Kakamega County Government has strengthened her partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in order to reinforce climate-resilient agriculture and finalize the country’s first county Agricultural Sector Social Protection Policy.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperatives, Mophat Mandela, said the partnership is helping farmers to adopt climate-smart farming technologies while strengthening support for vulnerable farming households.
Speaking during a courtesy meeting with two FAO delegations led by FAO Regional Director for the Nandi Cluster (Tunza Programme) Michael Bett and FAO Social Protection Team Lead Winnie Mwasaji, Mandela reaffirmed the county’s commitment to implementing the FAO-Green Climate Fund (GCF) Tunza Programme.
He said the programme is currently supporting 45 Farmer Field School (FFS) groups across Kakamega, while 15 trained Farmer Field School facilitators are working with farmers to promote climate-smart agricultural practices and sustainable livelihoods.
Mandela urged the FAO to expand the programme by increasing the number of Farmer Field School groups to enable more farmers in the county to benefit from training and extension services.
The meeting reviewed progress made under the programme’s four key intervention areas, including climate services through digital climate advisory support for extension officers, land restoration and forest conservation, climate-resilient agricultural production through Farmer Field Schools and cooperatives, and market access, trade, and cooperative development.
Kaimosi Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) was identified as the programme’s service provider and will coordinate facilitator payments, peer-to-peer farmer learning, and farmer participation in agricultural exhibitions, Governor’s Day with farmers, agricultural shows, and farmer field days.
The leaders also reviewed the progress of the Kakamega County Agricultural Sector Social Protection Policy, which seeks to establish a framework for implementing agricultural interventions targeting vulnerable households.
Mandela thanked FAO for providing technical support during the policy development process and appealed for continued collaboration towards printing and officially launching the policy.
He disclosed that the draft policy is scheduled to be presented to the cabinet committee on legislation this week before being forwarded to the county cabinet for approval.
Once approved, Kakamega will become the first county in Kenya to adopt a dedicated Agricultural Sector Social Protection Policy aimed at promoting inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agricultural development.
The meeting was attended by Chief Officer for Cooperatives, Anselm Mulinya; Chief Officer for Livestock Production and Veterinary Services, Oscar Odunga; County Director of Agriculture, Titus Omengo; Deputy Director of Livestock Production, Anthony Mwangi; County Tunza Focal Point, Dr. Simon Ndung’u; and other county officials.
By Cypron Esolio
