Egerton University, in collaboration with key stakeholders such as the County Governments of Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo, and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), hosted an impactful field day at Kapkayo village in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
The event focused on equipping farmers with essential knowledge and practices to reduce aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts and other crops. This initiative was part of the broader Food Safety for Africa project, which aims to improve agricultural practices and secure food safety across the region.
Spearheaded by Prof. Paul Kimurto, an expert in crop management and plant breeding from Egerton University, the project has garnered attention for its focus on developing drought-tolerant and early-maturing seed varieties such as Chelalang Beans, Ndovu groundnuts, Pigeon peas, and Chickpea.
Prof. Kimurto’s innovative work on breeding these resilient crops has been critical in helping farmers cope with climate change and unpredictable weather patterns, especially in arid and semi-arid regions.
At the field day, Prof. Owuor George, a renowned expert in Agricultural Economics from Egerton University, guided farmers through training sessions. The training covered the best farming practices to reduce aflatoxins in groundnut harvests, a growing concern in the region. Aflatoxins are toxic compounds produced by certain fungi that contaminate crops, posing serious health risks to consumers and reducing marketability.
By educating farmers on proper harvesting, drying, and storage techniques, the initiative aims to promote the production of safe, toxin-free crops that meet local and international market standards.
A key feature of the event was the participatory variety evaluation and selection process, led by Dr. Maurice Oyoo, a biotechnology specialist at Egerton University. This hands-on approach involves farmers directly in selecting the crop varieties that work best for them.
Dr. Oyoo explained that this method, also known as participatory plant breeding, ensures that farmers are active participants in the process, allowing them to choose high-yield, disease-resistant varieties that are well-suited to local growing conditions. This boosts crop productivity and ensures that the developed cultivars are practical and beneficial for the communities that use them.
The Egerton University team was further strengthened by Dr. Miriam Charimbu, a plant pathology expert, who focused on the importance of disease management in crop production. She emphasized that several diseases are currently occurring in the farms including leafspots and rusts because of the extended rains and also because the farmers are growing the same kind of crops continuously hence the need to practice crop rotation. Alongside Prof. Kimurto, Dr. Charimbu trained farmers on the effective use of Aflasafe, a bio-control product designed to combat aflatoxin contamination in crops.
By introducing farmers to this innovative solution, the team emphasized the importance of food safety not only for household consumption, but also meeting the stringent requirements of food processing companies.
In addition to aflatoxin control, the experts introduced farmers to watershed farming techniques aimed at optimizing the use of the short rainy season. This method helps farmers make better use of available water resources, ensuring that crops receive sufficient moisture even during periods of limited rainfall. Proper use of herbicides for weed control was also discussed, highlighting the importance of maintaining healthy, weed-free crops for higher yields.
This collaborative effort between Egerton University, local governments, KALRO, and the farming communities is a significant step toward achieving regional food security and safety. By involving farmers directly in the decision-making and development of crop varieties, the project empowers them to take control of their agricultural practices.
The introduction of advanced farming techniques and bio-control solutions like Aflasafe further strengthens the region’s capacity to produce healthy, toxin-free crops for both local consumption and agro-processing industries.
The Food Safety for Africa project not only enhances the quality of crops produced in the region but also improves the livelihoods of farmers by providing them with the tools and knowledge necessary for sustainable agriculture.
This initiative is a testament to the power of collaboration between research institutions, local governments, and farmers in addressing pressing agricultural challenges and ensuring a brighter future for Africa's food security.
By Kurian Musa, Project Communications Office and Prof. Paul Kimurto, Director Agro-Science Park
Egerton University
