Camillian Disaster Service – Kenya has of late been at the forefront on carrying out humanitarian assistance in an bid to help ensure that communities that are likely to be hit by climate conditions and poverty are supported. One prominent initiative is a food security project in Baringo County Kenya. The Project is titled “Building Community Resilience and Sustainability: Enhancing Food Security through Climate Smart Agriculture in Baringo County” This project was initiated in 2021 and is funded by CADIS Taiwan.

This project seeks to solve a permanent problem of hunger and lack of water through transferring knowledge and expertise in climate resilience agriculture. CADIS Kenya’s objective is to supplement the sustainable water supply by drilling boreholes as well as enhancing the storage of water to enhance crop yield and thus the income of the households. Some of the activities include sensitization of the communities, focus group discussions and launching of farm inputs and agriculture with extension services.

Baringo County covers an area of approximately 11,015.3 km2 of which approx. 50% (5299 km2) is classified as low potential (County Department of Agriculture, 2018). It is one of the 23 arid and semi-arid (ASAL) counties in Kenya. It has six (6) sub-counties namely Baringo North, Baringo Central, Baringo South, Mogotio, Eldama ravine and Tiaty. It has a total population of about 754,014 people with a male to female ratio of 1:1. It is among the marginalized counties with a poverty incidence of 52.2% against 42.2% nationally and contributes 1.7% to the national poverty (Baringo County Integrated Development Plan 2018-2022). The main livelihood activities are subsistence agriculture and pastoralism. Due to climate change, the area is food insecure and many people records low incomes.

The project has three main objectives:

1. To improve food production through supporting 100 farmers in Baringo South Sub-County for 3 years

2. To improve accessibility of water supply for irrigation through solar powered energy

3. To build capacity of 100 farmers through trainings, seminars and on farm demonstrations

The project Outcome are:

1. Increased income and availability of food in the market: The project desired to see a 40% increase in availability of food in the market.

2. Reduced rate of malnutrition and hunger: The project expects the rate of malnutrition and hunger in target area to reduce with at least 20%

3. Affordable prices of food in the market: The project expected a fair price of commodities equivalent to the surrounding areas.

4. Increased awareness and knowledge on farming skills and techniques: Farmers will have increased awareness and knowledge on various farming techniques.

The community of Salabani Location organized themselves to form a Community Based Organization called Salabani Farmer’s CBO. The CBO has a full structure with constitution and leaders. The total members are 110, from 7 villages around. Each village 15 people. The representation consists of Men, Women and the youth.

CADIS Kenya provided supply of water through drilling one borehole for irrigation and domestic use, provided farm inputs and agricultural skills for farmers who utilized the skills for their benefits and benefits of the society. We acknowledge the support by our donors and people of goodwill who ensures that the vulnerable communities are supported.