Kenya Forestry College | Sustainable Forestry Management

DEPARTMENT OF OUTREACH AND LIASON

This is another important arm of the college with the core function of liaison, public relations, short courses administration and coordination. It manages the ICT unit and collaborates with extension department to ensure that the college impacts on the neighboring community, other institutions within Kenya and abroad. We participate in ASK shows, Exhibitions, Conferences, Field days and Open days whenever invited.

This department has taken initiative in involving students in collaboration with other field extension officers to establish farmer field schools around the college. This year alone we have established one such school.

The department also oversees APHIA II collaborative project . We have been able to train peer educators among staff and students and conducted a baseline survey on APHIA II /KFC collaborative project. A number of activities have been held, namely: integrated health programme, as well as visits and training of groups in the neighboring community.

PAST ACTIVITIES

On 2nd July 2004, a group of diploma students from the college went and made an appointment with the principal of Finch secondary school. The principal agreed to allow them visit them regularly to have interactive sessions with students  on Thursdays from 4:00-5:00p.m. The College students decided as a group to give talks on ‘forestry and its importance to the community’ .A teacher at the school ( Mr. Chepkwony)  was very cooperative and helped assemble students in one of the classes where they were taught on the following subjects by KFC diploma students

1. Trees in soil and water conservation.
2. Trees in land reclaimation.
3. Trees in soil fertility improvement.
4. Use of trees in landscaping( beautification).
5. Trees as a source of fuel, fodder, bee forage , silkworm fodder e.t.c.
6. Trees and their medicinal values.
7. Trees in biodiversity conservation.
8. Trees in climate amelioration.
9. Trees for timber.
10. Trees as a carbon sink.

On 9th July, 2009 another group from college visited Londiani Girls Boarding primary school and met a total of 257 pupils from standard four to eight. The pupils were taught on the following topics:- sources of tree seed, methods of seed collection , processing and storage,  factors to consider when laying out a nursery, nursery layout, seed sowing, watering, shading, hardening, weeding and pricking out.
These activity by college students will continue come next term to cover farmers, groups and county council and CDF members.