Rachel Anyango Agola
One World Award 2010
Previously, Rachel Agola’s maize crop was only 35kg because her farm – typical of smallholder farms in Kenya -- was decimated by the parasitic striga weed and stemborer insects and suffered from very poor soil fertility. After learning about the method from icipe, she planted her first Push-Pull plot in 2007.
More self-confidence motivating her to be involved in community activities
Now her yield from the small plot of land has increased to 350kgs (equivalent to 2.83 t/ha.). She does not use chemical fertilizer, but applies farmyard manure. Besides increased maize yields, Rachel Agola derives other far-reaching benefits from Push-Pull, such as greater soil fertility and increased income from the sale of surplus milk and of Napier grass as fodder.
Her life has changed: more food security, more money from milk sales to send her children to school, and more self-confidence motivating her to be involved in community activities. She is treasurer of the Yenga Push-Pull Farmers Selfhelp group, where she learns new agricultural technologies and trains other farmers.
Her life has changed: more food security, more money from milk sales to send her children to school, and more self-confidence motivating her to be involved in community activities. She is treasurer of the Yenga Push-Pull Farmers Selfhelp group, where she learns new agricultural technologies and trains other farmers.
