News
Text messages help maize farmers in Western Kenya
An ASHC partner has been getting good results from a text information system for maize farmers in Nyanza and Western provinces, Kenya . In the first five months the agricultural advisory services sent a total of 6,665 messages on maize and soil management to a cumulative total of 2,483 farmers. The service, which is partly […]
Read MoreFarmer-friendly print – a checklist
August 2012 ASHC Checklist In July 2012 ASHC facilitated two workshops with partner organizations in Ghana. Each was asked to define what they thought constituted farmer friendly material. One of delegates was a farmers’ representative called Asiedu Biney. He said: “I want messages that are down to earth…” ASHC has combined the findings of these workshops […]
Read MoreA draft brochure in a day at ASHC write-shop
… with the potential to increase maize yields 14-fold The first of the ASHC facilitated write-shops in Ghana resulted in 10 clear messages on maize farming being produced in just one day. Collectively this advice could result in a 14-fold increase in maize harvests. These messages will be packed into a range of innovative extension […]
Read MoreNew communication specialist joins ASHC
25 July 2012 The ASHC is delighted to welcome Grace Omondi as our new communications specialist. Grace will be focused on developing communication materials that promote integrated soil fertility management. This will involve her writing copy and helping to realize graphic designs and implementation of ASHC’s house-style and the ASHC Communication strategy. Grace is a […]
Read MoreGiller – help farmers find own solutions
Ken Giller has extensive experience of farming systems, particularly in Africa. He is concerned by a tendency for organizations and individuals to promote blanket solutions, which fail to account for the complex and varied constraints facing smallholder farmers. Read his article in the New Agriculturalist.
Read MoreASHC journal paper on coffee profitability
A new journal paper written by Lydia Wairegi and Piet van Asten contributes towards making sure that the fertilizers used by farmers have the potential to improve productivity and export earnings from East African coffee. Poor soil fertility is a constraint to coffee production. But, fertilizer specifically targeting nutrient deficiencies in soil and the needs […]
Read MoreGhana to benefit from ISFM write-shops
In July 2012 ASHC and AGRA will be hosting intensive write-shops in Ghana with grantees and their partners, including the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. The aim of the write-shops will be to design dissemination materials that help to change the way farmers prepare and manage their soil. In particular it will explore how to […]
Read MoreJune 2012: ASHC Newsletter
The ASHC Newsletter June 2012 includes the following materials: George Oduor reviews recent developments at ASHC The principles of ISFM set out in ASHC’S new film and handbook Governments urged to give extension agents training on ISFM to complement fertilizer subsidies Research focus: Exploring the role of ISFM in mitigating climate change and building food security […]
Read MorePolicy brief proposes extensionists ISFM training
13 June 2012 ASHC POLICY BRIEF number 1 Rodney Lunduka and Valerie Kelly The ASHC’s first policy brief sets out the economic benefits of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM). The brief was produced by Rodney Lunduka, in his role as post-doctoral fellow (policy), together with Professor Valerie Kelly of Michigan State University, and a member […]
Read MoreChanges in the ASHC team
23 May 2012 The technical advisory group (TAG) has annual elections for the posts of chair and vice chair. At their meeting in May 2012, the TAG choose Dr Shamie Zingore to be chair. Shamie had previously been vice-chair. The new vice-chair will be Dr Andre Bationo.The ASHC is also pleased to announce that Dr […]
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