Future Perfect

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ustainable

agriculture

wildlife

food

security

consumption

and

production

patterns

link between information sources and end users. Therefore, the

programme combines investment in content development, technol-

ogy dissemination and human resource development aimed at the

training of farming communities.

To allow trainers, extension workers and farmers quick access

to up-to-date, user-friendly, locally relevant and practical informa-

tion, the web-based platform Infonet-Biovision was developed.

The

platform already provides information on more than 45 major crops,

vegetables and fruits grown in Africa, as well as on cultural methods

of controlling more than 685 pests. It also provides information on

various medicinal plants; value addition and preservation of fruits;

sustainable soil, water and land management; animal husbandry

and the control of various plant and animal diseases. This wealth

of information is easily available for farmers practicing ecological

organic agriculture, at no cost through the FCP dissemination chan-

nels or at a little cost by accessing it through the internet.

The Organic Farmer magazine is a monthly publication featur-

ing articles on ecological organic agriculture, with 21,000 copies

mainly distributed to farmers’ groups and institutions. The publica-

tion currently reaches about 180,000 farmers in Kenya, Uganda and

Tanzania. Due to the immense success of this magazine in the English

language and growing demand for such information in neighbour-

ing countries, a Kiswahili language edition was launched with 8,000

copies in Tanzania. The demand for this magazine, called Mkulima

Mbunifu (or The Creative Farmer) has grown rapidly and its circula-

tion is likely to increase as more resources become available.

To further improve outreach to farmers, information on ecological

organic agricultural practices and innovations has also been broad-

cast on the radio. Through a partnership with the Farmers’ Radio

Programme (Kilimo Hai), broadcasts on hands-on agricultural prac-

tices and innovations reach farmers once a week via the popular

national station of the Kenya Broadcasting Company and the local

radio station Milele FM. Many more radio stations – in particular

local stations – will join the FCP programme in the future.

Outreach and partnerships

In addition to radio, print and online dissemination chan-

nels, the FCP also strives to be present on the ground in

farmers’ and teachers’ interactions. To this end, the field

outreach programme employs tools to promote ecologi-

cal organic farming methods among farmers through

community managed resource centres and information

hubs. The programme largely uses trained extension staff

as well as a network of community information workers

(CIWs), who are paraprofessionals linked to these facili-

ties. The field officers use a small laptop in order to create

a bridge between the information provided by the FCP and

the farmers. The CIWs assist the communities to improve

organizational matters, visit farmer groups to create aware-

ness about ecological organic farming, and document

information needs to enhance programme responsive-

ness. Moreover, there is also a side benefit of the way

FCP works: since access to knowledge can be a powerful

service to attract members to a farmers’ association, it can

also contribute to strengthening farmers’ organizations.

Working together to build partnerships is crucial

for an effort such as the Biovision FCP. As such, the

programme also includes advocacy to promote a suit-

able policy environment for ecological organic farming.

For example, the FCP programme has a partnership

with the Kenya Agriculture Research Institute (KARI)

and community-based organizations (CBOs). Under

this arrangement, the research institute provides space

and some facilities, while the FCP assists with manage-

ment of the resource centres and equips the network of

CIWs with small laptops and training. The programme

also works with other partners, including the Ministry

of Agriculture, non-governmental organizations and

communities. For example, in 2011, access to Infonet-

The Organic Farmer

magazine is distributed to farmers’ groups in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania