Food Security Kenya Project #59521

Food Security for 500 families in WestPokot Kenya

by CEFA (European Committee for Agricultural Training) Kenya & Somalia

Project Report | May 3, 2024
Enhancing Water Access for Small Communities in West Pokot

By Irene Sciurpa | Project Manager

Dear Friends,

Greetings from West Pokot!

In our commitment to sustainable community development, we are thrilled to present the latest advancements in empowering local communities through modern beekeeping, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and improved access to clean water in West Pokot. Over the past months, our initiatives have focused on equipping women and communities with the knowledge and resources necessary to thrive in these critical sectors. Through tailored training sessions and strategic interventions, we have witnessed remarkable progress and resilience within the rural populations.

Empowering Women in Modern Beekeeping

We're proud to champion the advancement of beekeeping among female beekeepers, empowering them through tailored training sessions. Over the past months, we've conducted intensive training for 50 beekeepers on modern beekeeping techniques, leveraging the beehives crafted by our skilled carpenters.

The journey has been one of processing, production, and sales, resulting in a remarkable achievement of 7 tons of honey. This milestone underscores the determination and resilience of these vibrant communities.

Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture and Drought-Resistant Seedlings

In the months of January, February, and March, we distributed 1500 mango seedlings to 150 beneficiaries, with each farmer receiving 10 seedlings. Concurrently, comprehensive training sessions were conducted with the communities on modern cultivation techniques, plant disease prevention, and the management of demonstration plots.

To bolster farmers' skills and support their land cultivation endeavors, as well as to enhance the nutritional intake of households, we conducted training and refresher courses on Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture with local communities.

Ensuring Access to Clean Water

Access to clean water is a fundamental right and the cornerstone of all other rights. That's why we're committed to ensuring rural communities in West Pokot have access to clean and safe water.

In recent months, substantial efforts have been dedicated to constructing and opening five water points across five different villages. This initiative has provided 250 households with proximity to water sources near their homes, complete with privately installed taps. Additionally, in support of the agropastoral livelihoods of local populations, four water troughs for animals have been installed.

This initiative not only supports communities by reducing the time and effort previously spent by women walking long distances to fetch water daily but also enhances their overall quality of life.

The villages benefiting from this initiative include Psapai, Upper Klaan, Kriich, Murmot, and Chepiwuit in the Masol Conservancy.

Furthermore, training and capacity-building sessions have been conducted with the Water User Association, supporting them in the management and maintenance of water points. Additionally, efforts have been made to strengthen their ability to engage in collective dialogue for effective water resource management.

In conclusion, the strides made in empowering women and young people through modern beekeeping, promoting nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and ensuring access to clean water signify not only progress but also resilience within the communities of West Pokot. These initiatives have not only improved livelihoods but have also fostered a sense of ownership and empowerment among all community members.

While much has been accomplished, there is still much work to be done! Together, let us remain committed to our shared vision of holistic community development, where every individual has the opportunity to thrive and contribute to a more prosperous society.

The warmest regards,

Irene Sciurpa

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Jan 10, 2024
Empowering women farmers for a sustainable community development

By Irene Sciurpa | Project Manager

Dear Friends,

Greetings from the heart of our ongoing initiatives!

In recent months, the impact of El Niño has been strongly felt in West Pokot, affecting the livelihoods of the local population and amplifying existing challenges. Amidst this backdrop, CEFA's role in Pellow and Masol conservancies remains essential in empowering local populations, focusing on sustainable practices to support the agropastoral communities. This report provides insights into the activities undertaken to address these challenges and enhance community resilience.

Modern Beekeeping

The promotion of community empowerment is evident through our efforts to foster inclusivity, especially among women. Acknowledging the significant role women contribute to community development, we have established groups dedicated to women beekeepers.

In December, a pivotal initiative unfolded with the distribution of 75 new beehives to women beekeepers in Cheror. This was accompanied by structured beekeeping trainings that emphasized modern harvesting techniques, pest and predator control, apiary management, and honey commercialization. Additionally, hive inspection procedures were implemented to optimize productivity and ensure sustainability.

Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture and Drought-Resistant Seedlings

The agricultural sector saw developments with the distribution of 1500 mango seedlings in September, followed by an additional 1125 in November. These seedlings not only satisfy household uses but are also sold at the local and external markets.

In Masol conservancy, predominantly women-led, 15 mango farmer groups were identified and subsequently trained in routine grafting inspections, seedling care, and pest and disease management. The County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) launch event in October acknowledged CEFA's pivotal role in fostering sustainable mango tree plantation practices.

Moreover, our involvement in Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture (NSA) is demonstrated through our support of 15 farmer groups, primarily led by women, totaling 225 farmers. Each participant received an NSA kit containing six distinct seed varieties: green grams, cowpeas, sorghum, capsicum, black nightshade, and spinach. The impressive germination rate exceeding 90% showcases the positive outcomes of our collaborative initiatives.

Water Points

Water conservation remains a cornerstone of our commitment to enhancing community resilience.

In September, we achieved a significant milestone with the formal registration of the Emborong Water Users Association as a Community-Based Organization (CBO). Subsequent months involved training sessions and assessments of various water points within the Masol conservancy.

Our dedication to augmenting water accessibility was further demonstrated by integrating the water harvesting system with the Honey Processing Unit's tank, ensuring a sustainable water supply for the community.

Reflecting on our activities in Pellow and Masol conservancies, there are clear indications of community resilience and empowerment stemming from our collective initiatives. Our efforts have centered around specific areas such as women's involvement in beekeeping, the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices, and the improvement of water accessibility. These actions demonstrate our ongoing commitment to holistic community development. Moving forward, continued support will be essential as we address challenges and strive to contribute to a stable and prosperous future for the agropastoral communities.

The warmest regards,

Irene Sciurpa

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Sep 18, 2023
Honey and nutritional seedlings for small-scale farmers against food insecurity.

By Irene Sciurpa | Project Manager

Dear Friends,

Here we are back from West Pokot!

The agropastoral peoples of West Pokot have had a difficult few months due to increasingly prolonged period of drought, which are affecting local populations' livelihoods. In this context, CEFA's presence in the region, is always particularly significant and it aims to increase the resilience of rural communities to the effects of climate change. In the past few weeks, we have kept supporting rural people by providing drought-resistant crop trainings, beekeeping activities, seedling distribution for natural sensitive agriculture, and working on the construction of water points, to provide access to water for people and livestock.

In the following paragraphs, we will try to tell you a little bit more about what we did in the last few weeks and the results that we obtained.

Modern Beekeeping

Beekeepers and farmers have been extracting and harvesting raw honey in the Honey Processing Units, that was built the last year. This honey has then been packed and sold in tiny local marketplaces for a quantity of more than 7 tons. Furthermore, in June and July, trainings in the local carpentry on the construction of modern hives have been provided, to assure farmers' empowerment and ownership in beekeeping.

In addition, 50 beekeepers’groups have attended training courses on modern beekeeping procedures as well as wax production preparation, which adds value to their activities, by providing a greater income for locally produced wax. Farmers not only have a sustainable source of income thanks to beekeeping, but they also conserve the area where they live and the biodiversity present there.

Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture and Drought-Resistant Seedlings

A demonstration plot was built in June 2023, where various crops such as cassava, pawpaw, and sorghum were planted. Nutrition sensitive agriculture helps rural populations build their resilience to soil erosion and land degradation, which is why we continued to teach farmers on NSA practices in these months, assisting them to learn crop performance and management. Furthermore, 100 farmers received NSA seeds such as green grams or cowpeas, ensuring the diversification of rural communities' nutritional needs.

Water Points

CEFA is helping to develop 5 water points in West Pokot County. Indeed, access to water is critical for agro-pastoral communities to maintain the survival of their livelihoods, especially when droughts become increasingly extended and intense.During these months of works, meetings with local communities have been held to identify the site and arrange the activities.

Training were also held with the Water Users Associations, which are community-based committees whose purpose is to assure local, bottom-up management of water points while protecting the people of West Pokot's ownership.

Join the transformation and contribute to CEFA's ongoing assistance to West Pokot communities! Your support is crucial in sustaining our efforts to deliver beekeeping, NSA and drought-resilient crops trainings, promote sustainable agriculture practices, construct water points and cattle troughs, establish a resilient tree nursery, and procure drought resistant seeds, seedlings and equipment for the benefit of our local farmers. Your generous help will allow us to make even greater steps toward bettering the lives of these communities!

The warmest regards,

Irene Sciurpa

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