JKUAT Takes In-Country Training to Turkana West.
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has completed a week-long training on climate-smart agricultural practices for participants from Turkana West. The induction aimed to build the capacity of local farmers was implemented under the In-Country training program, with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The training, held from 8th to 13thDecember 2025, in Turkana West Sub-County (Kakuma), brought together 53 participants, including farmers, trainers, and agricultural experts, for intensive, hands-on sessions designed to enhance productivity and resilience in challenging climatic conditions.
Throughout the training, participants were introduced to a wide range of climate-responsive practices, including land preparation, soil fertility management, drought-tolerant crops, indigenous African vegetables, livestock disease and pest control, poultry production, water harvesting, and efficient irrigation management. The modules have been tailored to address real farming constraints in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) in Turkana County, enabling farmers to adopt practical and sustainable solutions.
A key highlight of the program was the establishment of demonstration farms, which served as practical learning platforms where farmers observed, tested, and applied climate-smart innovations. These demonstration sites are expected to remain as community learning hubs, supporting continuous skills development beyond the training period.
Jeremiah Mbugua, Director of the Extension Services and Community Outreach (ESCO) at JKUAT , articulated the initiative’s long-term vision and objectives, emphasizing that sustainable agricultural transformation is best achieved through practical, community-centered capacity-building that directly responds to local needs and challenges.
He further noted that the collaboration between JKUAT, JICA, and the County Government of Turkana is critical in strengthening extension support, scaling climate-smart innovations, and bridging the gap between research and practice.
“Our role as a university is to take research to the people. Through partnerships such as this, we are translating science into solutions that improve food security, livelihoods, and resilience for communities in Arid and Semi-Arid regions,” Mr. Mbugua said.
The programme also emphasized value addition and agribusiness skills as a pathway to improved household incomes. Among the practices showcased were the production of yoghurt, fruit juices, tomato sauce, detergents, and beauty lotions. The sessions introduced participants to small-scale processing techniques that reduce post-harvest losses, improve product quality, and create opportunities for enterprise development.
The current initiative builds on earlier capacity-building efforts under the enhanced In-Country Training Programme, through which JKUAT trained 30 Trainers of Trainers (ToTs) to support development interventions in ASAL and refugee-hosting communities. 10 of the ToTs actively supported the Turkana West training, working closely with facilitators and farmers to guide practical demonstrations and strengthen knowledge transfer from theory to practice.
