The success of the OCP Kenya-OCP School Lab (OSL) project stems from a comprehensive approach to addressing agricultural challenges in Kenya. A review of various surveys on the state of agriculture revealed a connection between low crop yields, reduced incomes, and soil fertility constraints, particularly soil acidity. Additionally, a lack of awareness about soil health and fertility management resulted in the indiscriminate use of input treatments.
Identifying a gap in accessing soil testing services and the associated high costs, OCP Kenya, launched the OCP School Lab (OSL) project in 2017. The primary goal was to offer farmers a range of agricultural services, including interactive training sessions on best agricultural practices and soil testing through the OCP mobile School and Lab. The project aimed to alleviate the financial burden of soil testing for smallholder farmers, increase awareness of the benefits of improved soil health, and enhance productivity.
Melvin Adhiambo, Business Analyst at OCP Africa, highlighted the strategic partnership’s effectiveness in reaching farmers. “Working in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture at County Government levels, OCP Kenya can access even the most remote areas by utilizing farmer groups and cooperatives. This enables us to serve multiple farmers simultaneously,” she said.
To make soil testing easily accessible, modern technologies are employed. AgroCares Technology a Lab-in-a-Box Solution based on sensor technology and modern ICT architecture is used. This solution provides mobility and serves as an optimal tool for farmer capacity development, brand visibility, and market penetration. The mobile labs conduct on-farm soil testing and issue management recommendations based on inherent soil fertility indicators. This approach ensures that farmers receive training on good agronomic practices and gain awareness of the importance of soil testing and use of inputs. By 2018, OCP Kenya had equipped two mobile school labs with the Lab-in-a-Box Solution.
Derrick Chirchir, Lab Technologist at OCP Africa, emphasized the value of the AgroCares online portal in customizing fertilizers to crop and soil needs. “The portal provides data on soil conditions across the country, aiding in the formulation of the right fertilizers for Kenyan soils. With the technology used, we can retrieve data dating back to the inception of our operations, providing valuable insights for informed decision-making up to the present day,” he said.
OCP Kenya has successfully reached approximately 500,000 farmers across 20 counties, with 20,000 benefiting from the soil testing service. These counties include Nakuru, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Bungoma, Kisii, Homabay, Migori, Busia, Kakamega, Narok, Machaklos, Meru, Embu, Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, and Nyandarua. The impact is evident in the adoption of good agronomic practices, especially in soil health and input use, with an adoption rate exceeding 85%, as per a Dalberg study conducted in 2022. The program has also improved household yields and income, as reported through follow-up sessions with agriculture extension staff at the county levels.
The OSL project’s impact is continually tracked through partnerships with other projects within the organization. A recent collaboration with Kenya Crops and Dairy Market Systems, under the “Feed the Future” project, has enabled the reach of 100,000 farmers in the western part of the country for the year 2023, benefiting over 30,000 farmers through soil testing.
Drawing on a rich tradition of scientific research, OCP Kenya is committed to conducting research trials, including soil testing, to collect valuable data on distinct soil types and crop nutrient needs. These efforts are geared to enhance fertilizer customization efforts and advance agricultural knowledge.