The County Government of Nakuru has crafted policies to strengthen public-private partnerships aimed at increasing uptake of climate-smart innovations and technologies by small holder farmers to help them reduce production costs and boost their incomes.
The devolved unit’s administration has affirmed that it has also stepped-up efforts to promote climate-smart livestock production by sensitizing Sub-County and Ward Livestock Officers on the Agroecology Stakeholder Mapping Report, Implementation Framework and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Leonard Bor, reiterated their commitment to encouraging sustainable farming practices in policies and budget to ensure food and nutrition security and build resilience against climate change shocks.
Bor pledged that the county government was keen on empowering farmers through climate-smart agriculture and diversification and promoting fruit farming towards improving nutrition and creating sustainable sources of income in the region.
He explained that sustainable agriculture was about increasing profitable farm income, protecting the environment, enhancing quality of life for farming communities and increasing production for human food and fibre needs.
As one way of coping with climate change, he urged Kenyans to adopt urban farming through establishment of kitchen gardens, while diversifying from maize into coffee, passion fruit, pyrethrum, macadamia, avocado, potato and vegetable farming.
He spoke during a sensitization workshop, conducted by the Division of Livestock that sought to equip agricultural officers with a better understanding of new policies and their role in implementing agroecology practices across the livestock sector.
Bor who was flanked by Chief Officer for Livestock, Fisheries and Veterinary Services Dr Michael Cheruiyot stated that they were partnering with various State agencies, local and international firms and research institutions to strengthen the capacity of both small holder and large-scale farmers in practicing sustainable agriculture towards improving crop yields, stimulating the economy and helping mitigate climate change.
The CECM indicated that the practices entail incorporating agriculture-smart technologies like minimum tillage, to not only improve soil fertility but also enhance food security and productivity.
He underscored the need to train small holder farmers on new climate smart farming technologies, use of certified pest control drugs and certified seeds.
Bor said the campaign to adopt fruit crops was part of Governor Kihika’s administration’s agenda to promote crop diversification and encourage farmers to embrace high-value crops for improved economic returns.
The CECM noted that agriculture is hugely vulnerable to climate change, particularly in Kenya, where farmers bear the brunt of irregular, insufficient and unpredictable rainfall patterns.
Climate change, he stated, is not only threatening food security but is also contributing to the loss of biodiversity, insecurity and nutrition.
Bor added “The situation on climate change is worsening daily as natural hazards from extreme weather events such as drought and flooding are increasing. This has created great loss and damage.”
He indicated that Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) was the solution to erratic weather patterns adding that it involves actions that sustainably increase productivity, enhance adaptation, reduce greenhouse emissions to a possible zero and enhance achievement of national food security and development goals.
Bor indicated that Governor Kihika’s administration is also committed to increase acreage under irrigation to move the devolved unit away from rain-fed farming.
He noted that a lot of productive land in arid and semi-arid areas remained unproductive during the dry season, adding that where the land was put under irrigation, food production could increase and food shortages could be reduced.
The CECM added “The growing urban populations in Africa drive up the demand for food and this could be achieved if smallholder farmers embrace climate-smart agriculture practices which will cushion them against climate change challenges like drought, floods, pests and diseases.”
Bor indicated that the 2022-2026 Climate Smart Agriculture Multi Stakeholder Platform strategic plan (CSA-MSP) being spearheaded by the national government, aims to equip farmers with adaptation practices on climate action, geared to increase food production hence, reducing the food prices.
He assured residents that the County government will continue collaborating with other public and private sector partners to ensure farmers access crop varieties that are resilient to drought.
“We are committed to working with research institutions, state agencies and private firms to have our farmers rear more heat-tolerant and disease-resistant livestock breeds that are better adapted to the prevailing tough climatic conditions and which can feed on fodder more efficiently to reduce greenhouse gas emissions per unit of product (such as milk, meat and eggs, among others),” noted the official.
He noted that agriculture is hugely vulnerable to climate change, particularly in Kenya, where crops rely on regular, sufficient and predictable rainfall.
“Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns have created extreme weather conditions such as flash flooding, drought and locust invasions that have not only slashed crop yields but fueled regional conflict over diminishing access to essential resources,” he said.
By Jane Ngugi and Jefther Afuyo
