- Taita Taveta county, he said, is among the three counties earmarked for the project. Others are Makueni and Kwale counties.
- Entirely, the project is targeted to benefit more than 70,000 farmers in the three counties.
Image: SOLOMON MUINGI
Small scale farmers in Taita Taveta county will benefit from a new project targeting to boost production in cereals and vegetable value chain.
The training meant to amplify climate smart agriculture practices and boost food production in the region targets more than 25,000 small-scale farmers.
In a new deal with the county government, the two-year programme by Solidaridad organisation will see at least 60 lead-farmers trained on climate smart agriculture practices.
The model farmers will be used to cascade the skills down to the identified farmers to help build resilience and create sustainability in the supply chain.
“There are many smart agriculture practices that can help build resilience. Our main objective is to support innovative solutions that will lead to inclusive economic transformation,” Boniface Mulandi, the Solidaridad project coordinator said on Friday.
Speaking in Voi during an inception meeting with county agriculture officials, Mulandi said farmers will be supported to maximise the region’s agricultural potential.
Taita Taveta county, he said, is among the three counties earmarked for the project. Others are Makueni and Kwale counties.
Entirely, the project is targeted to benefit more than 70,000 farmers in the three counties.
“Solidaridad is an international network organisation, working in over 40 countries with seven regional offices in five continents. The project will be implemented in three counties in Kenya,” Mulandi said.
County Agriculture Executive Erickson Kyongo said the department is committed to providing all the support needed in extension services to ensure there is food security and resilient food systems in the county.
“Having identified areas of collaboration, our next move is to see how the 25,000 farmers will be distributed across the 4 subcounties,” he said.
The department has identified green gram and sunflower farming to be among the value chains to be supported by the project.
He said the two value chains will also help address the perennial human wildlife conflict menace.
“Besides boosting food security, these crops will serve as a mitigation measure against the perennial human wildlife conflict that continues to render efforts in agriculture futile,” the executive said.
Kyongo said the project will be implemented in Marungu, Kasighau and lower Sagala Wards in Voi constituency while Bura, Chawia, Rong’e and Wusi Kishamba Wards in Mwatate will also benefit.
Other areas are Wumingu Kishushe in Wundanyi constituency and Chala, Mata and Mahoo in Taveta.
The county, classified as Arid and Semi-Arid Lands is suitable for such drought tolerant crops due to the below normal rainfall recorded over the time.
-Edited by SKanyara