This archive report was first published on 27 September 2019.
On September 27, 2019, Baraka Agricultural College in Molo hosted a farmers' field day, attracting participants from Nakuru, Bomet, and Kericho counties.
The event, themed 'Agricultural innovations for food security and improved livelihoods,' provided a platform for farmers to learn about modern farming techniques, including beekeeping, fish farming, greenhouse technology, and organic farming.
Experts at the college took the students and farmers through sustainable agriculture with minimal chemical use, agribusiness, and agro-processing.
Ms. Percy Njeri, a crops tutor and short course coordinator at the institution, emphasized the importance of exposing farmers to various innovations and technologies in modernized agriculture.
'We trained farmers on safe chemical use, considering the rising cases of cancer which is partly blamed on usage of chemicals in our farms,' said Njeri.
Mr. Joseph Kibowen from Sotik lamented that growing maize is no longer profitable due to the decline in production caused by fall army worms.
However, he expressed hope that the knowledge gained from the event would help him tackle the menace.
At the sheep section, farmers received tips on how to shave the animals and control ticks by spraying them on a weekly basis.
Mr. Dennis Cheruiyot, a first-year student, noted that carrot farming would be profitable if farmers stick to modern farming methods.
