The (hands-on) seminar

With relatively little effort SOF-DI enabled smallholders in Kenya’s Western Provinces to double their crop yields by the organic farming techniques it introduced to them. The experiences of SOF-DI’s projects have mirrored the results of studies of 114 organic farming projects in 24 African countries by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Published recently, the studies showed the farms performed better than chemically intensive, conventional agriculture. The results showed that sustained improvements in soil, water retention and evaporative resistance are some of the factors behind the success.


SOF-DI supervises the smallholders in weekly workshops on techniques of organic farming. The instructors at SOF-DI hold a diploma from the Kenya Institute of Organic Farming (KIOF) and attend on-going, professional training.

The farmers study the management of natural resources on their farms, incuding:

• Improvement of the soil fertility by means of composting, intercropping and organic fertilizer (“green” manure)
• Soil Conservation, prevention of soil erosion
• New, efficient, cultivation techniques
• Production of organic fertilizer, biological insecticides and pesticides
• Natural irrigation techniques
• Higher diversity of crops
• Appropriate storage of harvest and seeds
• Biological animal husbandry

The successful application of the acquired theory leads to:

• Significantly higher yields (100% per cent)
• No dependence on expensive, soil-leaching chemicals
• Better health due to sufficient healthy foods
• Income generation due to higher yields
• Enabling the self-determination of farmers due to better opportunities
• Prevention of passivity and apathy due to more intense work input.

Post-seminar support of farmers by SOF-DI:

• Farmers are visited by instructors on their farms and receive advice and support
• Courses in basic knowledge of nutritional sciences.
• Monthly meetings at the SOF-DI centres in order to exchange knowledge.
• Promotion of education and registration as Community Based Organisation (CBOs), comprising 15-30 members represented by three farmers.
• Support of groups, and encouragement of participation in activities and initiatives. Non-active members are excluded by SOF-DI.
• The groups are compelled to compile reports in order to enable SOF-DI to follow up their progress
• Access to SOF-DI’s seed bank.

To date approximately 1500 people have been trained by SOF-DI. In addition SOFDI conducts regular seminars in secondary schools and other institutions.