Great milestones as curtains fall on Agricultural Climate Resilience Enhancement Initiative
It has been five years since the launch of the Agricultural Climate Resilience Enhancement Initiative (ACREI). Taita Taveta County in Kenya was selected as one of the targeted locations in Eastern Africa due to its semi-arid climate conditions, with increasing frequency of climate induced shocks on its agropastoral communities.
Through the project, agro-pastoral land users have developed their own climate adaptation action plans and enhanced their skills around Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices. These practices have seen them increase their farm and livestock productivity, incomes from value chain commercialization and household nutrition alongside with increased group cohesion and peer-to-peer support through Farmer Field Schools (FFS) approach.
Over 840 farmers in Taita Taveta County have benefited from CSA practices. This included establishment of over 700 kitchen gardens, adoption of drought resistant crop varieties and livestock breeds, implementing community actions to mitigate impact of drought through improved systems to harvest and distribute river water for irrigation, solarization of boreholes and various agricultural trainings.
“In our group of 21 members, we collectively save half of what we get from selling extra vegetables from our gardens through table banking. Last year, our members got between Kshs. 10 000/= and Kshs. 20 000/=, enabling us to pay school fees for our children.” Says Elizabeth Lukeleki a member of Mwagarana FFS in Mbololo Muraru ward.
The groups have been trained on the village saving and loaning association process through this project. With this knowledge, the groups can bank their money and share it annually. The groups currently have a total revolving fund of USD 20,625/=.
Through the ACREI project, FAO has distributed 2 750 Galla goats to seven sub-counties. The goats have already given birth and are now producing milk, significantly improving the nutrition status of families, especially children. The offspring will be passed on to fellow farmers within the groups, as the bucks improve the genetics of the local goat breeds. The goats were chosen due to their suitability for arid and semi-arid lands and relative ease of management.
Patrick Mwangala, a beneficiary of two Galla goats – A doe and a buck is among the farmers showcasing at Mwakiki Farmers Field Day. With the two tethered and feeding on hay, he explains to the public the benefits of goat milk and the advantages of rearing them compared to local goat breeds and cows in Taita Taveta.
“I am happy that through ACREI and support from FAO, my farmers have learned good farming techniques that will enable them to adapt to the changing climate. As a county, we shall ensure these impacts are sustained and upscaled to other sub-counties.” Andrew Mwadime – Governor Taita Taveta County.
Sunflower production is another value chain supported by the ACREI project. Mavuno Sana Farmer Field School was facilitated to acquire an oil press. The members initially had to cross over to neighboring Tanzania to get their sunflower seeds pressed, leaving the valuable seed cake behind there in exchange, are now doing it locally and affordably in their village.
“Areas of support were carefully identified according to the group’s needs, abilities, and ecological zones. We are happy that the projects were received well by the local communities, who have been very cooperative. I believe they can sustain the gains made since they are now empowered.” Said Abedih Mbatha, the FAO Field Project Staff.
To enhance the water infrastructure, FAO, working with the County of Taita Taveta, constructed check dams, retaining walls and water canals to help with supplementary irrigation for vegetables and field crops. During the closure fair held at Mwakiki farm in Mbololo sub-county, a total of 1 891 water tanks, 1 500 litre and 5000 litre capacity, were distributed to groups.
Dr. Barack Okoba, the national coordinator of the ACREI project, presided over the closure eventand urged the community groups to continue practice their new knowledge on climate smart agriculture. Dr. Duveskog Deborah, who oversees the regional project, lauded the milestones covered by groups in Taita Taveta.
Agricultural and meterological departments further ensured that weather forecasts were downscaled into the local languages and shared with groups to ensure that farmers made their farming decisions based on likely weather scenarios.
About the ACREI project
ACREI is a partnership program between FAO, WMO and IGAD, with financial support from the Adaptation Fund. Since 2018, ACREI has been developing innovative mechanisms for downscaling of climate information. The project aims to improve adaptive capacity and resilience to climate variability and change among targeted farmers, agropastoralists and pastoralist communities in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda pilot areas.
The project aimed to develop and implement adaptation strategies and measures to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable smallholder farmers, agro-pastoralists and pastoralists in the Horn of Africa to climate variability and change. FAO took the lead on the first and second components that sought to enhance community adaptation practices through participatory extension services using the Farmer Field Schools approach and climate-proofing extension services.
For more information, contact:
Joseph Othieno
FAO Kenya Communication Specialist