We spent half the day with Abraham and his colleagues learning about and walking through the four farms they operate to produce and distribute vegetables and fruits on a massive basis – over 10 tons per week. Through this program, they feed over 30,000 people each day with a diet that helps people fight and resist the HIV virus and the devastating affect of AIDS. Coupled with the medical care programs provided through Moi University and some 15 or so community clinics spread through northern Kenya, they are treating over 72,000 people affected by AIDS.
Although it is hard to describe these farms in words, they can be best described as HIGHLY productive farms cranking out crop after crop. John was almost giddy to see the sound farming and agronomy best practices they have in place: hybrid seed selection, composting, soil enrichment, greenhouse growing, crop rotation, leaf picking and drip irrigation. Abraham is very open to having us send farmers from Kager to take part in their 11-module program that covers high-production farming from A-to-Z. The training they have created is excellent and we couldn’t have asked for a better outcome for the day. We also met Naman Nyabinda who runs AMPATH’s agricultural extension programs for village-based training and mentoring of farmers (FPI - Family Preservation Initiative).
Naomi Lundman (DePauw undergrad, Notre Dame MBA) served as our tour guide for the afternoon as we toured the town of Eldoret. We wanted to see what farming resources are available in Kenya, so we visited grocery stores, hardware stores and seed stores – the resources in Eldoret appear to be very good. The challenge for any village farmer is gaining access to these resources from both a transportation and working capital standpoint.
After a good afternoon nap at the Indiana University House at which we stayed (jet lag is probably more appropriately called “jet slam”), we had the real pleasure to have dinner (there are good Chinese restaurants in Kenya) with Dr. Joe and Sarah Mamlin (and their friend Jim who is a retired anthropologist). The Mamlins can best be described as “giants” in the HIV/AIDS global relief community and it was fascinating to hear them share about the program they helped start from scratch with Indiana / Moi Universities back in 1990 (if you google Joe Mamlin, you can read more about their work and his Noble Peace Prize nomination). It was very encouraging to share with them the vision of the Jubilee Village Project and the work we have planned for Kager – their response was that “we are spot on.” They said a grass roots, village-based model is just what is needed to complement the top-down, massive coverage model that AMPATH has developed.
It was a truly blessed day and we learned so much. We met the most open and hospitable people at AMPATH/IU/Moi, and we feel we have made new friends who welcomed up with open arms and are willing to share their resources and knowledge with us in the future.
God is good!
Ned
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