A sign of the times

An agroforestry demonstration project in Kenya, which ran from 1993-1996, set out to promote ecologically sustainable agricultural practices in the Mount Kenya region. A network of demonstration farms was established, and they still serve as the venues for practical training in eco-farming technologies including agro-silvo-aquaculture (integration of crop, tree and fish farming), earthworm farming, bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers. Local extension activities were highly successful, but reaching other farmers in the vast Mount Kenya region was a major problem. A participatory monitoring and evaluation process (PAME) led to two main recommendations: 1. Establish a network of community resource telecentres that would facilitate the exchange of agricultural information. (A telecentre uses computer-mediated communication to provide information services to a local community.) 2. Establish a network of local youth groups to initiate similar projects in their home villages. The network of youth groups now operates under the name Mount Kenya Youth Development Association, and Mount Kenya Multipurpose Community Telecentres Development Project is famed throughout Africa. drawn from the CTA Website list of AfagrictAn agroforestry demonstration project in Kenya, which ran from 1993-1996, set out to promote ecologically sustainable agricultural practices in the Mount Kenya region. A network of demonstration farms was established, and they still serve as the..