Celebrating World Food Day 2014

By Teresa Ndirangu

The world food day is celebrated every year in the month of October. This year the celebration was done on October 16, 2014.The Kenya Organic Agriculture Network (KOAN), Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN), Earth Oil Limited and other grantees of United Nations Development Program Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (UNDP GEF SGP) from Laikipia County joined other stakeholders for the World Food Day celebration.

The function which was attended by more than 400 community members was held at Mr. Kimotho’s farm, Mirera ward, Laikipia County. More than 10 different institutions from government and non-governmental organizations exhibited their products and services. 

Farmers at KOAN/Earth-oil Stand

 The theme of this year’s World Food Day was Feeding the World, Caring for the Earth through Family Farming.   The expectation is that, in the 21st century family farming should promote practices that will reduce or eradicate hunger and poverty.  The result hence should be food security and nutrition, improved livelihoods, proper management of natural resources, protecting the environment, and therefore sustainable development.

Among the exhibitors was the Ministry of Agriculture, livestock and fisheries   (MOALF) which was also the main organizer of the event. They demonstrated different activities like soil harvesting, good animals husbandry and value addition.

 KOAN and Earth Oil jointly attended the world food day and exhibited on the same stand. The massage that they had was in line with the day’s theme.  They were promoting organic production which is safe, economical, sustainable and environmentally friendly. Earth Oil exhibited samples of tea tree production and the products made by Tea Tree oil. They emphasized on the benefits of organic tea tree production especially in semi arid areas like Laikipia. KOAN gave general information about organic farming and literature. 

ALIN exhibited various services and also trained farmers on the following: Keeping farm records, ALIN/UNDP GEF SGP project, climate change mitigation and adaptation mechanisms and about SOKO+.

Another exhibitor was Soil Kit. They demonstrated to farmers the important of soil testing. Other exhibitors included; solar company promoting solar lamps and chargers and women groups doing value addition. 

The event proved to be informative to most farmers. The KOAN/Earth Oil stand was a buzz of activities as many farmers visited their stand to inquire about organic farming both for Tea Tree and other food crop production. More than 75 percent of those who visited the stand requested for more information on how to register with Earth Oil with some promising to do a follow up by visiting Earth Oil offices in Nanyuki.