JOOUST Showcases Innovation and Impact at FAMFISK Project Closing in Germany
On 29 January 2026, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) joined consortium partners in Germany for the closing event of the FAMFISK Project at Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (HSWT). The event marked the culmination of an ambitious international initiative aimed at transforming agricultural mechanization and food technology systems in Kenya and Senegal.
The project, titled Fostering Agricultural Machinery & Food Technology in Senegal & Kenya (FAMFISK), was funded by the Bavarian State Chancellery and the Bavarian Machinery Ring Foundation. Since its launch in March 2024, FAMFISK has strengthened agricultural mechanization and machinery ring systems through targeted training, academic exchange, and practical innovation, reaching over 800 participants across the two countries.
FAMFISK is implemented by HSWT, in collaboration with Bildungswerk der Bayerischen Wirtschaft gGmbH and Maschinenring Foundation gGmbH, and in partnership with Université du Sine Saloum El-Hâdj Ibrahima NIASS and JOOUST, alongside Local Machinery Rings in Kenya and Senegal. By linking universities, vocational training institutions, and farmers, the project has focused on building sustainable local capacity in machinery use, maintenance, and agricultural value chain optimization—directly contributing to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2 (Zero Hunger), 4 (Quality Education), and 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
During the closing event, partners highlighted tangible project outcomes, including student and staff exchanges, summer and winter school programmes, internships, and partial qualification programmes in agricultural mechanization and machine maintenance. JOOUST’s contribution stood out through several student-led innovations developed during the Winter School training, notably the Avian Guard Prototype to address the bird menace in Kenya, a soil testing sensor, and a compost manure granulator.
From Senegal, a particularly impactful student innovation was showcased—the development of interchangeable seed discs for seed drills, enabling farmers to plant crops such as maize, peanuts, millet, and sesame using a single machine. This innovation has already been successfully tested in Senegal and holds strong potential for adoption within Kenyan machinery ring systems.
Beyond innovation and training, the project delivered significant infrastructure support. Through FAMFISK, JOOUST acquired seven (7) modern farm machines for teaching, demonstrations, and community utilization by students and farmers. These include a rotavator, three-disc plough, walking tractor with three attachments, chopper/shredder, sheller, fertilizer spreader, and an industrial sunflower processing machine. These assets will play a critical role in hands-on training, research, and farmer engagement.
In a major boost to regional mechanization efforts, the Bavarian Machinery Ring Foundation also gave the green light for the immediate expansion of Local Machinery Rings in both Senegal and Kenya. In Kenya, this expansion will include counties within the Lake Victoria Economic Block, namely Siaya, Homa Bay, Kisumu, Busia, and Migori.
The closing event formed part of a broader delegation visit from 26–30 January 2026, during which JOOUST was represented by Prof. Christopher Gor and Mr. Samuel Ohanga. The delegation participated in evaluation workshops at HSWT and engaged in technical exchanges with the Maschinenring Foundation and HORSCH Maschinen GmbH, gaining valuable insights into advanced mechanization systems and effective machinery ring governance models adaptable to the Kenyan context.
Through the FAMFISK project, JOOUST has further strengthened its position as a regional hub for agricultural mechanization training, research, and community outreach. The partnerships forged, skills developed, and innovations tested under the project will continue to benefit students, staff, and farming communities long after the project’s conclusion.
