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ECO Consult/Sustainet advise farmers on TV

01-08-2025

In agricultural extension there is nothing like the use of AV media for promulgating innovations. In East Africa, one particularly interesting format is the established agricultural entertainment TV program of "Shamba Shape Up", run on Kenyan TV in both English and Swahili (Series 15 - Shamba Shape Up). To small-scale farmers across the region the series presents various themes of how to boost their livelihoods and incomes if they try and test climate-smart agricultural practices. Each 30-minute-episode demonstrates how a selected farm household and agricultural specialists together apply concepts and tools in the farmer's immediate working environment. Round-up by a drama piece with a focus on human and gender issues the program is designed to reach all sexes and ages. The farm 'make-overs' ("Shamba" in Swahili means "farm") are produced by TV company Mediae, with the aid of, among others, GIZ, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and the International Potato Centre (CIP). In episode 10 ECO Consult and our partner Sustainet contribute on behalf of the project "Soil Protection and Rehabilitation of degraded Soils in Western Kenya", by introducing to the audience technical aspects of soil improvement. Team Leader Dr. George Ayaga explains why it is important to do soil testing, how this relates e.g. to soil health, mulching, and crop cover. George features over 5 minutes, from about minutes 12:55 to 18:40 (Ep 10: Soil Auger, Black Soldier Fly, Soil health & testing and Shamba ni Biz Drama - Shamba Shape Up). In another episode coming up soon, we explain matters on soil health, a sound crop rotation, agro-biodiversity and agroforestry.

Photo: courtesy of "Shamba Shape Up"

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