The Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP) in partnership with Kajiado County government has provided farmers in Oleikaitoriori, Ildala Lekutuk ward with seedlings, different farm machines, Sahiwal cattle and Dorper sheep to enable them embrace modern farming practices.
The total cost of the project that is being implemented in six wards within Kajiado County is Sh45 million. Among the farm machines provided are improved manual hay bailers, forage choppers, motorized back pack weeders and brush cutters. The farmers who are allied to 11 self-help groups also received 49 pure Sahiwal cattle and 67 dorper ewes and 11 rams for breeding.
In order to mitigate drought effects, KCSAP also provided farmers with drought tolerant yellow beans and cowpeas seedling and fertilizers for top dressing and planting together with pesticides. Kajiado Deputy Governor Martin Moshisho urged the community to utilize the equipment well to get maximum yields.
Alternative sources of livelihood
Moshisho also asked the groups to adopt alternative sources of livelihood and to uphold unity as the government was keen on working with groups rather than individuals for wider impact. The farmers had been trained on how to use the farm machines and how to take care of the animals.
On his part, the chairman of Inkairukok Olmame group, one of the beneficiaries, Nicholas Saimi Swakei thanked KCSAP and the County Government for the support saying the 11 Sahiwal cattle they got will change their lives for the better.
“We usually engage in traditional method of livestock farming that our forefathers practiced but it does not give us profits. Now that we have received training and better breeds, we are guaranteed of improved income,” Said Saimi whose group consists of 25 members of both genders.
Nadupoi Inkiwanchani women group chairlady Mary Tompoi acknowledged that the machines will help the group to save time and energy and also in increasing their earnings. She added they mostly engage in table banking but now that they are empowered with skills and equipment, they will venture into tomato farming for more earnings.
