Abatai Youths Farmer Research Network (FRN) is one among the several farmer research networks in Ngora district, Agirigiroi sub county comprising 18 innovative youth farmers who are championing agroecology in Ngora district.
Blessed with a visionary leader, Mr., Okello Etephen the chairperson, the farmer research network is progressing steadily with farmer innovations such as indigenous seed collection and preservation, value addition to indigenous small grain cereals and legumes to produce nutrient dense flour, music on agroecology. These actions are systemically spreading the gospel of agroecology within the community of Abatai
In 2025, ATSI, through its engagement with these young farmers trained them on biointensive kitchen garden establishment and management where ten youth farmers volunteered to host the kitchen gardens. These host farmers are raising various crop types in their kitchen gardens with priority being vegetables which include; Amaranthus, spider leaf, Hibiscus (malakany), cowpea, among others. These crops are grown not only for food and nutrition security, but also to boost household incomes. The incomes generated are used to address household needs and a part of it is put in savings under the VSLA arrangement.
Being innovative young farmers, the Abatai Youth farmers have as well thought it wise to improve child health by enhancing their nutrition in such away that they process millet mixed with sorghum, groundnuts, dry pineapple and soybean into porridge flour. They also process soybean flour for sale to the local supermarkets within Agirigiroi sub county, thus shortening the market chain and foster access and utilization of nutritious porridge flour. The FRN believes the value addition they have started small has high growth potential in the locality.
