Farmers embrace multi-million integrated project to maximize productivity

Lugari

Wednesday August 23, 2023

KNA, by Melechezedeck Ejakait

Farmers in Nzoia Ward in Likuyani Sub County have welcomed Sh36.8 million integrated agriculture project aimed at significantly boosting their farms’ productivity.

The multi-million Mumonyonzo Dam Integrated Agriculture project is co-funded by the World Bank under the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project and the Kakamega County government which has provided land and the technical experts.

Speaking to Kenya News Agency at the project site, the projectbmanagement committee chairman Mark Yakulula lauded the national and the county government for choosing the ward which has experienced unpredictable rain patterns in the recent past to host the project.

He said the project will immensely transform the economy of the ward due to increased harvests and creation of employment opportunities. He said: “This integrated project is expected to benefit over 7000 residents within Nzoia Ward. It covers an area of 15 acres. Water takes five acres while arable land takes eight acres.

The remaining two acres are under an indigenous forest cover and we are using it for bee keeping. We have started with several beehives and the county government has promised us 20 more beehives.”

Yakulula noted that besides the bee keeping project the other main components are fish farming, and irrigation which covers a radius of 6.5 kilometers.

“Soon we shall also be requesting the county government to get us a boat so that we can carry out agri-tourism and fishing in the main dam. For those benefiting from the irrigation component, we are encouraging them to focus on growing vegetables so that they can benefit fast and improve their livelihoods,“he stated.

The chairman disclosed that at the beginning of the project, the Kenya Fisheries Services donated to them 20000 tilapia fingerlings which have matured and are ready for harvesting to jumpstart the project.

He said their future plan is to kick start value addition for fish and honey products.

The management committee secretary Patrick Namodi echoed Yakulula’s sentiments adding that besides the project sponsors desilting the main dam, they have also established ten fish ponds at the main project site.

He said: “We plan to carry out value addition of fish in future and that is why we have decided to allocate a pond to each group that makebup the main project to manage.

“The initiative is gaining momentum and so far six groups have stockedvtheir ponds with 1000 fingerlings each. We expect each pond to atleast benefit 200 members and the ward community in general through commercial fish harvesting, value addition and transportation to the markets.”

Namodi appealed to the county government to assist them with feeds and link them to ready markets to strengthen the project and ensure its sustainability.

On climate change and environmental conservation Namodi stated that they are eliminating blue gum trees from the two -acre forest land under the project and planting more indigenous trees in order to conserve the water catchment area and ensure the dam doesbnot dry up.

Irene Kakaki who is a member of Upendo Welfare-a group under the main integrated project lauded the World Bank through Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project for honoring their proposal and funding their group activities which include poultry, fish and dairy farming to the tune ofSh 715, 000.

Community administrators Robert Mulema (Nordis) and his Vinyenya counterpart John Wanyama appealed to Nzoia Ward community to whole heartedly support the project for their own economic benefits.

The duo said through the project the community’s livelihoods will be transformed as they will be food secure through irrigation and theyouths will get employment opportunities.

The effect of climate change on agricultural land in Kenya has been severe due to decreased rainfall in the last few years coupled with increased temperatures. This has steadily decreased productivity as many communities overly depend on rain-fed agriculture.

Courtesy ; K. N. A