The decision to support three farmers to participate at the just concluded AgKnowledge ShareFair in Addis Ababa Ethiopia (October 18 – 22, 2010) was one of the best made by the sponsors IKM Emergent and CTA. Accompanied by two ALIN staff members namely Susan Mwangi and Anthony Mugo, Francis Kiarahu (Ng’arua Maarifa Centre), Florence Nzamburi (Mutomo Maarifa Centre) and Julius Matei (Kyuso Maarifa Centre) had the opportunity to share their experiences with participants drawn from around the globe. And what a performance they all made!
The highlight of their participation were two sessions during which Florence led participants in performing a song with a climate change theme while Mr. Kiarahu shared the story of how he has transformed his farm through harvesting of ground water in the semi arid area of Ng’arua in Laikipia West. “Pictures are best way of telling a story,” Mr. Kiarahu explained to me during a break in of the session. “They speak for themselves and everything is there for all to see,” he proudly noted while leafing through his lengthy album, a true testimony of farmer-led documentation. The album contained pictures taken of his virgin land as far ago as 1977. On her part, Florence Nzambuli donned traditional Kamba ceremonial attire and got everybody singing about the dangers of uncontrolled climate change occasioned by wanton deforestation.
Susan and Anthony co-facilitated three sessions of the Climate Change pathway with colleagues Moussa Na Abou Mamouda and Jacqueline Nnam of Africa Adapt. The sessions focused on Mapping of Climate Change Work; Sharing of experiences and brokering of information on Climate Change. Susan and Jorge Chavez-Tafur of iliea cofacilitated a session on documentation of agricultural knowledge during the second day of the Share Fair. On the final day, Anthony co-facilitated a session on telecentres with Koda Traore, Programme Officer, ICT4Dev at CTA, Paul Barera of Rwanda Telecentres Network, Cleopa Otieno and Pete Cranston anICT for development consultant, who is also a member of ALIN’s Board of Trustees. Pete presented on behalf both Felician Ncheye of Sengerema Community radio and telecentre in Tanzania and Paul Barera who had lost his voice.
The ShareFair showcased Ethipia rich traditions and agriculture products. Notable among the highlights were donkeys that walked around the ILRI Campus where the ShareFair was hosted displaying a wide array of agricultural products. There was a Livestock display featuring Ethiopian goats, sheep and chicken.
On day 2, participants got an opportunity to taste a wide variety of Ethiopian traditional liquor. Throughout the Fair, the Bunna centre featured the brewing of Ethiopian coffee hosted by women in traditional Ethiopian regalia where participants were encouraged to feel free to gossip about the goings on at the Fair. All in all, the ShareFair was rich mix of experiences all of which were featured live through blogs, video streams, twitter and the ShairFair wiki among a wide range of other media. It is indeed hard not to look forward to another such lively AgKnowledge event.
