disseminating information on alternative methods...

Disseminating Informationon Alternative Methods ofPest Management – Kenya

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� Implementing Institution:Arid Lands Information Network-East Africa

� Head: James Nguo (Regional Director)

� Details of Institution:Address: Arid Lands Information Network-East Africa, P. O. Box 10098 - 00100 G.P.O. Nairobi, KenyaTel.: (+254) 20 2731557Fax: (+254) 20 2737813E-mail: [email protected]: www.alin.or.ke

� Implementation Period:May 2005 to December 2006

� Costs:Funding of approximately $21,700 was provided by the Pesticide Action Network Germany and Bread for the World.

167

GENERAL INFORMATION

168 VOLUME 17: EXPERIENCES IN DEVELOPING CAPACITY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

SUMMARY

This case study describes a one-year pilotproject in which farmers in Kenya wereprovided with access to information onthe control and management of pests anddiseases by non-chemical methods, thisinformation being accessed via informa-tion and communication technology(ICT). The aim of the project was to raiseawareness of inexpensive, safe and envi-ronmentally sound alternatives to com-mercially available chemical pesticides inorder to increase food production at thehousehold level.

The project, initiated in 2005, wasimplemented by a partnership thatinvolved international agencies, regionalnetworks, government departments, localnon-governmental organizations (NGOs),community-based organizations andfarmer groups. More specifically, the AridLands Information Network-East Africa, anetwork of community developmentworkers, formed a partnership withPesticide Action Network Germany (PANGermany), Participatory Ecological LandUse Management-Kenya, the Ministry ofAgriculture, Mwingi District and theKyuso farming community. Together thesepartners have piloted and prepared large-scale access to an online database ofpest-control information among small-holder farmers and agricultural training andextension networks in Africa.

As part of the pilot project, a resourcecentre for farmers, or “information super-market”, was established at Kyuso,Kenya. From this centre, farmers could

access the Online Information Service forNon-chemical Pest Management in theTropics (OISAT Info) and other informa-tion resources on CD-ROM and theInternet using general packet radio serv-ice (GPRS) technology. To enhance thewidespread sharing of local knowledgeand agricultural practices, the Arid LandsInformation Network-East Africa alsoinstalled Open Knowledge Network soft-ware, an offline communication channel.

The project is highly valued by thelocal farming community, agriculturalextension workers, teachers and studentsfrom neighbouring educational institu-tions, and local leaders who have beenable to access appropriate, practical andup-to-date information resources. Localfarmers now control and manage pestsmore inexpensively, thus reducing production costs. In addition, capacityrelating to the use of appropriate ICTsand communication skills has increasedamong farmers and extension teams.

BACKGROUND AND

JU S T I F I C AT I ON

While crop protection is an agriculturalnecessity, chemical pesticides have beenreported to have negative effects on theenvironment and on human health. Theseinclude reducing biodiversity by harmingor killing non-target organisms that havean important ecological role to play, e.g.,honey bees, other pollinators and naturalpredators of pests. Pesticides may also pol-lute water resources and destabilize aquat-ic ecosystems, e.g., by poisoning fish and

Disseminating Information on Alternative Methods of Pest Management – Kenya 169

other wildlife. Some of the chemicals usedas pesticides are toxic in humans andimproper handling or accidental exposurecan lead to abortion in pregnant women,illness or death. Pesticide residues in foodand drinking water may also have long-term effects on human health.

Increasing awareness about the poten-tially harmful effects of chemical pesti-cides has led to a growing demand fromthe farming community, NGOs and gov-ernments for information on affordableand sustainable approaches to ecologicalpest management and non-chemical cropprotection. Such techniques are designedto minimize secondary effects on theenvironment, water resources and humanhealth. Many small farmers in Africa,however, are unaware that such methodsexist and have little or no access to reliable sources of information that can beadapted to their own requirements.

This project has addressed the challenges faced by small-scale farmers inKenya in achieving increased food production in a sustainable manner whileconserving natural resources. Efforts havealso been made to bridge the digitaldivide or lack of access to ICTs in termsof community access to agricultural infor-mation resources.

The Online Information Service forNon-chemical Pest Management in theTropics (OISAT Info, www.oisat.org) is anonline service that offers information onnon-chemical methods of pest control inthe tropics. It was developed andlaunched in 2004 by the Pesticide ActionNetwork Germany (PAN Germany), an

international organization that aims toreduce the use of hazardous chemicalpesticides worldwide and to promote sustainable alternatives.

OISAT Info targets trainers, extensionworkers and farmers and offers practicalinformation on how to minimize damagecaused by pests in safe, affordable, effec-tive and ecologically sound ways. Themain aim is to increase food production atthe household level while reducing theuse of synthetic chemical pesticides thatmay be expensive as well as potentiallyhazardous to human health, waterresources and the environment. The alternative and sustainable pest-controlmethods proposed by OISAT Info usereadily available indigenous plants andinexpensive ingredients.

For the initiative described in thiscase study, the Arid Lands InformationNetwork-East Africa – a network of community development workers fromgovernment departments and non-governmental and community-basedorganizations with an interest in the dry-lands of Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda andthe United Republic of Tanzania –formed a partnership with PAN Germany,Participatory Ecological Land UseManagement-Kenya, the Ministry ofAgriculture, Mwingi District and theKyuso farming community. The overallpurpose of the project is to prepare thelarge-scale dissemination of OISAT Infoamong smallholder farmers and to estab-lish agricultural training and extensionnetworks in developing countries. Theone-year pilot project, “From Web to


field to Web”, started in Kyuso, Kenya, inMay 2005.

Kyuso division is situated in MwingiDistrict in the Eastern Province ofKenya. Located about 60 kilometresfrom Mwingi town, Kyuso is in a semi-arid region and is generally hilly,with many rocky outcrops and plenty ofindigenous shrubs and vegetation. Thepredominantly Akamba communitygrows crops and farms livestock.Common crops include cotton, cow-peas, green grams, maize and fruit trees,such as mangoes, passion fruit and pawpaws. Farmers in this area face thechallenge of achieving increases in foodproduction in a cost-effective mannerwhile conserving the natural resourcebase. One of the major problemsdescribed by farmers is the control andmanagement of pests and diseases thatcause crop damage. While farmers inKyuso are innovative and exploit indige-nous and traditional knowledge, suchpractices, e.g., controlling termites usingwood ash or aphids using chilli peppers,are slowly dying out because of theintroduction of chemical pesticides.

Although the division lacks adequateextension staff from the Ministry ofAgriculture and NGOs or an informationreferral point for farmers who do nothave access to general information oncrop-production and crop-protectionsystems, there is a strong network ofestablished farmer field schools.

DES C R I P T I ON

The main steps involved in this pilotproject were:

• creating awareness about theOISAT Info initiative among agricultural stakeholders anddeveloping institutional and farming-community partnerships;

• fund-raising by partner institutions;and

• project implementation, whichinvolved the identification of farmers to participate in the pro-gramme; the creation of a farmers’resource centre equipped withappropriate ICTs; capacity-buildingfor farmers in ICTs; identificationof local pests; experimentation andvalidation of pest-control methods;and the establishment of farmerforums for experience-sharing, doc-umentation of local knowledge, etc.

OISAT INFO

OISAT Info is a web-based practical guidefor trainers, extension workers and farm-ers that provides information on how tominimize pest damage in safer, moreaffordable, effective and ecologicallysound ways. The website (www.oisat.org)has advice on how to lower the cost ofproduction by adopting the recommendedpreventative and curative methods of control for pests, diseases and weeds andreducing the use of synthetic pesticides.Information is provided on how to combat pests on common crops such ascowpeas, green gram, maize, mango


seedlings and pigeon peas. Such pestsinclude aphids, apion beetles, stalk borers, termites, whiteflies and whitegrubs. The methods recommendedinclude the use of plants or ingredientsthat are available locally, e.g., the neemtree, chillies, finger euphorbia, pawpaw,

custard apple, onions and wood ash.

The structure of the website is basedon the cropping seasons of major crops ofthe area, indicating key pests for eachgrowth stage and plant part. The infor-mation is presented in the form of tables,photographs and clear advice (fig. 1)

Figure 1 Extract from information available on OISAT Info on the use of neem in pest control.

NeemCommon names: neem, margosa tree Scientific name: Azadirachta indicaFamily: Meliaceae

Plant parts usedLeaves and seeds

Mode of actionRepellent, insecticidal, antibacterial, antifungal,antifeedant, oviposition and growth inhibiting,and crop and grain protectant (Prakash; Rao,1997: pp. 35-103) Photo by Manuel Parami

Materials Methods of preparation How to use Target pests

Formulations

Neem leaf extract(Sridhar; Vijayalakshmi,

2002: pp. 24-25)

1-2 kg of neem leaves

Mortar and pestle

Used cotton cloth

Pot

Soap

Strainer

String

10-12 kg of neem

leaves are needed

for 0.4 ha

Pound neem leaves gently.

Place in a pot.

Add 2-4 liters of water.

Cover the mouth of the

pot securely with the

cloth and leave it as such

for 3 days.

Strain to get clear extract.

Dilute 1 liter of neem leaf

extract with 9 liters of water.

Add 100 ml of soap.

Stir well.

Spray on the infested plants.

Aphids,

Colorado beetles,

grasshoppers, grubs,

Japanese beetles,

leafhoppers,

locusts,

planthoppers,

scale insects,

snails,

thrips,

weevils,

whiteflies

Source: http://www.oisat.org/control_methods/plants_in_pest_control/neem.html


together with a glossary of technicalterms. Situation-specific information canbe downloaded and compiled into train-ing materials, which can also be translatedinto local languages for an effective trans-fer of the information to farmers. TheOISAT Info database has been developedin consultation with a group of interna-tional experts.

IDENT I F I CAT ION OF FARMER

PART IC I PANTS

As a starting point, seven farmers (fivewomen and two men) were identified andinvited to participate as focal-point farm-ers. They were chosen using criteria thatincluded innovativeness, diversity ofcrops grown, literacy level and willing-

ness to apply OISAT Info information andto train and share experiences with othercommunity farmers, thus enhancing thewidespread diffusion of information.Their use of OISAT Info was subsequent-ly closely monitored by extension staff.

INFORMAT ION SUPERMARKET

A resource centre for farmers, commonlyreferred to as the Kyuso CommunityInformation Supermarket (fig. 2), wasestablished at the divisional offices of theMinistry of Agriculture in Kyuso inAugust 2005. The Supermarket wasequipped with appropriate ICTs, includ-ing a computer, CD-ROMs concerningOISAT Info and relating to various devel-opment technologies and experiences,

Figure 2 The Kyuso Community Information Supermarket, the farmers’ resource centreestablished by Arid Lands Information Network-East Africa.


three compendia (on forestry, crop pro-tection and animal health), WorldSpace(a digital satellite radio network that covers most of Asia and parts of Africa)and an adapter card (a modem used toconnect a radio to a computer printer anda mobile phone).

The centre is powered by solar energyand communities are able to access theInternet using general packet radio service(GPRS) technology. GPRS is a wirelessapplication that enables data transmissionusing a mobile telephone network. A localfarmer trained in information technologyskills is employed as an assistant at theresource centre (fig. 3). His role is to trainother farmers on the use of ICTs and tohelp download information, repackageOISAT Info into the local language anddisseminate this information. TheMinistry of Agriculture crops extensionofficer, also the coordinator of the farmerfield schools, offers technical support tothe seven focal-point farmers and othercommunity farmers with an interest in pestmanagement using techniques acquired

from OISAT Info (fig. 4).

A monitoring user-profile logbookfor farmers is kept at the centre for feed-back purposes. Visitors record theirnames, date, gender, profession, type ofinformation requested and intended use.The record makes it easy for any follow-up to be pursued. During the farmerknowledge-sharing forums, additionalfarmers are invited to join the focal-pointfarmers and share their experiences toenrich the outcomes of the forums.

As of February 2006, the Arid LandsInformation Network-East Africa hadattached a trained community informa-tion volunteer to the centre to help todocument local knowledge and dissemi-nate development information widely viathe Open Knowledge Network. TheOpen Knowledge Network is an offlinecommunication channel that offers anexcellent information management system for the generation, easy retrievaland dissemination of local content towider audiences using appropriate and

Figure 3 A local farmer trained in ICTsassisting other farmers at the KyusoCommunity Information Supermarket.

Figure 4 An extension officer from theMinistry of Agriculture giving technicaladvice in the field.


complimentary ICTs such as theWorldSpace technology and rural radio.It uses Open eNRICH software thatenables rural communities to organize andlocate content, conduct text searches andcreate local folders to manage the content.The Open Knowledge Network was initiated by the Digital Opportunity TaskForce set up by the Group of Eight Headsof State to contribute to the bridging of thedigital divide. It aims at linking marginal-ized and poor people while promoting andenabling the exchange of indigenousknowledge via offline networking.

INFORMAT ION OPEN DAY

An Information Open Day wasorganized for the launch of the centre(the Kyuso Community InformationSupermarket) on 7 April 2006. ThisOpen Day, attended by more than 150farmers and representatives from otherorganizations, helped to raise awarenessabout the information resources availableand the new ICTs in use at the centre.The focal-point farmers had an opportu-nity to exhibit and demonstrate how theyaccess OISAT Info and use it to make var-ious pest-control formulations.

FARMERS’ KNOWLEDGE-SHAR INGFORUMS

To ensure that the focal-point farmersshared their experiences and knowledgewith community farmers, leaders, exten-sion team members and teachers, regularfarmer forums were organized. The firstforum, which focused on the seven focal-point farmers and the extension team,

introduced the pilot project, projectexpectations and the validation processfor OISAT Info. During this forum, farm-ers acknowledged that they lackedappropriate information on pest-controlmethods. In most cases, the farmers usedchemicals or products derived fromindigenous and traditional knowledgeand for which they were not sure aboutmixture rates, preparation methods or theeffects of residues. Thus the arrival ofOISAT Info was timely. The second andthird forums focused on sharing OISATInfo as applied by the farmers as well asthe farmers’ personal experiences as towhich methods had worked or failed andon which crops. During these forums, thefarmers were able to share some of theindigenous alternative control methodsthat they used. These were then docu-mented and feedback was given to PANGermany for inclusion on its website.

WORKSHOP ON PEST IDENTIFICATION

As part of the capacity-developmentefforts for farmers and the extensionteam, a workshop on pest identificationwas organized during which farmers andmembers of the extension team sharedvarious experiences and went out into thefield to identify some of the pestsencountered locally. Using a magnifyinglens, some of the smallest pests wereidentified and discussions were held onthe best methods to control them.

ICT WORKSHOP

A workshop on ICT was conducted toacquaint the farmers, extension staff and


team members of the Arid LandsInformation Network-East Africa with newtechnologies for accessing information.During the workshop, the 25 participantswere shown how to operate a computer,they were taught how to access informa-tion using CD-ROMs, and they performedan information-mapping exercise to under-stand and learn about local informationaccess and communication systems withina remote set-up. This exercise provided abenchmark for future assessment of the useof ICTs as tools in the context of commu-nity access to information.

OPEN KNOWLEDGE NETWORK

TRA IN ING

As a way to improve the integration ofindigenous knowledge into the docu-mentation, the Arid Lands InformationNetwork-East Africa incorporated atraining component on using the OpenKnowledge Network and installed theappropriate software and equipment.

The training workshop was attendedby 27 participants, including farmers,members of the Arid Lands InformationNetwork-East Africa, extension staff andlocal leaders (fig. 5). The Network members formed the Kyuso Focal Groupand elected a coordinating committee to oversee networking activities. The community information volunteerappointed by the Network to work at theInformation Supermarket documents andshares the Open Knowledge Networkcontent with the assistance of farmersand the extension team.

FIELD VAL IDAT ION BY FARMERS

Most of the district experienced a severeand prolonged drought when the rainsfailed during November and December2005 and from April to May 2006. Thisled to crop failure. Despite the drought,the farmers were enthusiastic and under-took some field validation of OISAT Info.

The field-validation protocol involvedthe focal-point farmers dedicating a portion of their farm to the validation ofOISAT Info. The land used was locatedsuch that other standard practices, e.g.,spraying with pesticides, did not affect thefield-validation plot. In addition, the management practices used on the plotswere similar to those used on the wholefarm. For example, if the farmer was intercropping maize and beans, then thisintercropping system was used on thefield-validation plot and on the rest of thefield. Extension workers then advised thefocal-point farmers on suitable and avail-able pest-management practices derivedfrom OISAT Info. Observations and data

Figure 5 A training workshop on the use ofWorldSpace radio and the Open KnowledgeNetwork to access development information.


collection were made at the same time onthe field-validation plot and the mainfield. Some of the parameters on thechecklist included the occurrence ofpests, efficacy of the treatment, yields,availability of raw materials, ease of appli-cation, side effects and the possibility ofscaling up the control method.

EXPER I ENCES OF THE

FOCAL-PO INT FARMERS

Maureen Mueni, whose farm is situat-ed at Kimangao village, about 15 kilome-tres from Kyuso town, set aside a plotmeasuring 75 metres by 75 metres andplanted maize and cowpeas, among othercrops. Stalk borers in the maize crop wereeliminated within a few days by placingsieved ash in funnels on the affected crops.

Grace Ndeti planted one kilogrammeof cowpea seeds on her farm. The youngplants were attacked by whiteflies, apionbeetles and aphids. Various formulationsrecommended by OISAT Info were onlypartially effective, so she decided to trysome indigenous knowledge provided byneighbours, which involved sprayingwith an infusion of onions. The apionbeetles disappeared completely and 21kilogrammes of cowpeas were harvested.Once a formulation had been shown towork on the OISAT Info plot, Ndetiextended the application to the wholefarm. She plans to continue using OISATInfo in the future since it is economical.

Julius Mwonga assisted a neighbourto apply OISAT Info information after hiscowpea crops had been attacked by

aphids and severely by apion beetles.Mwonga showed his neighbour how toprepare and apply the recommended for-mulation. After spraying with an aqueousextract of neem-tree leaves, the aphidscompletely disappeared but a few apionbeetles persisted. The crop, which was inthe podding stage, was resprayed withthe same formulation but at twice theconcentration. After two days, the apionbeetles disappeared completely, prompt-ing the farmer to apply the spray acrossthe whole farm.

Maluki Muneeni’s farm is situatedabout four kilometres from Kyuso market.He used sticky traps, a technique learnedduring an Arid Lands InformationNetwork-East Africa workshop, to checkfor pests and soon identified apion beetlesand aphids (fig. 6). He then prepared andsprayed the neem formulation. The num-ber of aphids was reduced after four daysbut the apion beetles persisted. Thisprompted him to apply the formulationone week later and the aphids were eradi-cated and a reduction in apion beetles was

Figure 6 Sticky traps used to catch pests foridentification.


noted. Mango trees in Muneeni’s orchardwere attacked by powdery mildew, so heprepared an extract of papaya leaves thathe sprayed four times. His efforts weresuccessful since one eight-year-old mangotree that had never yielded any fruit isnow cropping well.

Agnes Mughi is also an adult educatorand a farmer innovator. She is a rolemodel and an influential person in her village, which lies about eight kilometresfrom Kyuso market. She practises mixedfarming and has many different fruit trees,including pawpaws and mangoes. Sinceshe started applying OISAT Info informa-tion on her farm, she claims that her yieldshave increased tremendously. She has useda formulation of neem, for example, tocontrol the pod borer in her beans; aphids,leaf miners and thrips on her cowpeas andpigeon peas; and locusts on her maize.The stalk borer also attacked the leaves ofher maize crop, which she then treatedeffectively with wood ash and pepper.

PAT EN T I NG AND

COMMERC I A L I Z AT I ON

In order to sustain the project, the community has elected a focal-groupcommittee that coordinates the activitiesof the farmers’ Information Supermarket.This resource centre charges for typingservices and the charging of mobilephones and offers training in ICT skills foryoung people, for a fee. The committee isexploring other activities for generating

income. The National Agriculture andLivestock Extension Programme hasallocated a small budget for equipmentmaintenance.

PARTN E R SH I P S

This pilot project was an initiative ofPAN Germany as part of a concept, forthe medium term, of extending andstudying success factors governing theintroduction of OISAT Info for agricul-tural training, extension services and networks. The lead implementationorganization in Kenya was ParticipatoryEcological Land Use Management-Kenya. The five other implementingorganizations were the Arid LandsInformation Network-East Africa, in collaboration with the Ministry ofAgriculture (in Mwingi District), theSustainable Agriculture CommunityDevelopment Programme-Kenya (inMuranga District), the Kenya Institute ofOrganic Farming (in Maragua District)and the Sustainable Agriculture Centrefor Research and Development in Africa(in Bungoma District). Bread for theWorld funded about 80 per cent of thepilot activities and PAN Germany funded20 per cent of them.

REP L I C A B I L I T Y

This project could easily be replicated inother areas where small-scale farmers arelacking appropriate pest-control informa-


tion, especially those East African countriescovered by the Arid Lands InformationNetwork-East Africa. The Ministry ofAgriculture, in collaboration with theNational Agriculture and LivestockExtension Programme supported by theSwedish International DevelopmentCooperation Agency, is planning to scaleup efforts to initiate similar projects in otherregions of Kenya.

Many agricultural organizations haverequested the OISAT Info CD-ROM andare using the information for training stu-dents and farmers in alternative methodsof pest control. Some institutions such asthe Manor House Agricultural Centre(Kenya) have developed plans to set upsimilar information centres. The AridLands Information Network-East Africacontinues to share experiences among itsmembership in Ethiopia, Kenya, Ugandaand the United Republic of Tanzania.

POL I C Y IMP L I C AT I ON S

The Arid Lands Information Network-East Africa chose to work with theMinistry of Agriculture in order to keep itup to date regarding new advances in pestcontrol and management. The Ministrywas fully represented, from extension offi-cers to the district level. During the finalworkshop organized by PAN Germany,two senior representatives from theNational Agriculture and LivestockExtension Programme and the Ministrywere invited to participate. It is anticipated

that the officials will play a crucial role inpolicy issues on pest management.

I M PAC T

The impact of the project in the commu-nity has been felt in many ways.

SUCCESS OF THE RESOURCE CENTRE

Since its establishment, more than 1,350people have visited the KyusoCommunity Information Supermarket,including farmers, teachers, students andextension staff who have accessed infor-mation on various development issues.The resource centre is most popular withfarmers seeking information on how toimprove their agricultural production systems and it is particularly busy duringthe rainy season.

The centre has grown beyond offeringonly OISAT Info, providing informationon other appropriate and practical tech-nologies for development downloadedfrom different CD-ROMs provided by theArid Lands Information Network-EastAfrica, the Knowledge Centre for Small-Scale Sustainable Agriculture, theNetherlands and other sources.

Among the many visitors to the centre have been 60 students and fourtutors from the polytechnic college atKyuso, who obtained information oncontrolling aphids, whiteflies andgrasshoppers on kale and tomatoes.Other visitors include members of the


Kyuso fruit growers’ self-help group andrepresentatives of the Kakongoo farmerfield schools.

There has also been contact withlocal schools. For example, informationon haymaking and how to make black-stone and soap using local materials wasdownloaded by a teacher from the CD-ROM version of the journal Baobab,published by the Arid Lands InformationNetwork-East Africa. This informationenabled student members of the scienceclub at Kyuso Boys Secondary School toprepare exhibits that won first prize at ascience congress for district schools.

Information from the centre has alsobeen spread via the media. The KyusoOpen Day and launch of the InformationSupermarket were covered by theStandard, one of the leading daily newspa-pers in Kenya; more than 20 CD-ROMshave been disseminated regionally uponrequest; and local communities have composed traditional songs on pest management. In collaboration with theAgricultural Information Centre, a depart-ment of the Ministry of Agriculture withthe primary role of providing agriculturalinformation through the mass media tofarmers, extension staff and other interest-ed parties, the fourth Kyuso farmers’forum was featured on the national radiostation, KBC, on the programme Sikio LaMkulima (“The Farmer’s Ear”). This programme helped to spread OISAT Infonews nationally to many farmers who listen to obtain farming tips. There hasbeen overwhelming feedback from local

communities and the number of visitorsseeking information from the centre hasincreased.

IMPROVED NETWORK ING

AND STAFF CAPAC IT Y

At the network level, implementation ofOISAT Info was another opportunity toresearch and disseminate informationusing appropriate technologies thatenhance community development. Thenetwork continues to share experiencesfrom the pilot project with its regionalmembership. The capacity of the staffimplementing the project in areas such aspest management and the use of ICTs toaccess updated development informationhas increased tremendously. The interac-tion with farmers and the process of documenting their experiences usingalternatives to chemical pesticides andintroducing them to ICTs were an enrich-ing experience for network and AridLands Information Network-East Africastaff, who became better informed onissues such as pest identification and localfarmers’ knowledge. Staff from theMinistry of Agriculture and other work-ers in Kyuso have also learned ICT skillsand are more knowledgeable on pest-control alternatives.

INCREASED CAPAC IT YOF FARMERS

The capacity of 12 farmers to access anddownload information using ICTs has beenincreased. According to the InformationSupermarket assistant appointed by the


Arid Lands Information Network-EastAfrica, the farmers regularly use the com-puter and their skills are improving withtime. As expressed by Agnes Mughi, whoteaches adult classes and was a focal-pointfarmer on the project:

“When I first saw the computer at the Kyuso CommunityInformation Supermarket, I wasamazed at what it was. At first Ididn’t want to touch it. However,with encouragement, I was able tolearn how it operates. Following aperiod of two months spent learn-ing ICT skills, I’m now able to typeup my reports and send them tomy supervisor within the depart-ment of adult education atMwingi. I can also access informa-tion from CD-ROMs, print anduse it at my home. I’m nowencouraging and training otherfarmers to learn ICT skills.”

The capacity of the farmers to manage pests has increased following theintroduction of OISAT Info. Farmers areable to make the preparations confidentlyand share their experiences widelythrough organized forums. During thefarmers’ knowledge-sharing forums, farmers also shared their indigenousknowledge and this has created a pool ofvaluable local knowledge that contributesto farmers' livelihoods. Farmers nowspend less money on farm inputs and thussave money for other purposes, which isalso useful should crop failures occur.

Since August 2006, the project has

incorporated the Open KnowledgeNetwork system to strengthen the localsharing of information on diverse develop-ment issues among farmers in Kyuso andother regions. This has strengthened theOISAT Info initiatives and encouragedlocal communities to contribute and sharelocal knowledge more quickly and freely.

Since the end of the pilot project,farmers have continuously and success-fully used the available information tocontrol pests. In addition, the ICT com-ponent enables farmers to obtain muchmore information on other developmentissues, such as health and scholarshipopportunities. In early 2007, two farmerswere invited to participate at a high-levelexhibition, the Nairobi ICT Expo, organ-ized by the Ministry of Information andCommunications. During this event, thefarmers confidently articulated theirprowess in using ICTs for improved pestmanagement. Many groups, includingone from Laikipia District, visited Kyusoto learn pest management from the farmersduring an exchange visit organized inAugust 2007.

L E S SON S L EA RN ED

As part of the use of appropriate ICTtechnologies, the centre has GPRS equip-ment for accessing the Internet directlyusing the Safaricom network (Safaricom isa leading telecommunications companyoperating in Kenya). However, networkfluctuations have minimized direct accessof OISAT Info from the Internet; full


network connectivity is available only at adistance of 60 kilometres from Kyuso.Other practical issues include the need fortraining in maintenance practices aftersolar power was installed and the need fora photocopier to reduce printer mainte-nance costs.

In the rural area around Kyuso, thecommunications infrastructure is verypoor. This reduces access to theInformation Supermarket for farmerswho live at a distance.

The use of a language that is culturallyappropriate was critical to the successfulimplementation of the project. Theemployment of a local farmer who wastrained in ICT skills was advantageous inthat people were able to obtain informa-tion translated by a member of their owncommunity.

The time frame for the pilot projectwas quite short, especially given that theproject started in the middle of a growingseason. This necessitated the extension ofthe pilot phase. Even so, several farmerswere frustrated as they could not applyOISAT Info information over a completecropping cycle.

Some farmers lacked access to theraw materials for making appropriate formulations for controlling pests. Forexample, some farmers did not have aloeor neem trees on their farms and had toborrow ingredients from neighbours. Toovercome this, farmers are being encour-aged to plant trees and shrubs with therequired properties on their own farms.

Management of crop pests by farmersneeds to be planned from planting time,especially when considering the use ofpreventive measures. Farmers need tounderstand the common pests and thecrop stage that they attack and applytimely curative measures. Seeking immediate results, some farmers did notwait for the pest-control preparations tomature as stated in the recommendationsbut applied them prematurely, whichmeant that they were ineffective.

For some pests identified by the localfarmers, there is no known means of control. A good example is a beetle calledngetani in the local language, which isdestructive to mangoes and other cropssuch as cassava since it cuts through thestem of the plant. Farmers have also identified the need for more informationon storage pests.

The Kyuso Community InformationSupermarket is serving a wide community,not just farmers but also extension staff,teachers, local leaders and students,whose information requirements arequite varied.

Incorporation of OISAT Info intoschools offers an opportunity for youngfarmers to learn systems of pest manage-ment at an early stage and this knowledgecan be transferred to their parents at home.

Choosing focal-point farmers whoplay other roles in society enabled themore rapid flow and diffusion of informa-tion from farmer to farmer in the villages.


The successful implementation of thepilot project was the result of good teamspirit and solid partnerships between theimplementing organizations, the involve-ment of farmers from the initial planningstage, and the interest shown by thefarming community in trying new ideas.Indeed, the project fitted well within theestablished farmer field schools.

FUTUR E P L AN S

The Arid Lands Information Network-EastAfrica and the National Agriculture andLivestock Extension Programme intend to equip the Information Supermarket,now known as the Kyuso CommunityKnowledge Centre, with more ICT equip-ment in response to increased demand forservices and training in ICT skills.

The project will focus on documenta-tion of the more innovative pest-management practices by farmers andprovide feedback for inclusion in OISATInfo. For example, there is a need formore research on emerging local pestssuch as ngetani so as to acquire and disseminate appropriate information onhow they may be controlled.

A farmers’ committee is in place andwill begin to involve more farmers in the management of the InformationSupermarket in order to foster sustain-ability and to acquire additional appro-priate information resources from othersources and partners.

The Kyuso experience is being scaled

up to include more farmers in the district;notice boards are being placed at strategicmarket places and more demonstrationsare being given at different farmer fieldschools. Project staff from the Arid LandsInformation Network-East Africa and theMinistry of Agriculture offer technicalsupport to farmers in other districts withan interest in setting up similar informa-tion supermarkets. The NationalAgriculture and Livestock ExtensionProgramme has planned to set up fivesuch sites in different districts.

In the future, more schools, bothlocal and regional, will be involved in theproject to establish young farmers’ clubsto use the information available at thesupermarket as a learning tool. The AridLands Information Network-East Africauses the journal Baobab and the OpenKnowledge Network platform to reachother members in different countries. Asa result, it responds to informationrequests from Ethiopia, Uganda and theUnited Republic of Tanzania by sendingCD-ROMs or specific information.Overall, the Arid Lands InformationNetwork-East Africa, PAN Germany andthe Kyuso community are realizing theproject goal of the large-scale dissemina-tion of OISAT Info.

P U B L I C AT I O N S

Amollo, Diana and Lusaka, Noah,OISAT Info at the NAIROBI ICT Expo 07 (a report available at:www.oisat.org/fulltext_docs.php?category=oisat_documents).


Information for non-chemical pest management in Africa, Baobab, no. 41,August 2004.

OISAT: Pilot project takes off in Kenya,Baobab, no. 43, April 2005.

Termite control without chemicals,Baobab, no. 43, April 2005.

NB: Relevant articles in Baobab, no. 43,were also circulated within the OpenKnowledge Network framework(196.201.231.147/eNRICH).

OISAT Info – the Kyuso farmers’ experiences, an eight-page pullout published in Baobab, no. 46 (available at:www.oisat.org/downloads/OISAT_pull_out1.pdf).

Case Study Prepared by:

Noah Lusaka Manager, Capacity Building and Partnerships Arid Lands Information Network-East AfricaP. O. Box 10098 - 00100 G.P.O. Nairobi, Kenya Tel.: (+254) 20 2731557 Fax: (+254) 20 2737813E-mail: [email protected]

James NguoRegional DirectorArid Lands Information Network-East AfricaTel.: (+254) 20 2731557Fax: (+254) 20 2737813 E-mail: [email protected]

Project Participants:

Antony Kavisi, divisional crops extension worker, Kyuso.

Nasser Wekesa, divisional agriculturalofficer, Kyuso.

Maryleen Micheni, ParticipatoryEcological Land Use Management-Kenya, OISAT Info project coordinator.

Gabriel Stoll, PAN Germany, OISATInfo project coordinator.

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