Amani Girls Organization
Member
- Feb 17, 2024
- 23
- 11
Mr. Solomoni Mnkenyi, a farmer from Ikungi District, had been farming for more than 20 years using traditional methods. Though he had seen farmer groups in his village receiving training under the ELCAP project [Empowering Local Communities through Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices], he was not initially interested in joining. That changed in 2024, when he began to notice the visible improvements in the farms managed by group members. Inspired by their results, he decided to join one of the farmer groups and take part in the training.
Through the ELCAP project, Mr. Solomoni learned practical and sustainable farming techniques, such as how to dig planting holes that protect the soil, and how to produce and use biochar to retain moisture. When he applied these techniques on his own farm, the results were immediate and impressive, an increase from 5 to 15 sacks during harvest. Despite challenges with drought in the last season, his crops thrived. He cultivated more than one hectare and reported a higher-than-expected harvest.
One of the key improvements in his farming practice has been the use of a maize shelling machine—a technique introduced through the training. Previously, shelling maize was a difficult and time-consuming task for his whole family, done by hand. Today, with the help of the machine, the process is faster, less labour-intensive, and more efficient.
Mr. Solomoni now stores a portion of his harvest for household food security and sells the surplus to support his family’s needs, including school’s contribution. He expresses deep gratitude to Amani Girls Organization and Strømme Foundation for bringing knowledge and innovation closer to rural farmers. His story reflects the power of timely knowledge and appropriate technology in transforming livelihoods, even in the face of climate challenges.
#AmaniGirls
Watch here the video of Mr. Solomon:
View: https://youtu.be/lCHXyP9LSYY?si=TSoiK40hIuCpwBVn
Through the ELCAP project, Mr. Solomoni learned practical and sustainable farming techniques, such as how to dig planting holes that protect the soil, and how to produce and use biochar to retain moisture. When he applied these techniques on his own farm, the results were immediate and impressive, an increase from 5 to 15 sacks during harvest. Despite challenges with drought in the last season, his crops thrived. He cultivated more than one hectare and reported a higher-than-expected harvest.
One of the key improvements in his farming practice has been the use of a maize shelling machine—a technique introduced through the training. Previously, shelling maize was a difficult and time-consuming task for his whole family, done by hand. Today, with the help of the machine, the process is faster, less labour-intensive, and more efficient.
Mr. Solomoni now stores a portion of his harvest for household food security and sells the surplus to support his family’s needs, including school’s contribution. He expresses deep gratitude to Amani Girls Organization and Strømme Foundation for bringing knowledge and innovation closer to rural farmers. His story reflects the power of timely knowledge and appropriate technology in transforming livelihoods, even in the face of climate challenges.
#AmaniGirls
Watch here the video of Mr. Solomon:
View: https://youtu.be/lCHXyP9LSYY?si=TSoiK40hIuCpwBVn
