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By Jensen Njagi
At the heart of CBEN practices is the Farmer Research Network (FRN) - an innovative network of farmers working together to transform their farming practices, including embracing CBE principles. It’s a network where members learn from one another, leaving no one behind towards shared prosperity. The economic reality of many smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa is that many struggle to make ends meet day-to-day let alone season-to-season, in part due to exorbitant prices of synthetic fertilizers. While synthetic fertilizers often lead to greater yields, they are expensive, frequently inaccessible , and can cause environmental damage that often goes unaccounted for in economic transactions (Mr Otoo et. al) . The dependence on external chemical inputs in Kenya is a bigger systemic problem that must be addressed sustainably .
Meeting some of the members of the FRN in Mumias, Western Kenya.
Finding the Secret Ingredients.
The FRN in Western Kenya has embraced CBE with so much enthusiasm, and it’s becoming infectious! After a very warm reception, we were given a detailed tour of the different maize plot trials that utilized CBE principles to support maize production and improve soil health. In these plots, “Real Organic” - a fecal sludge-based organic fertilizer made by the farmers from the contents of their pit latrines - was applied during planting, and “Super Gold” - human urine collected by the farmers themselves - was used to top dress. Most of these plots were doing well compared to plots grown without any fertilizer and exhibited comparable performance to plots grown with synthetic fertilizers. FRN's pioneering efforts had begun to show promising results. Not only are they pioneers, but they are also incremental strategists leveraging CBE to address many challenges at once- improved yields and soil health as well as economic sustainability.
Left: Mr. Harun, Farmer Leader, showcasing the ‘Super Gold’. Right: ‘Fresh Life’ prepared by Mr. Harun and his team.
From one to two, from two to many, and from many to a thriving network.
Pioneering farmers within the network such as Harun, a Farmer Leader in the region, inspire those around them, who in turn inspire others. To us, this is a perfect example of one of the ways that lasting change happens; the accumulation of power and agency at the grassroots and individual levels (Duncan Green). This, and their creative power has even inspired us further to continue strengthening and fostering the relationships between the farmers and other key stakeholders working in the CBE space such as companies and organizations working around the production of organic fertilizers and soil amendments.
The Mumias FRN.
Shared Prosperity in a People-Centred Economy.
Our efforts draw a lot of inspiration from community-led development and capability approach that aims at enabling people to become agents of change in their own lives and communities
For instance, besides helping the farmers set up the “Super Gold” and “Real Organic” field trials, Prof. Midega will be helping them conduct an economic analysis of using “Super Gold” and “Real Organic” versus synthetic fertilizers by calculating the net profit for each approach. We’re not the only experts here; a lot of our engagements involve a lot of learning - learning at heart with an action-based mindset that empowers everyone in the process.
Field discussions facilitated by Mr. Harun, Mr. Patrick, Prof. Charles, and Prof. Rebecca.
-Ends
Jensen Njagi is a senior at Cornell University majoring in Development Economics and International Development with minors in Global Health and Business. He’s a Laidlaw Research Scholar receiving mentorship from Professor. Charles Midega, and Professor. Rebecca Nelson. His research at PHIS and the Nelson Lab is focused on nutrient recovery from organic waste streams for reuse in Agriculture.
References:
Dean Karlan and Jacob Appel, More Than Good Intentions: Improving the Ways the World’s Poor Borrow, Save, Farm, Learn, and Stay Healthy (Penguin Publishing Group, 2011), chap. 8.
M. Otoo et al., “Market Adoption and Diffusion of Fecal Sludge-Based Fertilizer in Developing Countries: Crosscountry Analyses” (International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE), 2018), https://doi.org/10.5337/2018.228.
Emmanuel Atamba, “Why Agriculture Needs More than Just Fertiliser Subsidies,” Business Daily, September 22, 2022, https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/opinion-analysis/columnists/why-agriculture-needs-more-than-just-fertiliser-subsidies-3958684.
Duncan Green, How Change Happens (Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 2018), chap. 1.
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