Agricultural Officer, emphasized the importance of restoring soil health:

“Just like human beings, soil can become sick and needs to be treated. These low cost methods help bring back soil fertility without requiring huge financial investments,”

 he said.

Dickson Juma Odenyo, the farmer who hosted the demonstration plot, testified to the impact of the project:

“We started in February, and by June I saw real changes. Cover crops like mucuna and lablab protected my soil, intercropping with maize performed well, and water infiltration improved. Even during dry spells, my crops remained healthy,”

 he shared.

Local chief Barack Agoko, who attended the event, urged farmers to adopt the organic farming techniques, noting their role in increasing food production, reducing input costs, and improving community health.

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