Farmers Embrace Innovation at Egerton University’s TAGDev 2.0 Model Farm Field Day
On Thursday, 3rd July 2025, the Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa’s Development (TAGDev 2.0) Program at Egerton University hosted a Farmers’ Field Day at its Model Farm. The event benefitted 55 farmers from across Njoro Sub-County. The focus was on bridging the gap between research and practice, offering hands-on exposure to affordable, climate-smart Technologies, Innovations, and Management Practices (TIMPs) that smallholder farmers can adopt to enhance productivity and climate resilience.
In her welcome remarks, Prof. Nancy W. Mungai, TAGDev Program Coordinator, emphasized the uniqueness of the field day as more than a learning forum, it is a key extension tool under the Agrifood System and Entrepreneurship Consortium (ASEC). She underlined the urgency for smallholders to adapt to climate variability through adoption of drought-tolerant crops, quality planting materials, early warning systems, and access to information. Prof. Bernard O. Aduda, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic, Research & Extension, echoed this approach, urging collaboration between farmers and researchers. He encouraged participants to engage with the Directorate of Research, the university's research arm, to shape research that is grounded in farmers' lived realities. “The best innovations come when scholars listen to farmers,” he added.
The farmers proceeded to the TAGDev Program Model Farm, where demonstration plots showcased crops including potatoes, sorghum, sweet potatoes, beans, and sunflower. Facilitated by a team of TAGDev trainers, sessions covered practical agronomic techniques; soil fertility management, crop rotation, pest control, and sustainable land use, all aimed at countering declining soil health and low yields common among smallholder farmers. Under the research component of the model farmers, farmers appreciated integrated nutrient management in potato production. They made observations on potato growth, development and yield under different types and rates of fertilizer application and expressed interest in setting baby trials on their farmers for other farmers to learn.
Mechanization demonstrations led by Hello Tractor Kenya, addressed the labor intensity and inefficiencies in traditional farming. Equipment such as the chisel plough was presented as a game changer, improving soil structure hence improving aeration and moisture retention while reducing labor costs. Prof. Anthony Kibe, ASEC’s Seed Potato Production Principal Investigator, led a live demo of a potato planter, showcasing how precision farming can elevate smallholder farms to commercial viability.
To address the perennial problem of poor seed quality, the Egerton University Seed Unit unveiled new, improved, and climate-resilient seed varieties—finger millet, dryland rice, pigeon peas, groundnuts, and several bean types. These varieties are specifically selected for their adaptability to local climatic conditions, high yield potential, and market demand. Farmers were also introduced to AflaSafe, a biosafety innovation that combats aflatoxin contamination in cereals—an often overlooked health hazard and post-harvest loss driver.
Beyond technologies, the field day fostered peer learning and cross-sector dialogue. Farmers shared indigenous knowledge, voiced challenges, and interacted directly with researchers and agricultural entrepreneurs. This two-way engagement helped demystify research and reinforced the value of co-creating solutions with those who work the land every day.
The Field Day directly responded to key bottlenecks faced by smallholder farmers: low yields, labor inefficiencies, poor seed quality, climate unpredictability, and limited access to extension services. By integrating practical demonstrations with knowledge transfer, farmers were empowered with tools and innovations they could implement immediately. The exposure to mechanization showed viable pathways to scale up operations, while improved seeds offered the promise of food security and better incomes.
Through the TAGDev 2.0 Model Farm Field Day, Egerton University continues to demonstrate its role as a solution-driven academic partner, translating research into action and ensuring that innovation reaches the last mile. By strengthening the link between university-generated knowledge and farmer-led innovation, TAGDev is transforming agriculture from a subsistence struggle into a pathway for resilience, enterprise, and prosperity.