IPNI’s farmer-friendly fertilizer information
Case notes on how ASHC has supported IPNI’s work in Kenya
Nathaniel Ndemba has a reason to smile. He is a smallholder farmer from Siaya County, who is now harvesting 40 bags of maize from his 2-acre farm – up from just 10 bags!
Nathaniel’s success story is one of many in his community who have benefitted from the International Plant Nutrition Institute’s (IPNI) 4R Nutrient Stewardship project intervention in Western Kenya. 4R is about the best fertilizer management practices, that is:
- applying the right fertilizer source
- at the right rate
- at the right time in the growing season
- in the right place
Nathaniel was trained on using the right source of fertilizer for his farm, which had very low levels of potassium (K). DAP and CAN fertilisers do not contain potassium and so could not address the potassium deficiency in his soil. This led to the low yield of just 10 x 90 kg bags. He is now using NPK fertilizer, which provides balanced nutrition for his maize, consequently the yields increased.
Launched in January 2013, phase 1 of the 4R project seeks to address and close the gap between farmers’ low yields and the higher yields achieved
in scientists’ research trials. The low yields have been attributed to poor crop and fertilizer management, widespread nutrient deficiencies and depletion of soil fertility. According to Samuel Njoroge, the 4R project manager, on-farm demonstrations, training workshops and field days, and knowledge products can be shared though media and ICT platforms to inform farmers, extension agents and fertilizer dealers about 4R practices.
“We recognise CABI for their significant support in the project so far. Their expertise in developing 4R communication materials and preparing and field-testing a questionnaire to measure the impact of the materials is commendable” said Dr Shamie Zingore, IPNI’s regional director for sub-Saharan Africa. At a project review meeting in January 2014, IPNI’s President Dr Terry Roberts presented a certificate of appreciation to CABI for their outstanding partnership with the 4R project. Over 20 participants were in attendance from AGRA, a range of NGOs, international agricultural research organisations, the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, the University of Nairobi and IPNI’s private sector partners Kenya Seed Company Limited and MEA Limited. The first phase of the 4R project is supported by Agrium, a leading global producer and marketer of agricultural nutrients and industrial products. It will run until December 2016.
The review meeting looked at the outputs from first year. Project activities with research and development stakeholders and partners were also discussed. Grace Omondi, the communications specialist at ASHC, explains how the team worked with IPNI. ”IPNI approached ASHC with a clear brief. They wanted materials to help smallholder farmers to understand the value of three nutrients – nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. They had identified that the best approach was to have a leaflet and a poster for each of the three nutrients. When ASHC had completed the materials they were tested on a diverse group.” In November 2013 IPNI held a field day for farmers in Gem district, Western Kenya. The event was an opportunity to test ASHC materials developed for IPNI on maize nutrients.
A diverse group of 20 smallholder farmers were questioned about the materials. The smallholders responded positively to the material. They all planned to use the information in the posters and leaflets. However, those with limited educational opportunities requested help from others to understand the content
There was a split in the farmers along education lines. The smallholders who had primary or secondary level education understood the messages well – for example commenting on the materials produced to support growing better or healthier maize, they picked up on the importance of proper planting and top dressing to be able to harvest healthy maize. Not surprisingly the farmers who had reached tertiary level could clearly recall all the messages accurately. There was a problem with some of the farmers with limited education who said they “needed more time to figure out the messages”. In reality they meant that they needed the help of their more educated children to understand the messages. All the smallholders who are functionally literate said that they Nathaniel’s success story is one of many in his community who have benefitted from the International Plant Nutrition Institute’s (IPNI) 4R Nutrient Stewardship project intervention in Western Kenya.
Nathaniel was trained on using the right source of fertilizer for his farm, which had very low levels of potassium (K). DAP and CAN fertilisers do not contain potassium and so could not address the potassium deficiency in his soil. This led to the low yield of just 10 x 90 kg bags. He is now using NPK fertilizer, which provides balanced nutrition for his maize, consequently the yields increased.
Launched in January 2013, phase 1 of the 4R project seeks to address and close the gap between farmers’ low yields and the higher yields achieved in scientists’ research trials. The low yields have been attributed to poor crop and fertilizer management, widespread nutrient deficiencies and depletion of soil fertility.
According to Samuel Njoroge, the 4R project manager, on-farm demonstrations, training workshops and field days, and knowledge products can be shared though media and ICT platforms to inform farmers, extension agents and fertilizer dealers about 4R practices. will use the materials for reference to identify nutrient deficiency and also gain knowledge on nutrients. Those who cannot read will get help from family and friends to use them. The smallholders also said that they would share them with other farmers, students, relatives and their neighbours
There is a real dilemma about pitching materials in relation to levels of literacy and visual literacy. When clients like IPNI are keen to present precise information to farmers we need to explore how we can make the materials more intuitive to audiences for whom reading is a challenge. Once the farmers understood the messages they felt they were beneficial to them and other farmers.They also felt that if they applied the lessons it would result in better maize harvest.
One of the farmers commented that materials in Kiswahili would be appropriate for older audiences. However ASHC’s experience in Ghana has been that people who can read can read in English; people who cannot read in English often cannot read in local languages either. The smallholders like to see photos of healthy maize on the leaflets and posters as this is what they aspire to grow.
The posters used strong colours- red, blue and green – which the smallholders found attractive and also complemented the design of the posters. In particular the smallholders liked the photos of green maize and healthy cobs. It was a motivation for the smallholders to see what farmers like them had achieved.
The farmers also liked the phosphorus flyer featuring a photo of a woman with her maize cob and also the maize leaflet that showed how to measure and apply fertilizer.
One respondent liked the fact that the materials could help him identify nutrient deficiencies on his maize. However, for the less literate farmers, the distressed crops were off-putting: some failed to understand the nature of nutrient deficiency stating this was a disease that had been introduced to the area.
30% of farmers had seen similar materials before, mostly produced by an NGO active in the area. In comparison the farmers stated that the IPNI ones were well produced, relevant and relayed relevant information on soil fertility, which they wanted to know about.
In conclusion, the materials stood up well to the test in the field but we need to be vigilant for effective ways to further help smallholders who have limited access to formal education.
Nitrogen for maize
Phosphorous for maize
Potassium for maize