EU, Homa Bay launch project to promote climate-smart agriculture

More than 9,000 farmers in Homa Bay are set to benefit from a climate-smart agriculture project.

Kenya Cerial Enhancement Programme is being implemented by Homa Bay government in partnership with the European Union.

The project is meant to enhance food production by planting climate resilient crops.

It encompasses agricultural production, which reduces emission of carbon into the atmosphere.

The use of environment friendly organic fertilisers is also part of the project.

Some 3,000 have already received farm inputs such as seeds and organic fertilisers. 

They get the inputs at subsidised prices by only paying 10 per cent of the cost per package.

The first type of package has maize, beans and fertiliser, while second type has sorghum, beans and fertilisers.

All the farmers are from Ndhiwa and Karachuonyo constituencies.

The fertilisers are distributed by dealers who have been approved by the EU, county and research institutions.

EU Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger, Governor Gladys Wanga and ambassadors Sebastian Groth (Germany), Arnaud Suquet  (France), Christian Fellner (Austria), Miroslaw Gojdz (Poland) and Caroline Vicini (Sweden) urged residents to embrace the climate-smart agriculture.

The identified crops are some of the staple food crops in Kenya.

Climate smart agriculture also promotes conservation of environment.

Geiger urged the farmers to use the programme to transform their lives.

“The EU is planting a seed in the farmers but it is up to them to use the seed to transform their lives,” she said.

She spoke on Monday during her visit in Homa Bay.

Geiger urged the youth to embrace agriculture to improve food security.

“We are making agriculture attractive to the youth through the introduction of new technologies, which are less hectic and enable farmers to reap more from their sweat,” she said.

Wanga, who was accompanied by Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga, expressed confidence that the programme will boost food production in Homa Bay.

She said the programme will encourage farmers to participate in food production due to efficiency of the new technologies.

“The more than 3,000 farmers who are going to benefit from seeds and bio-fertilisers and the 6,000 who will be trained will  ensure an increase in crop production,” Wanga said.

She appealed to the EU and other partners to include sweet potato production in Kabondo Kasupil as a value chain supported in the programme.

“We have Rachuonyo East sub county which produces sweet potatoes, which used to be a delicacy for the late Queen Elizabeth. I appeal to you to include sweet potato production in this programme,” Wanga said.