The Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project in partnership with the county government of Lamu has commenced distribution of heifers and improved goats to smallholder farmer groups to boost food security.
The ongoing multifaceted social protection programme aims to not only enhance food security but also eradicate rural poverty through improved disposable income of smallholder agro-pastoral households.
Climate smart agriculture is a government project supported by the World Bank and is being implemented over a five-year period from 2017-2022 under the framework of the Agriculture Sector Development Strategy, 2010-2020 and National Climate Change Response Strategy, 2010.
The objective is to increase agricultural productivity and enhance resilience mechanisms to climate change risks in the targeted smallholder farming and pastoral communities in Kenya, and in the event of an eligible crisis or emergency to provide immediate and effective response.
On Thursday, six smallholder farmer groups in Faza island received 81 heifers and 61 improved breeds of goats from the county government of Lamu under the programme.
Last week, another six smallholder farmer groups in the region received 68 heifers, 65 goats and a boat.
Lamu county executive for agriculture Deputy Governor Abdulhakim Aboud said the initiative aims to diversify and promote food and income security for smallholder farmers across the county in the face of a global pandemic and uncertain weather patterns.
“The county is committed to supporting farmers in food production to ensure food security for all. Distribution of relief animal feeds is still under way to cushion our farmers against the effects of prevailing drought,” Aboud said.
Aboud said the programme seeks to increase agricultural productivity and build resilience to climate change risks among smallholder farming and pastoral communities to increase their yields and incomes.
The Ministry of Agriculture is the main implementing agency of the KCSAPat the national level while county governments are the executing agencies at the county level.
Lamu county KCSAP coordinator Steven Mbuvi said the project remains committed to upscaling climate smart agricultural practices, strengthening research and offering support whenever they can to ensure counties enjoy food security.
Lamu county director for livestock Jamila Mitsanzi encouraged the beneficiary groups to take good care of the livestock for posterity, assuring them of continued support from the county government despite the challenges emanating from the prevailing drought.
Beneficiary groups under the program in Lamu include Tuhifadhi Social Help Group from Mbwajumwali , Mpaji Women’s Group from Kizingitini, Tunusuru Women’s Group and Tuungane Self Help Group from Myabogi, Walemavu Self Help Group from Tchundwa, Faza Youth Action, Maarifa Self Help Group and Majengo Self Help Group from Pate village.
Others are Tawakal Ilaahi Self Help Group from Siu, Bwajumwali, Dhow Makers Self Help Group ,Tuungane Self Help Group and Tawakul Disabled Self Help Group both from Kizingitini.