Innovators shine at Eldoret ASK show

Mechanical and Automotive students of Rift Valley Technical and Training Institute (RVTTI), Mark Simiyu and Kelvin Kirimi (right) assemble motorcycling automatic machine at their exhibition stand during the official opening of the Eldoret Agricultural Society of Kenya Show in Uasin Gishu. [Peter Ochieng, Standard] It was innovations galore at the Eldoret Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) national show as technology played centre stage in this year's trade fair. The innovations mainly focused on agricultural production, value addition, animal feed production and environmental conservation and were an attraction to the hundreds of showgoers during the three-day exhibition that closed its doors last Saturday. The annual show - the first in the ASK calendar of events, was held at the Eldoret Showground in Uasin Gishu County, the hub of North Rift, a region best known as the country's food basket. A man prepares his wheat farm before the official opening of the Agricultural Society of Kenya Show. [Peter Ochieng, Standard] The show attracted over 200 exhibitors from sectors such as Agriculture, Manufacturing, Housing, Small and Medium Enterprises, Banking, Public and Private Sector Institutions, Hospitality and Education. The new technologies and innovations on display were in line with the dreams of this year's exhibition, whose theme was; "Promoting Climate Smart Agriculture and Trade Initiatives for Sustainable Economic Growth" and was officially opened by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The DP said the show presented a platform where agricultural producers shared knowledge and experience in the latest production skills to both conserve the environment and enhance the country's food security. "Investing in new technologies will address the adverse impact of climate change and also boost productivity in the Agriculture sector," noted Gachagua. He said the sector is a pillar of social-economic transformation saying President William Ruto's administration has given priority to input subsidy programs to lower operational costs and save the country from the famine situation currently experienced in parts of the country. Gachagua said fertilizer is now retailing at Sh3,500 per 50-kg bag down from Sh7,000 in the previous season and urged farmers across the country to expand maize production, which would help lower the cost of food. From a self-intelligent Robot that performs simple tasks, a chicken manure heated brooder project to recycled plastics for internal decorations and environmental sustainability - projects of The Eldoret National Polytechnic (TENP) to a multipurpose agricultural machine, garbage cutter of Rift Valley Technical and Training Institute (RVTTI) Eldoret were the centre of attraction. Those eager to embrace new technologies and climate-smart initiatives were also attracted to the Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) stand, where modern beehives and modified traditional log beehives and honey processing and packaging were showcased. Also on display was Eldoret Technical Training Institute (ETTI) hydroponic fodder technology that is used to produce feed for poultry, pigs and dairy cows under a screen shade net. Various farm implements and machinery including Beans Thresher, multi functional high-speed chaff cutter and roller mills were also of attraction and displayed by Mosek Farm Machinery. "Our diploma trainees in the Applied Science and Agriculture department innovated the chicken manure heated brooder which works in the principle of providing heat to newly hatched chicks," said Rotich Kipkoech, who heads Tivet Fairs and exhibitions department at The Eldoret National Polytechnic (TENP). Mosek farm machinery staff assemble heavy-duty chaff cutter machines at their exhibition stand in Eldoret. [Peter Ochieng, Standard] He says the innovation works without the ordinary methods of buying charcoal, firewood or use of electricity to source heat for newly hatched chicks. "It is climate smart technology since a poultry farmer only needs to collect chicken droppings, which are ordinarily discarded as waste. The manure is inserted in an enclosure below a compartment where day-old to 30 days-old chicken is kept," said Mr Rotich. He describes the innovation as a simple wooden structure that has the advantage of being portable since a farmer can move with it. "It is also climate-smart friendly since it is simple to construct, hence affordable to the high population below the economic pyramid and meets Kenya Kwanza's manifesto to empower those below the pyramid. Farmers can value-add manure by using it to generate heat before being used as compost manure," said Rotich. Rotich also explained the robot machine innovation by Electrical and Computing department as part of mechanising farming from planting, spraying and harvesting. "The robot can mark the maize plantation lines for easy management of processes including planting, spraying. The robot can intelligently do spraying without any personnel involved. We can do agriculture 24 hours because it is not weather dependent and can also work in any terrain," he said. Rotich added that herbicides are attached to the robot that can independently do the spraying. The innovation can also assist in surveillance and provide information on diseases or incidences of theft. The perimeter surveillance reduces costs of using a car to move around a farm. The motivation to the innovation was because of the need to lower the cost of production in farming to enhance income. The institution also showcased environmental conservation initiatives through recycling of plastic materials into attractive laundry baskets and attractive interior decorations. Mr Charles Koech, the Chief Principal TENP said the institution has invested in new technologies to propel the country's economic growth through innovations by trainees. "We encourage innovations and creativity, which provides solutions to societal challenges. TENP is streamlining curricular into skill areas that are competence based and practical," said Mr Koech. At the RVTTI stand, a multipurpose agricultural machine, which is a modification of a motorbike into a simple tractor that can plant and spray maize farms. Mark Simiyu Kusimba, a student of Diploma in Automotive Engineering, said their department came up with the innovation to drive cheap and cost-effective planter. The innovation plants two lines and has a pump that can apply chemical sprays while planting. "The innovation has chambers that hold seeds and fertilizer. It has a gadget that monitors the planting process and gives a warning in case of any interruption in the dropping of seeds or fertilizer. It is operated by one person and has an ability of planting an acre of land per hour with a fuel cost of Sh 300," said Kusimba. Naomi Nafula, also of RVTTI was an attraction in showcasing an innovation that can be used by schools, hospitality facilities among other institution for garbage slicer. "The garbage slicer is powered by a mortar and uses a battery or solar to operate. The project targets mama mboga, schools and hotels for effective slicing of garbage for food. It has stainless steel blades and is simple, efficient and safe in handling," said Nafula of Automotive and mechanical department. And Edwin Korir and Amos Juma, also of RVTTI were proud to display their wooden innovation that can simply roll chapatti for a fast mass production. "The wooden innovation can help produce chapati of the same sizes and is ideal both for individual household and in hospitality facilities that requires mass production," said Korir. At the KVDA stand, it was a blend of traditional and modern beehives for the production of quality honey. "Beekeeping is a resource that exist in Arid and Semi Arid Lands (Asal) and KVDA belives it can be utilised for the benefit of the ordinary citizens to improve income. In the country, most traditional beehives are log hives and the bulk of honey comes out of it," said Mr Paul Chepkener, the KVDA regional manager, Baringo region. Also of attraction for dairy farmers was the multipurpose chaff cutter and thrashing machine displayed by Mosek Farm machinery. The machine processes harvested fodder in readiness for silage making, hence an ideal for dairy farmers. Livestock feeds were also of great attraction, with farmers thronging the display of Pakchong 1, supper nappier that is fast-growing and has crude protein percentage of 17 to 19. The fodder, a new variety developed from Thailand was displayed by a Nyeri farmer Mr Githaiga Kihara, who has specialized in fodder production. The grass has high yield capacity and can be harvested up to eight times annually, hence being ideal for farmers who make silage for their livestock. "An acre of Pakchong 1 supper Napier can produce 200 tonnes of fodder annually and has capacity of feeding 15- 18 dairy cows," said Mr Kihara who gave farmers an opportunity to buy cuttings of the fodder for planting.

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