1. University’s Engagement with Small Scale Farmers through Student Attachment Program

2. Egerton University Vision & Mission
To be a world class university for the advancement of humanity
Mission
To offer exemplary education to society and generate knowledge for national and global development

3. Egerton University
Focus;
Agriculture
Environment

4. Relevant Strategic Objectives
SO1: Improve the quality of higher education and training
SO2: Increase research, consultancy and community outreach
SO4: Increase linkages and collaborations
These have a direct bearing on FA program

5. Role of Egerton University
Generation of information and training
 Dissemination of agricultural information through facilitating participatory learning
Production of agroecological relevant information materials
student attachment programs that can serve as an avenue of dissemination

6. Dissemination of information
Effective dissemination of relevant agricultural information enhance agricultural services
 Source of information for small holder farmers is mainly local – neighbours, markets, CBOs
Current government strategy includes private – public partnership

7. Extension System (up to 3.2013)
Households receiving extension training achieve significant productivity improvement
Farmers’ improvement in knowledge and skill is not a sufficient condition for adoption.
Most effective duration to spend in a focal area is 3 to 5 years
Poor market and capital access and availability of labour were major constraints to adoption.

8. Extension System (after 3.2013)
Extension devolved to Counties
Yet to mature

9. The Current situation
In high altitude areas 90% of the farms are under 10 acres
Average age of farmers is > 60 years
Majority of them practice subsistence agriculture

10. Program Objectives The main goal of this program is to :
contribute to enhanced agricultural productivity through development of agricultural professionals with practical field experience and who will effectively catalyse sustainable rural development:

11. Specific Objectives
1) Create and strengthen linkages between universities, farming communities and other stakeholders to improve service delivery and market access (2) Develop a framework for farmers’ interaction with key stakeholders to obtain appropriate solutions using novel approaches such as mobile-based technologies (3) Pilot experiential learning for undergraduate students with practical agricultural advisory techniques

12. Program implementation
Egerton implements an internship program in which interns will engage the same farmer(s) continuously for at least 3 to 5 consecutive years
Each cohort of students will build on and follow-up on recommendations of the previous group.
The program will involve different stakeholders to ensure that relevant information is communicated to the farmers

13. Expected Benefits/Outputs
Increased awareness and utilization of available agricultural technologies by farmers.
Increased productivity at farm level which translates to improved livelihoods at the farming household level.
Graduates with hands-on experience of real farm situations, hence increasing their chance for self or institutional employment

14. Expected Benefits/Outputs Cont
Improved linkages between Egerton University, ASPs and farmers that will influence curricula development and research agenda.
Increased customer base for agricultural service providers and increased visibility.

15. Facts about the Program
Program started in November 2013 with a stakeholders meeting that brought together
Farmers
Ministry of Agriculture officials
Regulatory bodies for agricultural input e.g. KEPHIS
NGOs
Banks
University staff & students
The first group of 28 students were attached to 26 farmers in Jan – Mar 2014
Overall positive feedback was received in April from farmers and students

16. Farmers’ Feedback
Posting of students on the farms should be done when farm activities are many
Identification of students, prior to meeting with student
Networking of the farmers and the university should be enhanced and formalized
Some students were not open
University to consider immediate benefit for the farmer e.g. free soil testing, inputs
Involvement of farmers during research
Certificates of participation in the program

17. Students’ feedback Communication barriers
Financial challenges for students who did not get accommodation, transport cost, finances for implementation of advised
Feeling that some farmers were too knowledge
Farmers’ expectation were too high
Some students were treated as casual labours

18. Second group of students attached June – August, 2014
A stakeholders meeting was held on 23 May, 2014 in which 40 farmers, 22 students and 9 staff members attended. The program for this second stakeholders meeting was similar to that of November 2013.
A total of 28 students have been attached for this session. The students were fewer that the farmers interested in the program.
Farmers are drawn from Nakuru and Baringo Counties

19. Contacts
James K Tuitoek
Vice Chancellor, Egerton University
P O Box 536, Njoro, Kenya

20. Questions?
THANK YOU