MARIGAT FOCAL GROUP FARMERS FIELD VISIT

In a bid to reach to more community members especially farmers Marigat focal group members had a farmer’s field visit on 7th April. The aim of the visit was to share with the farmers how they can make good use of the information offered in the centre in order to aim. Despite the arid nature of Marigat these farmers are making good use of available resources though scarce to improve their livelihoods through farming.
The first to receive us on her farm was Mrs. Veronica Salim who practices mixed farming. She has planted tomatoes, finger millet, kales (sukuma wiki), paw trees, mango trees, water melon occupying about half an acre, Napier grass and Masai love grass that does well on tropical climate. With the help of her husband she also produces about 20 liters of milk from several heads of cattle they keep and sells very well in the neighborhood and the local trading center.
They also look forward to making good use of cow dung to produce the so needed energy if they get resources and appropriate technology. Mrs. Salim’s two and half arable land within Zero Grazing zone in Marigat Township flourishes during good rainy seasons. She confidently told us that the fruits of her hand from the farm have fed her family and educated her children.
Just like any other good work that never lack challenges Mrs. Salim decried frequent drought and unstable market that sometimes render her family’s effort run into losses. When drought hits the River Perkera catchment area water for irrigation dwindles leaving Mrs. Salim and her neighbors gazing at the sky. She, however remain optimistic that the situation is bound to change for the better because the market is improving and the government is laying down plans for irrigation dams.

In the afternoon we went to visit another farmer who tried his hand on grass farming. Mr Julius owns 26 acres of land in Salabani about five kilometers to the North of Marigat. He told us that he bought grass seeds from RAE trust an NGO that deals with land rehabilitation of and planted on machine prepared ground. He hoped to see the grass grow and meet his expectation in the measured time but unfortunately suffered some set back during the 2009 severe drought that made the grass grow sparsely. However he remains encouraged that not all is lost with the good rain being expected this year more seeds will fill empty spaces.
Julius plans to use the grass to raise beef cattle for sale and also harvest it and sell it in form of hay. His main challenge is straying goats that grazes on the grass despite the good hedge of cactus he has spent a lot of money on.
Both farmers where offered copies of Kilimo Endelevu and Baobab magazine and recruited as ALIN members so that they could be receiving the copies on a regular basis.