SATG Extension workers facilitate field demonstration days

Somali farmers have been underdeveloped due to multiple underlying causes, including limited access to improved seed, production practices and technologies, and a chronic lack of market information, particularly internationally demanded product quality.

Inspired by the belief that informed and skilled farmers are essential for a sustainable future of the farming communities and the Somali agriculture sector, SATG has embarked on demonstration plots aimed at offering and sharing field practical experience to farmers, extension workers, agri-businesses, and other stakeholders including input suppliers, traders, processors, government institutions, and students. SATG has established two field stations in Lower and Middle Shabelle. Here, it develops, designs, tests, and demonstrates both improved and modern technologies. SATG also cooperates and supports others who wish to establish and share knowledge, skills, and innovative technologies through agricultural field demonstration sites.

The demonstrations plots, when well-designed and organized, will contribute to the dissemination of information and stimulate farmers to observe, experience, experiment with, and adapt new and innovative ideas, practices, and technologies that can improve and increase their farm outputs and income. Ultimately, this will improve their entire economic situation. Moreover, when a farmer participates in field demonstration activities, she/he will get the possibility of seeing the positive effects and impacts of improved and new practices with their own eyes.
when a farmer participates in field demonstration activities, she/he will get the possibility of seeing the positive effects and impacts of improved and new practices with their own eyes.

In addition, knowledge and skills gained through the demonstration plots can be easily transferred from farmer to farmer. Participating farmers share the latest information and practices with other farmers and family members. Similarly, when these farmers apply their practices successfully, the other farmers will borrow and adapt the modern technologies and practices.

The demonstration plots also increase the coordination and network between farmers and other stakeholders within the agricultural production sector. In this way the demonstration plots have the potential to contribute to increasing the knowledge of improved productivity and quality of the produce as well as the sustainability of farming communities and all other stakeholders.

Since the inception of this initiative, SATG has observed significant interest for the field demonstrations. Similarly, we have seen that the demonstration sites help to establish successful business relationships between farmers and traders.

– By Yusuf  Hasan, SATG Lead Agronomist
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