More than 600 farmers in Langobaya area, Kilifi County, have received a major boost after Gapeka Children Hope Centre, in collaboration with Mike Pike Foundation, donated a tractor to support land cultivation.
Speaking during the tractor donation event in Langobaya, the Chief Executive Officer of Gapeka Children Hope Centre, Mr Jonathan Guyo, said the machine will ease land preparation agony and expand agricultural activities in the area through a sustainable farming project spearheaded by the organization.
“This tractor will greatly help our farmers in preparing their fields on time and improving productivity. Through this sustainable farming project, we aim to expand agriculture and ensure food security in Langobaya,” said Guyo.
He urged farmers in Kilifi County to embrace crops that mature quickly and require less water, citing the adverse effects of climate change on rainfall patterns.
“Farmers need to plant crops that take a short time to mature and require minimal water because the rainy seasons have been greatly affected by climate change,” he advised.
Guyo further emphasised the importance of adopting modern and sustainable farming methods, especially for farmers living near wetlands.
“There is a need for farmers to embrace modern sustainable farming techniques, particularly those near wetlands, to cope with the changing climate,” he added.
The Director of Research, Product Development, and Outreach at Pwani University, Dr Milton Binda, called on the community to conserve the environment, noting that human activities significantly contribute to climate change.
“A large percentage of climate change is caused by human-induced pollution. The community must take responsibility in protecting the environment,” said Dr Binda.
Farmers in the area Led by Langobaya CBO chairperson William Baya, welcomed the initiative, terming it timely and transformative while appealing to both the national and county governments to support smallholder farmers with modern equipment and farm inputs.
“We call upon the government to put in place strategies that will empower smallholder farmers with modern equipment and inputs so that we can increase our yields,” said Baya.
He noted that sustainable farming remains the only viable solution to avert hunger brought about by prolonged drought in many parts of the country.
“Sustainable farming is the only way to save us from the brink of famine facing many areas due to drought,” he said.
The Sustainable Agriculture in Kilifi project was initiated by Gabriela Vonworld, the founder of Gapeka Children Hope Centre in Langobaya, to empower small-scale farmers through training in modern agricultural methods, as well as the provision of certified seeds and other farm inputs.
By Stephen Mrira
