After retiring from teaching in 2019, John Kamande took a bold step into farming. Instead of following conventional methods, he embraced agroecology, choosing sustainable practices and avoiding chemical inputs. His journey into organic farming was shaped by interactions with like-minded individuals and institutions committed to sustainable agriculture.
A turning point in his journey came with a visit to Senegal, organized by the Kenya Institute of Organic Farming. This experience deepened his commitment to organic farming, inspiring him to join Afronet, a pan-African organization dedicated to promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Reflecting on this experience, he acknowledges that it changed his perspective on farming, making him a passionate advocate for organic methods.
Today, he runs Wakas Organic Demonstration Farm, a thriving example of sustainable agriculture in Manyatta village, Murang’a county. The farm has gained a reputation as a learning hub, attracting visitors from across Kenya, Africa, and Europe who come to study organic farming techniques. So far, he has hosted farmers from seven European countries and eight African nations, with demand for training steadily growing.
Currently, he trains farmers from 27 Kenyan counties and various African nations. His focus is on demonstrating the benefits of organic farming and equipping others with practical knowledge they can implement on their farms. He firmly believes that agroecology is neither expensive nor difficult. Once understood, it becomes clear that organic farming is not only beneficial to health but also economically viable.
At the core of his farm’s success are sustainable practices such as composting, homemade fertilizers, and natural pest control methods. Many assume that organic farming is costly, but he argues otherwise. His approach involves regenerating the soil while producing food that is both nutritious and environmentally friendly.
Some of his techniques include vermiculture, which uses worm castings as fertilizer, and plant-based pesticides. He grows avocados, bananas, potatoes, and medicinal herbs such as ginger, turmeric, and rosemary all without chemicals. His organically certified avocado farm supplies export companies, earning him a good income, sometimes fetching as much as Sh150 per kilogram.
His dedication to organic farming has yielded positive results not just in terms of earnings but also in improving soil health and strengthening the local farming community. Even at 71, his enthusiasm for farming remains strong. His farm is a space where he keeps goats and chickens, produces his own liquid manure, and finds deep fulfillment in his work.
Beyond his farm, he actively raises awareness about the importance of pollinators such as bees and the harmful effects of chemical pesticides. He emphasizes that pollinators are crucial for agriculture and encourages farmers to avoid chemicals while planting flowers to attract these essential creatures.
Despite the success, farming comes with its challenges. Issues such as rainfall shortages and irrigation system failures occasionally arise, but adaptability is key. His resilience in the face of such difficulties highlights the importance of persistence in farming.
He firmly believes that organic farming is the future. In his view, it is a method that works with nature rather than against it. By adopting organic practices, farmers can preserve soil health, grow nutritious food, and create a sustainable agricultural system for future generations.
Climate change and land degradation are pressing concerns, but he remains optimistic that a return to organic methods can help restore soil health and build resilient communities. With initiatives such as Kenya’s National Agroecology Strategy, efforts are being made to encourage more farmers to embrace sustainable farming. Murang’a County, for instance, has already implemented policies promoting agroecology to combat soil degradation caused by synthetic fertilizers and hazardous pesticides.
Advocates for agroecology continue to push for greater policy support and investment to transform food systems. During a recent African Agroecology Workshop in Murang’a county, over 100 participants from 22 African countries called for urgent action to promote sustainable, equitable, and resilient food production.
These advocates, representing smallholder farmers, civil society organizations, researchers, and policymakers, stress that agroecology is more than just a farming method it is a movement that values people, nature, and local knowledge over profit-driven industrial agriculture. They urge governments to prioritize agroecology by developing policies and funding programs that support smallholder farmers, promote seed sovereignty, and encourage sustainable food production.
With dedicated farmers like John Kamande leading by example, agroecology is proving to be a viable and necessary alternative for the future of farming.
