1. Introduction 

The month of December focused on strengthening critical support infrastructure for the Feathers  of Hope (FOH) Model Farm and the surrounding community. The key interventions  implemented during this period were aimed at enhancing environmental conservation and  water accessibility, which are core pillars of FOH’s sustainability and community  empowerment agenda. The main activities carried out were the setting up of the tree nursery shed net and the arrival  of the final batch of piping materials for the water piping project from the water pan to the  FOH farm and the community water point

2. Setting Up of the Tree Nursery Shed Net 

During the reporting period, FOH successfully set up a tree nursery shed net within the model  farm.

Activities Undertaken: 

∙ Installation of the tree nursery shed structure. 

∙ Fixing of shade nets to protect young seedlings from excessive sunlight, heavy rainfall,  and pest damage. 

Purpose and Relevance to FOH: 

∙ To support FOH’s environmental conservation and climate-smart agriculture initiatives. ∙ To provide a conducive environment for raising strong and healthy tree seedlings. ∙ To support future tree planting activities within the FOH farm and the wider Kinango  community. 

Expected Outcomes: 

∙ Improved survival rate and quality of tree seedlings. 

∙ Increased capacity for FOH to supply seedlings to community members and farmer  groups. ∙ Enhanced environmental awareness and conservation practices among beneficiaries.

3. Arrival of Final Piping Materials for the Water Piping Project

FOH also achieved a major milestone with the arrival of the final batch of piping materials required for the water piping from the water pan to the FOH farm and the community water  point.

Activities Undertaken: 

∙ Proper storage and organization of the materials in readiness for installation. ∙ Final planning for the upcoming installation phase. 

Importance to FOH and the Community: 

∙ To ensure reliable and sustainable water supply for FOH farm operations, including  poultry, tree nursery, and general farming activities. 

∙ To improve access to water for the surrounding community through the community water  point. 

∙ To reduce the burden of water collection, particularly for women and children. ∙ To enhance productivity and sustainability of FOH projects. 

Expected Outcomes:

∙ Completion of water piping from the water pan to the FOH farm. 

∙ Operationalization of the community water point. 

∙ Improved water security for both farm and community use. 

4. Organic Farming Activities: Crop Performance Observations

As part of FOH’s commitment to organic and climate-smart farming, crop trials were  conducted on the farm during the reporting period. These trials aimed at identifying resilient  crops suitable for the local climatic conditions of Kinango.

Crops Grown: 

∙ Maize 

∙ Green grams (Ndengu) 

∙ Cowpeas 

Observations:

 Maize crop showed poor performance and eventual failure, mainly due to insufficient  rainfall during the growing period. Maize requires consistent and adequate rainfall, which  was not experienced during the season. 

∙ Green grams and cowpeas performed well, demonstrating strong resilience to low  rainfall conditions. 

∙ The leguminous crops adapted better to the prevailing weather conditions and showed  healthy growth under organic farming practices. 

Lessons Learned: 

∙ Reliance on maize alone is risky in areas experiencing unreliable rainfall. ∙ Drought-tolerant and short-season crops such as green grams and cowpeas are more  suitable for the FOH farm’s and entire Kinango climatic conditions. 

∙ Organic farming practices can be successful when combined with appropriate crop  selection. 

Action Taken – Adoption of Mixed Farming: 

Based on these observations, FOH opted for mixed farming as a strategic response to climate  variability. This approach allows: 

∙ Reduced risk of total crop failure. 

∙ Improved soil fertility through leguminous crops. 

∙ Diversification of farm produce for both household consumption and income generation. 4. Conclusion and Way Forward 

December marked an important step in strengthening FOH’s infrastructure and long-term  sustainability. With the tree nursery shed net successfully set up and all piping materials fully  delivered, FOH is now well positioned to move into the next implementation phase. 

Way Forward: 

∙ Commence installation of the water piping system from the water pan to the FOH farm  and community water point. 

∙ Begin active propagation of tree seedlings in the nursery.

∙ Continue integrating environmental conservation and mixed croping with poultry and  farm activities for holistic community impact. 

∙ Escalating the mixed farming to the farmers nearby and also to the farmer groups

Prepared by Constatine Charo Tsuma 

FOH project Manager