Kitui County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture and Livestock, Dr. Stephen Mbaya Kimwele, has officially opened a two-week Farmer Field and Business School (FFBS) training for Community-Based Facilitators (CBFs) and Ward Agricultural Technical Officers in Kitui town.
The training is being conducted under the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) and seeks to equip participants with practical skills in the Farmer Field and Business School extension methodology.
The approach will enable the trained facilitators and agricultural officers to effectively disseminate agricultural technologies, innovations and management practices to smallholder farmers organised in Common Interest Groups (CIGs) and Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups (VMGs) across Kitui County.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Dr. Kimwele urged participants to take the training seriously and maximise the knowledge and practical skills being shared. He emphasised that the training should translate into improved farming practices, increased agricultural productivity and better livelihoods for households and communities.
The initiative aligns with Governor Dr. Julius Malombe’s 16-Sector Development Plan, which prioritises sustainable agriculture, enhanced farmer productivity and improved livelihoods through access to knowledge, technology and agricultural support services.
Through the FFBS approach, participants will undertake practical demonstrations, field activities, experience-sharing sessions and joint problem-solving exercises. The methodology is expected to strengthen their capacity to support farmers in adopting improved and climate-smart agricultural practices suited to local conditions.
At the end of the two-week programme, participants who successfully complete the training will receive certificates in recognition of the knowledge and skills acquired.
The opening ceremony was attended by NAVCDP County Project Coordination Unit (CPCU) Coordinator Peter Liru, alongside NAVCDP staff and agricultural officers.
The training marks another step in Kitui County’s efforts to strengthen agricultural extension services and empower smallholder farmers with practical knowledge for increased productivity and improved household incomes.
Thursday, August 20, 2026
