Vihiga District continues to experience the widening gap between food production and food requirement by its population. Particularly in Vihiga and Sabatia divisions, high population densities (i.e. 886 per square kilometre) against a limited area exacerbate the situation. Currently agriculture in this area is typified by an increase in expansion
of impoverished smallholder farms due to land scarcity (food poverty 59.58%). This has made traditional land fertility maintaining practices impossible. At the same time, the poor farmers cannot afford to buy conventional fertilizers and they are generally uninformed about alternative means of agricultural production and maintenance of soil fertility.

It is against this backdrop that CPDA designed the Vihiga Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Improvement Programme (VIFSNIP) an integrated programme with strategies aimed at improving food security through enhanced agricultural production methods referred to as sustainable agriculture (project), crop diversification, promotion of high return horticultural crops and initiation and capacity building of community based agricultural extension support. The strategies include; environmental sanitation through community training and promotion of appropriate waste disposal technology.
Promotion of best practices in health and nutrition (project) at community level that boost appropriate utilization of health services locally available foods, promotion of appropriate sanitation practices and increased awareness. Knowledge and skills on health and nutrition promotion. Improvement of domestic water and sanitation (project) quality to mitigate waterborne and other related diseases within Sabatia and Vihiga divisions.
Sustainable Agriculture
Project Goal
Improved and diversified household income base among the population of Central Maragoli and Wamuluma locations
in Vihiga Division and Chavakali and West Maragoli locations of Sabatia Division.
Objectives:

To increase the number of 990 practicing farmers earning between Kshs 4000 and Kshs 8000 in the four locations of Sabatia and Vihiga Divisions from the current 14.1% to at least 25% by the end of the year 2005

To increase goat milk production among 300 farmers in four locations of Vihiga and Sabatia Divisions from the current 2 liters to at least 3 liters per goat per day by the end of the year 2005 Seed bed at Waluvisia spring 20

CPDA ANNUAL REPORT 2005
CHRISTIAN PARTNERS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CPDA)
To establish a marketing infrastructure for at least 200 farmers to collectively produce and market their produce at competitive prices in the four locations of Vihiga and Sabatia Divisions by the end of the year 2005 Activities Farmer Field Days
Throughout the year, Farmer Field Days (FFDs) continued to provide practical forums for information and technology dissemination to a broad spectrum of people both within and outside the project area. Four Farmers Field Days were conducted during the year (FFDs) attracted 741 participants mainly farmers comprising 408 men and 333 women. A range of farming methodologies were disseminated during the FFDs, these included: -

Organic Pest Control
Compost Making
Raised beds for better management of horticultural crops
Management of diseases and pests
Basket gardening
Dairy production for revitalizing the dairy enterprise owing to diminishing land holdings

Besides the local area farmers, other stakeholders including
officers from government ministries (Agriculture, Livestock,
and Social Services), NAs, CBOs, NGOs, the Provincial
Administration and Local Opinion leaders, also took part in these FFDs. Their participation ensures collaboration at various levels is maintained thus eliminating possible duplication of activities. This also facilitates an opportunity for sharing different farming technologies and the necessary
support for implementation of CPDA activities from the Government Sector.
Areas where FFDs were held and the number of people