Rose Ogutu, assistant greenhouse manager of the horticulture department and native Kenyan, dispelled two misconceptions she said Americans have about Kenya in her presentation "Agriculture: A Kenyan Experience," Wednesday for the Vernon Larson International Luncheon Lecture Series.

First off, Ogutu said Americans should understand that Kenya isn't ready for globalization, and secondly, the most trusted hands in Kenyan agriculture are female.   

Ogutu explained that while only eight percent of Kenya's land is arable, 75 percent of the population are small-scale farmers who provide food for the entire country. "Small scale" constitutes five-acres or less.

They produce cash crops like coffee, tea and cotton. Livestock like cattle, sheep, donkeys and camels are exported and consumed, as well as used for transporting everything to market. Kenya is the third largest and fastest growing foreign-exchange earner, despite having fewer resources than its competitors, Ogutu said.

The National Agriculture and Livestock Extension Program, which is monitored by the Ministry of Agriculture, similar to the FDA, wants to empower small-scale farmers who have exhausted their scarce resources and would benefit from direct communication with extension workers.

"If we could improve communication with extension workers and get the best of the land, fewer people would go hungry," Ogutu said. "It's the way out." 

Farmers need only a machete and some seeds to establish a crop, but political inefficiencies, environmental issues and limited funding lengthen the deadline for harvest.

Women often stay at home while men search for other sources of income, leaving unpaid family members with the entire workload. Deforestation is eroding the soil and distrust of men among money lenders  prevents loans all farmers rely on. To illustrate this, Ogutu juxtaposed two photos, one of women working in the fields, and one of men collecting their wages.

"It doesn't make a lot of sense if we don't empower the women who take care of the farm," she said.   

Ogutu speaks from experience; she received her bachelor's in agriculture at the University of Eastern Africa, earned her master's degree from Cornell University and her doctoral degree from K-State.

Norman Schlesener, a retired extension worker in the audience, has witnessed Ogutu's claim that men have a harder time getting loans than women do.

"In Nicaragua they only loan to the women," Schlessener said. "They have more confidence that the women will pay back the loans. The men may or may not be around."  

Inadequate transportation is another basic problem Ogutu said prevents Kenya from joining globalization .

"Without roads, decimating information is hard," she said. "We encourage farmers to create groups of cooperative societies to sell their produce through. With paved roads, farmers could transport their produce better."

She showed a picture of a farmer carrying a massive load of produce while riding a bicycle to market.

Extension specialist Herschel George said appropriate technology needs to be provided so farmers can use resources they already have, instead of adopting a tool that requires extensive training to, and emphasized the role of women as providers.

"We need to get extension workers working directly with the small-scale farmers and especially the women," George said. "It's essential to get these women educated and empowered."