KENYA AGRICULTURAL AND LIVESTOCK RESEARCH

ORGANIZATION
FOOD CROPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
KISII CENTRE
INDUSTRIAL ATTACHMENT REPORT
PRESENTED TO:
KIBABII UNIVERSITY.

FACULTY OF SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS

COURSE CODE: MAT 328

COURSE TITLE: INDUSTRIAL ATTACHMENT
DURATION: NINE WEEKS
DATE OF SUBMISSION:
ONSONGO OMAI SAMWEL
SMA/0057/14

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DECLARATION
I declare that this industrial attachment report is authentic, honest and original to the best of my
knowledge and complete coverage of what I did during my attachment exercise in KALRO-
KISII, and has not been presented anywhere for a degree or any other award in any university.
ONSONGO OMAI SAMWEL
Signature ………………… Date…………………………………………
DECLARATION BY THE SUPERVISORS
This report has been submitted with my approval as:
Organization based supervisor

NAME: …………………………………………………
SIGNATURE: …………………………………………………………….
DATE: ………………………………………………………………………..
This attachment report has been submitted to the faculty of Science department of
Mathematical, Kibabii University for examination purposes with approval of:
DR. B. KWACH
Signature ………………………………. Date ………………
Institution based supervisor
NAME: ………………………………………………………
SIGNATURE: …………………………………………………………..
DATE: …………………………………………………………………………

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DEDICATION
To my parent, friends for their love, encouragement, prayers and unending support during the
attachment period. I would also like to dedicate the work to all the KALRO staffs for their
massive support to ensure that everything was well understood and followed to the latter, God
bless you all.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
My utmost gratitude is directed to the Almighty GOD for strengthening me throughout my
industrial attachment period. I wish to express my indebted gratitude and special thanks to
the whole KALRO-KISII team for their unwavering support and guidance throughout my
academic-related learning period at their organization. Special mention goes to Dr. B. Kwach,
my incomparable academic supervisor (Kibabii university ),and Industrial supervisor who in
spite of being extraordinarily busy with their duties, took time to hear, guide and keep me on the
correct path during my industrial attachment. I also would like to acknowledge Mr. Kidula and
Mr. Isaac efforts (Staff at KALRO-KISII) who always stole their precious office time to come
and evaluate my learning progress and achievements in the various departments that I was
attached to. I would like to also take this opportunity to thank the local students attached in the
organization during the period who hastened my adaption to the various departments they
were attached. Lastly, I would to acknowledge my parents thanks go to them for their
assistance and encouragement throughout the period, their motivational support, financial
support and nurturing role was and will always be greatly valuable to my academics.

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Table of Contents
DECLARATION ................................................................................................................................................ i
DEDICATION .................................................................................................................................................. ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................................................................. iii
ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................................................... 1
LIST OF SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................... 1
CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................................................... 2
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 2
1.1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF THE CENTRE.............................................................. 2
1.2 GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION ................................................................................................................. 2
1.3 ECOLOGICAL FACTORS ........................................................................................................................ 2
1.4 VISION ................................................................................................................................................. 2
1.5 MISSION .............................................................................................................................................. 2
1.6 GUIDING CORE VALUES....................................................................................................................... 3
1.7 QUALITY .............................................................................................................................................. 3
1.8 STRATEGIC GOALS ............................................................................................................................... 3
CHAPTER TWO .......................................................................................................................................... 5
HOST ATTACHMENT DEPARTMENT .......................................................................................................... 5
2.1 VALUES OF THE DEPARTMENT............................................................................................................ 5
2.2 KEY FUNCTIONS /ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT .......................................................................... 6
2.3 STAFF ESTABLISHMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT ................................................................................... 6
2.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE INDUSTRIAL ATTACHMENT ................................................................................ 6
2.5.6 RESEARCH WORK ............................................................................................................................. 7
CHAPTER THREE: ....................................................................................................................................... 9
EVALUATION OF THE ATTACHMENT ......................................................................................................... 9
3.1 SUCCESS .............................................................................................................................................. 9
3.2 CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED .............................................................................................................. 9

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3.3 HOW THE CHALLENGES WERE SOLVED .............................................................................................. 9
CHAPTER FOUR: ...................................................................................................................................... 10
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................................................... 10
4.1 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................................... 10
4.2 RECCOMENDATIONS ......................................................................................................................... 10

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ABSTRACT
Industrial training is an important phase of a student life. A well planned, properly executed and
evaluated industrial training helps a lot in developing a professional attitude. It develop an
awareness of industrial approach to problem solving, based on a broad understanding of process
and mode of operation of organization. The aim and motivation of this industrial training is to
receive discipline, skills, teamwork and technical knowledge through a proper training
environment, which will help me, as a student in the field of statistics, to develop a responsiveness
of the self-disciplinary nature of problems in mathematics During a period of nine weeks training
at KALRO, Throughout this industrial training, I have been learning new statistical packages
that are required for process of data analysis and interpretation, was able to implement what I
have learnt for the four year as an undergraduate student at kibabii University.

LIST OF SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS

KALRO: Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization.
FCRI: Food Crop Research Institution
KARI: Kenya Agricultural Research Institute.
SPSS: Statistical Package of Social Sciences

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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF THE CENTRE
The center started as an experimental station in Sotik for livestock and crop husbandry, in 1963 moved to
Kisii as an experimental site with a mandate to conduct general agricultural research in south Nyanza and
Kisii district. Later in 1968 it became Nyanza Agricultural Research Station. In 1979 the Nyanza
Agricultural Research Station board of management changed its name to Kenya Agricultural Research
Institute (KARI).
The Government of Kenya (GOK) in July 1, 2014 operationalized the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock
Research Organization (KALRO) Act and merged four research institutions to create the Kenya
Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO). The merged institutions are,
 Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI);
 Kenya Tea Research Foundation (KTRF);
 Coffee Research Foundation (CRF); and
 Kenya Sugar Research Foundation (KSRF).
KALRO was to operate as a network of semi-autonomous research institutes, each with a specific
research mandate. The mandated Kisii area has also expanded to include central Nyanza district by 1977,
Kilgoris and Baragoi area formerly Narok County. The Centre is in a 83.7 ha land and ha 3 testing sites in
HomaBay(3.3ha), Oyani (5.6ha),Olosentu(32.96ha) and a one Sub-Centre in Transmara (29.42ha).
1.2 GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
KALRO-Kisii is located in Nyanza province, KisiiCounty, Nyamache division, Nyatieko location in
Nyaribari Chache Constituency along Kisii-Kericho highway. It is near coca-cola company limited and
national youth service and it is just about 3km from Kisii town.

1.3 ECOLOGICAL FACTORS

KALRO Kisii is located on longitude 34o, 47o0oE. It is situated at an altitude of 1806m above sea level in
the upper middle land agro-ecological Zone (AEZ). It has a bimodal rainfall with average rainfall of
2100mm and temperature ranging from 15o-26oC. There is a great diversity in soil with 20 different types
found in the area although nitisols are 49% and phaesama 13% which are the most prevalent occurring
throughout the district. Others include vertisols 21%, planosols 18%, solanets 0.8%, glycols 2 % and
grey zones 4% drained and thus require specific management practices in order to ensure high
productivity.
1.4 VISION
KALRO envisions a vibrant commercially-oriented and competitive agricultural sector propelled
by science, technology and innovation. This vision requires KALRO and its stakeholders and
partners to stretch their future expectations, aspirations and performance.
1.5 MISSION
The Mission Statement expresses the fundamental purpose and business of KALRO is to
contribute to increased productivity, commercialization and competitiveness of the
agricultural sector through generation and promotion of knowledge, information and
technologies that respond to clients’ demands and opportunities.

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1.6 GUIDING CORE VALUES
The guiding core values that KALRO and its stakeholders and partners hold in common and
endeavor to put into practice while performing their functional obligations include the following:
 Integrated and holistic approach: KALRO recognizes that integration and team work
across levels, disciplines, gender, timeframes and space, is critical in increasing
productivity, commercialization and competitiveness of the agricultural sector because of
the complex inter-linkages of the different components of the agricultural product value
chains.
 Impact, performance and service orientation: KALRO will remain focused on integrated
research for development by ensuring that all research activities undertaken or promoted
are demand –driven. KALRO will achieve this through building and maintaining a
culture that is based on impact of research and other knowledge roles; performance of
every part of the organization and service delivery as the key feature of the non-research
part of the institution.
 Scientific excellence, creativity and flexibility: KALRO will pursue meaningful and
productive partnerships, and teamwork so as to ensure synergies that have a direct
bearing on finding innovative solutions to major agricultural sector problems. Clear roles,
responsibilities, governance and supportive mechanisms will ensure application of true
partnership norms.
 Effective knowledge and information management: KALRO is committed to nurturing a
strong culture of knowledge management in the generation, sharing, brokerage and
application of agricultural knowledge within and outside the Institute. Respective for
staff and diverse clientsTransparency, accountability and cost- effectiveness: KALRO
is committed to effective and efficient utilization of all resources entrusted to the institute
in the most transparent, accountable and cost-effective manner.
1.7 QUALITY
Ensure that they considerately deliver products and services that certify the requirements of their
internal and external customers, Adopt quality as their integral part of their operation.
Continuously, improve the quality of the products as a collective responsibility, Empower
employees to embrace quality as a collective responsibility, Provide the environment and
maintain good cooperative and social responsibility, Comply with situatory and regulatory
requirements and Ensure that our goals and objectives are geared towards compliance with
quality management system
1.8 STRATEGIC GOALS
Integrated livestock value chains fostering commercialization of agricultural enterprise,
Sustainable and integrated management of natural resources for agricultural production,
Institutional arrangements for enhancing concerted action for development and uptake of
technologies and innovations, Capacity and competence building for integrated agricultural
research for development

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 1.9 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE INSTITUTION

Center Director

Center Administrator

Centre Accountant Deputy Center Director

Supplies Officer
Centre Planning and
Monitoring Officer

Horticulture and Food Crops and Livestock Research

Adaptive Research Industrial Crops Natural Resources
Crop Health Program
Outreach and Programme Management
Programme
Partnership Programme

Socio-economic and
Applied Statistic
Biotechnology
Program Agricultural
and Genetic
Research
Resources
investment
Program
-Oil servises
Crops
Farm
-Socio-economics Management

-Marketing & Policy -Land Use

-Applied Statistics -Cereal Planning
- Crops - Soil & Water
Management
-Adaptive -Integrated Soil
Research -Vegetables
Fertility
Outreach & -Fruits
-Flowers -Root -Legumes -Entomology
Partnership.
&Tuber -Pathology
-Research Crops -Weed
Estimation Science
Linkage KARI
Seed Unit

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CHAPTER TWO
HOST ATTACHMENT DEPARTMENT
The author was attached in the statistics department. This is a department that deals with data collection,
analysis and interpretation. This department is linked with all other departments within the Centre. Some
of these departments are:

2.1 VALUES OF THE DEPARTMENT

 Integrated and holistic approach
 Impact, performance and service orientation
 Scientific excellence, creativity and flexibility
 Effective knowledge and information management
 Transparency, accountability and cost- effectiveness
 Research.
 Teaching.
 Monitoring and evaluation.

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2.2 KEY FUNCTIONS /ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT
Management and coordination of all research programmes of the Research Methods unit

1. Developing and managing databases at the centre

2. Provide advisory services to scientists on appropriate statistical procedures for designs and
statistical data analysis for surveys and research experiments, and interpretation of statistical
analysis outputs
3. Ensure that reports that may be required from the centre have got valid statistical input
4. Build the capacity of scientists and computer operators in database development and
management, principles of statistical analysis and statistical analysis packages
5. Provide advisory services on suitable sampling methods, data collection, suitable statistical
analysis packages and data analysis tools
6. Ensuring that the Applied Statistics projects and activities are run in a manner to contribute to
and fulfil KALRO-Kisii Research Centre mandate.
7. Mentoring sectional staff to produce quality work and be good performers
8. Co-ordination and guidance to scientists in the section in the preparation of quality and
comprehensive quarterly and annual scientific reports.

2.3 STAFF ESTABLISHMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT

Applied statistics department has one office headed by one staff member. With 2 computer operators.

2.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE INDUSTRIAL ATTACHMENT

 Acquire practical experience in a work place setting.

 To provide an opportunity for students to discover, learn about, and familiarize with
industry of their discipline, and with organizations within the industry. Students will
acquire interpersonal skills through meeting with professionals in their field of study.
 To provide an opportunity for students to observe real-life practices and implementation of
theoretical lessons and principles. Students will acquire practical skills and experience
working on projects and alongside industry experts.
 To provide the opportunity for the industry to identify potential employees from among
the industrial trainees and to feedback comments on the programme. Students will benefit
from coursework tailored to meet training expectations of the industry.
 To ensure coursework and training programmes satisfy the expectations of the industry,
and ensure the programmes are relevant and up to date.
 Overall, students will gain experience in the following:
i. Organizational skills and professional awareness.
ii. Ability to work under supervision and directions.
iii. Efficiently completing tasks, fostering good relationship with seniors and
subordinates.
iv. Communication skills and contribution to company.
2.5 ATTACHES ASSIGNED ROUTINE DUTIES AND PARTICIPATION FORUMS.
DATA COLLECTION
In KALRO data is obtain from various departments, it is collected in each department .As attaches we
were given an opportunity to collect data from finger millet, data is collected and stored in excel format.

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DATA ANALYSIS
KALRO applies design of experiments in most of its research work. In finger millet Latin square
is applied.
Analysis is done in SPSS EXCEL and SAS.

2.5.6 RESEARCH WORK

Finger millet is one of the most grown food crop in the entire kisii land, in the resent past there have been
claim from farmers on poor yield. The Centre wishes to investigate the problem.
2.5.6.1 Data collection
Data is collected from the farms.
2.5.6.2 Data entry
Question: Compare foliar blast against plant height
This was done in SPSS
2.5.6.3 Data analysis
Regression

Model Summary

Model R R Square Adjusted R Square Std. Error of the Estimate

1 .192a .037 .027 1.004

a. Predictors: (Constant), plant height

ANOVAa

Model Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig.

Regression 3.707 1 3.707 3.680 .058b

1 Residual 96.701 96 1.007

Total 100.408 97

a. Dependent Variable: foliar blast

b. Predictors: (Constant), plant height

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 Coefficientsa

Model Unstandardized Coefficients Standardized t Sig. Collinearity

Coefficients Statistics

B Std. Error Beta Tolerance

(Constant) 4.138 .876 4.725 .000

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plant height -.033 .017 -.192 -1.918 .058 1.000

2.5.6.4 Findings
Ӯ~Βx+ε
Folia blast (Ӯ) ~ -0.033(plant height) +4.138
From the output above it indicates that when plant height increases there is low presence of folia blast
The p value is 0.058 this indicates the presence of goodness of fit

Wald test

βj2
Wj =
𝑆𝐸βj2
−0.0332
=0.0033
0.0172

0.0033 |z|0.05 =1.96

When conducting a wald test and comparing the ration of the coefficients then there is
dependence between the two variables since the ratio is less than the z absolute tabulated

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 CHAPTER THREE:
EVALUATION OF THE ATTACHMENT
3.1 SUCCESS
My attachment was a success, I was provided an opportunity to discover, learn about, and familiarize
with the Organizational skills and professional awareness. I acquire interpersonal skills through
meeting with professionals in the field of study.

3.2 CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED.

a) Inadequate reading and reference materials on statistics.
b) Completion with other students interns
c) Inadequate office equipment and machines:
d) Insufficient orientation
e) A new lifestyle
f) Inadequate data from the inventories

3.3 HOW THE CHALLENGES WERE SOLVED

Every challenge has a solution
1. With the high technology, online sources were useful
2. Stay friendly, be open-minded, drama-free, and easy to work with
3. Schedule socializing and adventurous activities.
4. Structured interviews with the staff members.

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CHAPTER FOUR:
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
4.1 CONCLUSION
Statistics is widely used in agriculture organization for instance in KALRO,

4.2 RECCOMENDATIONS
1. More books and reference materials of statistics should be added in the organizations library. This
will increase leaning for intern.

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