How modern information sharing can transform farms and lives

Nelson Maina - Public Relations Manager, Elgon Kenya Limited

More than three quarters of smallholder farmers in Kenya and the region are stuck with low yields at every harvesting season in what researchers attribute to a systemic information gap on vital farming techniques. The situation is further exacerbated by the changes in weather which have gone on to depress rainfall and ultimately take a toll on yields. Ironically Kenya is home to dozens of research institutions of international repute that continue to produce groundbreaking innovation and findings. From drought tolerant and high yielding crop varieties to state of the art pest and disease control arsenals, even Kenyan scientists have gone on to win worlds most coveted acclaims.  

But farmers continue to struggle with varieties that yield dismal returns per unit area, pests and diseases that are responsible for up to 40 per cent of yield losses, post-harvest losses as produce takes long to get to markets, and even when they do poor prices as market forces like oversupply and rogue traders conspire against farmers.