3 weeks Ago By KNA2
A climate action initiative that focuses on supporting smallholder farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve soil health, while simultaneously enhancing crop yields and farmer incomes has been launched in Nakuru. Through the initiative dubbed ‘ farmers across all the eleven sub-counties are being equipped with skills to embrace new agricultural techniques in a bid to avoid losses as a result of climate change as well as to address issues of food security. The initiative is a joint venture of the County Government of Nakuru, Cereal Growers Association- Farm to Market Alliance (CGA- FtMA) and Boomitra.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Leonard Bor indicated that the project is empowering farmers to participate in the carbon market by sequestering carbon in their soils through techniques such as crop rotation and cover cropping, and reduced tillage. He pointed out that the techniques will enhance soil moisture and increase soil organic matter leading to higher crop yields. Mr Bor said the sustainable practices employed in the project also contribute to improved crop yields and overall farm productivity.
He added that improved agricultural practices offer a powerful opportunity to reverse land degradation and decarbonise soils, effectively creating carbon removals and promoting overall soil health. “The initiative is focused on helping farmers improve soil health, increase productivity, and generate income through high-integrity carbon credits. Our ultimate goal is to maximise environmental, social, and economic benefits of the project to farmers,” stated the CECM.
While confirming that the project is guided by the Climate Change (Carbon Markets) Regulations, 2024, Mr Bor pointed out that the initiative incorporates an advanced soil sampling technology that is cost effective and less invasive. Speaking in his office when he chaired a meeting between the devolved unit’s agricultural specialists and representatives from (CGA- FtMA) and Boomitra, the CECM said the project represents a promising approach to addressing climate change while simultaneously improving the livelihoods of farmers and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. According to agricultural experts Kenya just like the rest of the African continent is losing its farmland productivity at a high rate.
Mr Bor pointed out that around 75 percent of the population in Kenya is dependent on agriculture, with its croplands being home to a large number of small and marginal farmers. According to the CECM, with a rapidly growing population, expected to hit 96 million by 2050, there is an urgent need for Kenya to sustainably produce sufficient, nutritious food for all while addressing climate change impacts from agricultural practices. Mr Bor noted that since agriculture emits 20 percent of Green Houses Gases (GHGs), adopting long term, climate sensitive farming was imperative.
He disclosed that Governor Susan Kihika’s administration has entered into various public-private partnerships geared towards increasing uptake of climate-smart innovations and technologies by small holder farmers to help them reduce production costs and boost their incomes. The CECM reiterated the devolved unit’s commitment to encouraging sustainable farming practices in its policies and budget to ensure food and nutrition security and build resilience against climate change shocks. “We have been working 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,” he explained.
Mr Bor said the practices entail incorporating agriculture-smart technologies like minimum tillage, to not only improve soil fertility but also enhance food security and productivity. He 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, added the CECM is not only threatening food security but is also contributing to the loss of biodiversity, insecurity and nutrition.
Mr Bor said “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 greater 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. The CECM revealed that the County administration was using various forums, including farmers’ field days, to disseminate information to farmers to address climate change challenges.
“Our ultimate goal is to translate the information, knowledge and new technologies into increased incomes for smallholder farmers and alleviate poverty. The investment in climate-smart innovations and technologies is designed to promote food security, bring resilience in the economy, create jobs and reduce poverty,” Mr Bor said. He added “The growing urban populations in Africa drive up the demand for food and this could be met if smallholder farmers embrace climate-smart agriculture practices which will cushion them against climate change challenges like drought, floods, pests and diseases,” 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.
The Ministry of Agriculture has listed some of the climate smart agriculture practices as development and use of drought and heat tolerant crop varieties, finding use for waste products from crops, training on the costs and benefits of crop insurance, reduction of post-harvest losses through support of agricultural machinery, adoption of biological pesticides for green gram farmers, conservation of agriculture practices such as zero tillage, and mulching, adoption of a warehouse receipting system and making use of waste material for biogas. For pastoralists, the practices entail shifts in herd composition from cattle to goats and/or camels, while in dairy farming it involves providing feed supplementation to increase productivity, providing of adequate water, improving collection systems to reduce spoilage and biogas systems to provide household energy and reduce emissions from manure..
