Emma Chepkoech

I participated in both the ISS and CIEP programs and as a participant, I explored innovative agricultural practices, which greatly influenced my current work in dragon fruit farming. Since completing the program, I initiated a community-based project aimed at empowering local farmers with sustainable farming techniques. My focus has been on expanding awareness of dragon fruit cultivation, facilitating seedling propagation, and managing a demonstration field to observe growth and productivity. I created a WhatsApp group for real-time farmer support and education, where I address questions on dragon fruit farming and broader agricultural issues. The project faces challenges in resource availability, especially for extensive farmer training and seedling demand. Balancing academic commitments with this project, I am seeking partnerships with local agricultural bodies to enhance outreach and secure funding. Looking forward, I aim to leverage the knowledge gained through Tokyo NODAI’s programs to advance sustainable farming in Kenya, inspiring youth involvement in agriculture and environmental conservation. I am hoping that upon my completion of my studies I can fully tackle this project with all my attention.