Sustainable Mobilization of Agricultural Resource Technologies (SMART)

Kitale, Kenya
In Partnership with the Methodist Relief and Development Fund

West Pokot district in Kenya is traditionally a pastoralists’ area. Over the years over- grazing has been the order of the day, making parts of the district completely non-arable. The semi-arid zones are slowly but steadily turning arid due to the rise in population and poor farming techniques.

Due to the district’s vastness and ruggedness it has become marginalized over the years and the communities living in the area are suffering high levels of poverty- and mortality rates. There is also a high illiteracy levels in the communities of this area, especially among girls.

The Sustainable Mobilization of Agricultural Resource Technologies (SMART) Initiative is committed to discover, live and communicate what is needed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the district’s communities and global living system through appropriate agricultural resource technologies utilization.

SMART has set the following strategic objectives for 2009 to 2011:

To have established five farmer learning nuclei in West and Northern Pokot by 2011
By 2011 SMART will be raising four million shillings per year of which 10% will come from its own income generating activities and 10% from fundraising from Kenyan sources
To continuously improve staff and board performance
To have an efficient and effective Planning, Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation systems in place
To develop and start implementing an effective collaboration and networking policy
To develop long term infrastructure and equipment plans

As part of SMART, there is also the Sustainable Agriculture Local Outreach Project.The Project’s objectives are:

To train 10 community groups in sustainable intensive agricultural methods
Establish demo plots on effective methods of soil conservation and soil fertility management
Train farmers in small business management and Skills on collective marketing for their produce
Encourage crop diversity to meet both food security and income needs
Introduce and promote locally high yielding dry land drought resistant crop varieties that are open Pollinated and self-propagating through seeds banking and preservation of quality seeds for planting in subsequent production periods.
Training on simple value addition techniques using open air sun drying and local milling

Methodist Relief and Development Fund

The Methodist Relief and Development Fund (MRDF) makes small miracles possible for people living in the world's poorest communities.

MRDF exists to bring about significant and long term change in some of the world's most marginalised communities, and to empower people to change structures that are oppressive and unjust.

To fulfil this charge, MRDF has 3 main priorities:

contribute to the eradication of poverty, through transformative long-term development, and rapid disaster relief
build the capacity and increase the effectiveness of local organizations to work with communities in a way that encourages their participation and empowerment, and increases opportunity
challenge injustice at a structural level, thereby increasing impact and influence by strengthening community networks overseas, and building the skills and confidence of individuals to exercise their rights and working in partnership in the UK to help the church develop a critical understanding of the causes of poverty, make informed choices (modeling lives that are ethical, sustainable and compassionate) and take positive action in the pursuit of justice.

MRDF supports more than 43 local, community-based organizations in 21 of the poorest countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, helping individuals and communities to transform their lives and become more self-sufficient.

To find out more about MRDF's amazing work please click here