Sacdep – Kenya journey 1991 – todate.

Historical perspective.

In 1991, a small group of Kenyans sat in a Social place and started a discussion on why Kenyan People are getting poor. This was happening in the face of generation and spending of enormous human, natural and financial resources. Kenya was (and still is) rated as one of the African countries with a well structured, agricultural research, training, extension and use of mass media. Yet millions of families lacked food and agro income security.

In the following meetings that followed, the reason became clear:-

Conventional Agriculture approach had come and made its contribution. Farmers in developing countries could no longer continue using high chemicals, high cost export only oriented agriculture.

The approach was NOT LOGICAL RELIABLE OR REALISTIC.

SOLUTION?

Establishment and implementation of Low Cost external input Agriculture – Results. 14 years later over 40,000 families in Kenya have experienced a dramatic turn around in their household economies.

Farmers can build new houses, children go to school medical care paid for and overall family savings and investment secured.

Women have attained leadership skills and become chiefs and opinion shapers in their villages. Government and other development Agencies have recognized SACDEP’s S.A approaches as a success case which deserves integration in policies.

PICTURE – FARMER MARKETING DEMONSTRATION.

SACDEP has achieved a big feet in Kenya. It has created a Logical, realistic & Reliable approach to agriculture.

SACDEP-Kenya. Development Philosophy.

SACDEP strongly holds the belief that people are not just poor. What we have is a result of marginalization, poor resource distribution, oppression, fraud and disadvantages, historically perpetuated by the powerful. The reason why some continents, regions, countries or individuals are too rich while others are poor is as a result of selfish tendencies. People or groups continue accumulating and holding wealth endlessly.

Meanwhile, people considered poor have enormous resources themselves. They have the desire to improve their lives. But opportunities to achieve their goals are oftenly hampered by denial for knowledge, skills and empowerment. Their weak positions attract more extraction of their resources by the powerful and the already rich. The Poverty cycle therefore continues.

SACDEP Development approach.

The Organization is clear that external resources do not create development. Rather, they come in to catalyze the slow process of changing people’s lives positively. Upon provision of knowledge and skills, farmers are more exposed, informed and empowered. They are hence able to design and follow their desired destiny in life.

• To achieve this, SACDEP works on the following programmes.
• Farmers mobilization and organization into agricultural development for a.
• Conducting hands on training and exposure to the groups in all aspects of agriculture – production, processing, marketing or Organic products.
• Training and supporting farmer groups in the creation of a savings and credit culture.
• Documentation of Sustainable Agriculture Principles and using the same to inform and influence development policies, approaches and practices.
• Networking with the development Instititions of Government, funders, NGOs and individuals committed to Sustainable Development and empowering of people.

Organization Structure.

SACDEP-Kenya is a given leadership by 7 persons Voluntary Board of Trustees. They are all Kenyans with a rich background in Sustainable Agriculture and People’s development

The Organization undertakes its programmes through 3 interlinked sectors namely:-

COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS (CAP SECTOR)
Responsible for designing and implementing S.A projects at community level. The sector strives to turn around lives of 5,000 families every year in over 14 Districts in Kenya.

It obtains funding from small, medium and large funding Institutions and Individual persons.

SELF FUNDING INTIATIVE.

This sector is responsible of generating project funds through provision of accommodation and administration services. Using SACDEP’s Seminar and Conference facilities in Thika Town, the sector gives some surpluses for small community projects.

Currently, the sector is working towards increasing accommodation space to 80 beds. The goal being to establish an ENDOWMENT FUND.

TECHNICAL TRAINING AND RESEARCH (TTR) SECTOR.

Over many years of work, the Organization has established that there is not enough qualified personnel with a clear understanding on the Principles and Practices of S.A.

As such, it is still difficult to achieve adequate informing and Influencing Personnel on SA at National level.

Undertaking detailed and Scientific Research on S.A also remains a big challenge.

To mainstream S.A Principles therefore, SACDEP is in the process of setting up a middle level Agriculture college. Later to be upgraded into a respectable University.

Funding is still not obtained and construction work will begin when funders enter into the Partnership.