By Adan Mohamed - Reporter
2 May 2026 - Twenty lead farmers drawn from four sub-counties in Mandera County that is Mandera East, Mandera North, Banisa, and Lafey have successfully completed a capacity-building training aimed at strengthening agricultural extension services at the grassroots level.
The training, facilitated by the Rural Agency for Community Development and Assistance (RACIDA) under the Hanaano Programme, was conducted in partnership with Concern Worldwide and supported by Irish Aid. It focused on equipping participants with practical skills to improve farming practices and enhance productivity across the county.
Participants, including lead farmers such as Ahmed Dhahir, Yussuf Olow, and others, underwent intensive hands-on sessions covering climate-smart agriculture, modern farming techniques, soil and water conservation, and market-oriented production systems.
The training placed strong emphasis on building resilience in arid and semi-arid areas frequently affected by drought and climate variability.
Speaking after the training, one of the participants, Ahmed Dhahir, said the program had significantly improved their understanding of sustainable farming methods.
“We have gained practical knowledge that will help us support fellow farmers in our communities to increase production despite the harsh climatic conditions,” he noted.
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Agricultural stakeholders reiterated that strengthening last-mile extension services remains critical in improving food security and supporting livelihoods in Mandera County, where many farmers face limited access to technical expertise and timely information.
Program officials highlighted that the trained lead farmers will now serve as community resource persons, facilitating farmer-to-farmer learning, organizing demonstration plots, and offering continuous support at the village level.
This approach is expected to bridge the gap between agricultural experts and rural farmers.
Yussuf Olow emphasized the importance of knowledge sharing, stating, “Our role now is to ensure that what we have learned reaches every farmer in our areas so that we can collectively improve yields and resilience.”
The initiative aims at strengthening sustainable agriculture and enhance community resilience under the Hanaano Programme.
With the newly trained lead farmers taking up advisory roles, stakeholders are optimistic that the adoption of improved agricultural practices will increase, contributing to enhanced food security and economic stability across the four sub-counties.