Small farm, huge honor

Esther Ngumbi displays a poster developed for her family farm’s participation in World Food Day 2016.
by JAMIE CREAMER
The location selected for this yearâs grand UNÂ World Food Day celebration in Kenyaâs southernmost county of Kwale just goes to show, you never know whoâs watching.
The site is a 10-acre family farm in the destitute coastal village of Mabafweni. But this isnât just a random farm. Itâs a thriving operation, a model, and itâs where, five or so years ago, a revolution beganâa revolution of the agricultural kind, a gradual movement that is transforming how farmers farm.
Side note: If something about this is beginning to sound vaguely familiar, itâs probably because the farm is that of the Ngumbi family, and youâve heard or read something about one of Harrison and Berthaâs children, Esther. You know; the Auburn entomology and plant pathology researcher who graduated with her Ph.D. in entomology from Auburn in 2011 and in the years since has been on a nonstop mission to build her poverty-stricken village into the agricultural hub of the Kenyan Coast.
But back to the story. Sometime in early summer, Estherâs brother and farm manager Kennedy grew puzzled. Though the remarkable innovations on and success of the farm often do draw visitors, as of late, a growing number of groups had been showing up, observing the crops and the work, and leaving.
âOur farm is always a beehive of activity and very hard work, but I would say to him, âWhy are they there?â and he would say, âI have no idea,ââ Esther says.
As it turned out, the visitors were primarily Kwale County extension and county government people who were scouting the farm as a potential site for the Oct. 14 World Food Day observance.
But it wasnât until the first week of August that the official word came down: The Ngumbi farm in Mabafweni village would host the 2016 celebration for Kwale County, population 650,000. Esther, giddy with excitement, went wild on Facebook, announcing the news of the great honor for her farm and village.
And, of course, sheâll be there, on a trip courtesy of Auburnâs Office of University Outreach.
âThis celebration is why I say, work hard and do your best because you never know whoâs watching what you do,â she says. âThis event is a blessing for our community.â
Kwale County Gov. Salim Mvurya and the minister in charge of agriculture, Joanne Nyamasyo, will speak during the ceremonies. And so will Esther, who, with parched corn crops as a background, plans to take full advantage of the opportunity.
âIn our community, all of our crops depend on rain,â she says. âWe have no running water, only wells.
âWe cannot continue to have farming without water,â she says. âI will be advocating that the government must bring running water to our village.
Sheâll have a captive audience and the governorâs ear. Odds are in herâand Mabafweniâsâfavor.
Contact
OFFICE OF AG COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
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334-844-2783 (PHONE)
agcomm@auburn.edu