INTRODUCTION

It is worth noting that Africa has continued to be a food deficit continent.

Despite the fact that it has suitable resources, agricultural production remains low thereby creating food insecurity. It is also notable that the Continent has thousands of colleges and Universities producing millions of agriculture graduates each year. Elaborate agriculture extension services are funded by Governments, Donors, NGOs and the Private Sector.

With millions of Dollars put into research and hard working farming communities, agricultural production continues to dwindle. Policies and strategies are well articulated in Sessional Papers, Conference and Seminars. Still no surplus made for sale let alone feeding the millions of hungry families.

The Millennium Development Goals number one (1) is about food. Africa’s NEPAD initiative has been under implementation for some years now. Still, the countries economies continue to weaken.

It is alarming that not many intellectuals want to face the reality. The answer to this problem is easily traced in the type of agriculture being practiced.

Failure of the Green Revolution.

For approximately 50 years now, the East African region has continued to be pushed towards use of High Cost External input Agriculture Principles and Practices. Coupled with over reliance on exporting of raw agricultural materials. It is then surprising that the question why the region is poor continues to be asked. The reasons are obvious – that as long as Africa and other developing countries continue to use high cost External inputs for agriculture, they remain food nutrition and agro-income deficit. Agro-development MUST be approached from Logical Realistic and Reliable (LRR) Strategies.

The Solution?

Low external Input Agriculture is the way out of the poverty vicious cycle. Even with the recently debated approach of Organic farming, the situation will not change much.

Sustainable Agriculture Principles and Practices is the way out of Africa’s poverty. The new thinking and approach is wide, holistic and participatory among diverse food and nutrition poverty.

Where do we go now?

SACDEP-Kenya has been implementing Sustainable Agriculture Programmes for the past 15 years. The changes in family and village economies are dramatic and incredible to analyse. With over 40,000 families uprooted from poverty and set on to a sustainable wealth creation path, the way is now chartered.

Unfortunately, there are not enough trainers qualified to teach, train and undertake research in Sustainable Agriculture. This is because existing colleges and Universities are still stuck in the outdated conventional thinking of the Green Revolution. Furthermore, the current talk of a New Green Revolution is still based on Conventional agriculture, thinking.

SACDEP has come to demand a sizeable number of qualified personnel in sustainable Agriculture. The need for a college to produce trainers, extensionists and researchers cannot be over emphasized.

The Strategy.

In this regard, a college with a capacity to produce 100 graduates of Sustainable Agriculture has been designed.

Trainees from Conventional Agriculture will be re-oriented to Sustainable Agriculture Principles. They will then work for SACDEP, other NGOs, Government, Private sector or as traders. Others will return to their communities and facilitate the changes through farmer training and in primary and secondary schools.

Targeted geographical area.

The target region is Kenya and the Eastern Africa region. Countries to benefit will include Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Eriteria, Rwanda, Burundi etc all as countries of the Greater Horn of Africa.

College Buildings and Training Units.

As a start, 6 years ago, SACDEP requested as obtained land from the Government for the construction of the college.

On the piece of land, the following construction has begun.

• A dinning hall

Picture of Kilimambogo hall with people working.

• Livestock training units. Picture with chicken and goats.
• Crop production training units

Currently, the SACDEP Board and Management is seeking Institutions and individuals willing to enter into this partnership. The Partners can contribute:-

• All college buildings construction
• Equipment of the buildings, furniture, training materials.
• Part of the buildings as shown in the perspective.