COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Planning committee members were drawn from various organizations as follows:

Sugar Research Institute

Ministry Agriculture, Migori county

Farmers Representative

Sony Sugar Company

Sukari Ndhiwa sugar

Yacreh Organization

REGIONAL OPEN DAY

SRI-OPAPO CENTRE, MIGORI COUNTY

18TH

FEBRUARY 2016

Introduction

The Sugar Research Institute (SRI) under the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research

Organization (KALRO) embraces open days as a dissemination tool to reach out its

stakeholders within the sugar industry. This year’s regional open day was organized at one of

the SRI’s centre in Opapo. The centre is within Rongo District, Kamagambo Division, Migori

County, it serves as a wider region in terms of bridging knowledge gaps in sugarcane

production technologies, and this is one area where sugarcane is the main cash crop. In view

of this there was need to educate the local community and farmers on sugarcane production

technologies and best management practices, for increased yields and wealth creation.

SRI organized for the open day that was held on 18th

February 2016 at SRI Opapo centre, the

theme of the day was "Enhancing Research and Technology for increased Sugarcane

Productivity and Wealth Creation".

The occasion was graced by the Governor Hon. Okoth Obado of Migori County. Other guests

included;

1. Deputy Director General, Director of Crops, KALRO

2. Institute Director, Sugar Research

3. Institute Director, Tea Research

4. Centre Director, Sugar Research

5. Centre Director, Food Crops, Kitale

6. Head of Technology Transfer, SRI

7. Sugar Directorate- AFFA

8. Managing Director, Sony Sugar

9. Principal Rongo University

10. Ministry Agriculture, Migori county

11. CEC, Agriculture, Migori county

12. County Commissioner, Migori county

13. County Administrator, Migori county

14. Director of Agriculture, Migori county

Stakeholders

The following stakeholders from within the county were invited to exhibit their products

during the function:

1. Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate services (KEPHIS)

2. Pest Control Products Board (PCPB)

3. Sony sugar company

4. Ministry of Agriculture, Migori county

5. Yacreh Organization

6. Rabbit farming

7. Seedco supply

8. Agape Amaranth processors

9. Kipiem Cassava- value addition

10. Greenlife

11. Crop protection Africa, chemicals

12. Joromi Agencies, energy saving jikos

13. The County government of Migori

14. Kenya Commercial bank

15. Dynapharm Kenya, Organo supplements

16. Health Freedom

17.

Technologies demonstrated

The technologies that have been generated by the institute were displayed as follows:

Economic aspects in farming

Cost Benefit Analysis

Enterprise Selection

Sugar web database

Agronomic Practices

Land preparation

Planting methods

Fertilizer application

Enterprise diversification

Harvesting techniques

Ratoon management

Breeding Aspects

Sugarcane varieties

Hybridization process

Analytical services

Soil sampling and analysis

Laboratory procedures

Sucrose based payments

Agricultural Engineering

Soil and water conservation

Irrigation and Drainage

Environmental aspects (Tree cover)

Crop Protection

Sugarcane pests, diseases and their control measures

Sugarcane weeds

Cross cutting issues

HIV & AIDS

Alcohol & Drug Abuse

Gender issues

Recommendations

More farmers’ education required in the area

New varieties to be made readily available

Establishment of demonstration plots

Conclusion

The open day was a successful and farmers were empowered with more knowledge

concerning best sugarcane production technologies with the county.

PICTORIALS

SRI – Centre Opapo

SRI, Institute Director receiving The Governor Migori

county

EU Administrator receiving the Governor

Field tour to SRI sugarcane farms

Sugarcane varieties

Pests and Diseases stand

Stakeholders stand

Stakeholders stand

TECHNOLOGIES DISPLAYED

Sugarcane varieties

Soil sampling

Land Preparation

Planting techniques

Sugarcane Pest, Diseases and their control

Cane harvesting methods

Agro-Forestry section

Registration of Farmers

Farmers getting education

SRI Technician educating farmers on Fertilizer

application rates

SRI Technician educating farmers on cane harvesting

techniques

A section of farmers during address

Report compiled by:

Lillian Odongo

ICT Documentation

SRI Institute Director General Addressing farmers

KALRO -Deputy Director General Addressing farmers

The Governor Migori county addressing farmers