The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD is seeking additional funding amounting to $54 million to finance its projects in four arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) counties.
IFAD Country Director Mariatu Kamara stated that the funding being sought is envisaged to improve and upscale existing programmes under Kenya Livestock Commercialization Project (KELCOP) in areas they have not been implemented well
Speaking when she made a courtesy call on Baringo County Commissioner Stephen Kutwa on Wednesday, the country director said that if the funds are approved in September this year will also be used to increase the number of wards and counties covered by IFAD.
Ms Kamara said that the IFAD mission is visiting the counties of Nakuru, Marsabit, Baringo and Samburu to review and understand the challenges farmers face to enable the organization to do additional funding for the ongoing and new projects.
“The review which the mission has already carried out in the county of Nakuru is being done in order to understand the challenges benefitting farmers face. We are also collecting their views from the respective communities on how best to implement the projects located in their areas, “the country director stated.
She pointed out that among the projects being implemented under the five year KELCOP programme operating in ten counties of Kenya and specifically in smallholding and commercialization projects include drilling of boreholes, pasture growing, poultry keeping and apiculture.
Among national government officials in the mission delegation include director of Livestock production Bishar Elmi and Kelcop project coordinator Dr Moses Kembe.
The Kelcop project which is funded by IFAD in conjunction with the national government is one of the key drivers of the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), by transforming traditional livestock rearing into commercialized climate-resilient systems.
The County Commissioner in his remarks thanked IFAD for initiating critical projects especially in water scarce areas of the county aimed at improving value addition in the livestock chain.
Kutwa added that his office was glad to collaborate with IFAD in ensuring that the identified projects were implemented successfully through close supervision.
Governor Benjamin Cheboi who hosted the IFAD delegation in his office expressed his appreciation for the noble initiative saying that if possible 20 more boreholes should be done particularly in areas experiencing acute water scarcity to assist in growing more pasture to mitigate the effects of drought.
Cheboi noted the impact of development partners like Kelcop who have invested in infrastructure, disease control and market access for farmers is so immense saying that improvement in livestock chain last year saw farmers selling a record 8,300 goats during the annual Kimalel Goat Auction.
The governor, flanked by his deputy Eng Felix Kimaiyo and Agriculture County Executive Committee Member Risper Chepkonga called for more partners to chip in and support farmers in areas such as water accessibility and capacity building on best management practices to ensure increase in productivity.
The IFAD project in the country which started in March 2021 is expected to come to an end in March 2027.
by Joshua Kibet and Benson Kelio
