1 A SPECIAL SUNDAY NATION PROJECT In partnership with griculture, Ministry of A s and ock, Fisherie Livest ratives Coope Road to Egypt Climate-smart agriculture
>Your chance to join us SUNDAY NATION June 12, 2022 Welcome to the Road to COP27 Welcome to Nation Media Group’s monthly Climate Action Series, 2022 edition: The Road to Egypt, COP27. This Climate Action Series, which we launched last year as a build-up to the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 26) in Glasgow, Scotland, played a key role in highlighting the various mitigation and adaptation measures the government, private sector, nonstate actors and development partners were undertaking to combat the raging climate crisis. The discussions and conversations that were generated and facilitated through this monthly platform brought out the severity of the climate crisis and the urgent need for interventions, nationally and beyond the Kenyan borders. Building on that, we have embarked on the 2022 edition of the series entitled Road to Egypt, COP27 with the inaugural pull-out today focusing on climate-smart agriculture in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives and other stakeholders. The series is aimed at highlighting the mitigation and adaptation measures being undertaken by national and county governments, the private sector, non-state Actors, development and multilateral partners and the diplomatic community in building resilience and adaptive capacity towards a low carbon economy. For Kenya and the rest of Africa and indeed the developing nations, COP27 presents a new opportunity to continue the push for climate justice, In this special issue: especially the demand for financial support from developed nations to accelerate the continent’s transition towards a low carbon, nature-positive and climate-resilient future based on locally-led adaptations. Since COP27 will take place in Africa, the engagement through this pullout is an opportunity for different stakeholders to help push the continent’s agenda, especially the demand for support from developed nations who are largely responsible for the highest emissions. Through this pullout and in partnership with different players, we hope to push for increased uptake of climate information services in development planning and practice in Kenya and the rest of Africa as a basis for the building of climate-resilient and green economies. Eco-friendly livelihood Mercy Chelangat, In Marimanti, Tharaka Nithi County, a farm silently combats the effects of climate change while at the same time acting as a training ground for farmers who would love to see their ecosystem prosper Page 6 Isaiah Esipisu A team of experts and environmental technocrats from different countries are sitting in Bonn, Germany, from June 6 to 16, to analyse the findings of a report on climate change released to advise policy-oriented needs during the forthcoming 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) in Egypt Page 5 From the ground Kenyan farmers feel the heat of global warming Pauline on special assignment. Samburu women make traditional ornaments and jewellery out of beads in Sera Conservancy, Samburu County, on May 10, 2022. The beadwork will be sold through the conservancy both in the local and international market, creating a profitable income for the pastoralist Samburu families that have seen their traditional lifestyle threatened due to climate change and the deterioration of rangelands. Kenya has lost nearly 70 per cent of its wildlife in the past 30 years. Many conservancies in Kenya are transforming their models towards a community-based approach that allows local communities to improve their livelihoods while promoting conservation. PHOTO | AFP Produced by Nation Media Group in partnership with champions of climate change advocacy. Managing Editor: Washington Gikunju Sunday Nation Editor: Mike Owuor Team Leader Content Partnerships: Julius Mokaya Project Editor: Simon Libafu Special Correspondents: Pauline Ongaji, Mercy Chelangat, Naomi Wanjiru, Njeri Monobolou and Isaiah Esipisu Photojournalist: Jared Nyataya Graphic Designer: Benjamin Situma Carbon credit trading Page 11
June 12, 2022 3 >Chemical fertiliser substitute Earthworms churn out organic manure cash for Trans Nzoia scientist Expert in vermicomposting bets on eco-friendly venture to ease the use of artificial fertilisers linked to emissions By PAULINE ONGAJI W hen James Wafula started California Vermifarm, focusing on earthworm farming back in 2018, it was just a part of an academic project. But along the way, this endeavour has grown into both a money-making venture and environment conservation initiative. At California Vermifarm, which is located at Sibanga Market in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County, Mr Wafula specialises in vermicomposting, the process of turning organic debris into worm castings (manure). “Here, I look into ways of enhancing the nutrient content of vermicompost by including in their feedstock green biomass that is known to contain relatively higher amounts of potassium and nitrogen than other green leaves. The nutrient content of vermicompost depends on the type of feedstock they are given,” he says. On his farm, Mr Wafula who holds a master of science degree in Renewable Energy from Oldenburg University, Germany, has several demonstration plots where he studies the effect of different mixtures of fertilisers on plant growth. The former Energy ministry official also graduated from the University of Nairobi with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry. Through this farming, there is vermicast production also called worm castings, worm humus, worm manure or worm faeces, which is the end-product of the breakdown of organic matter by earthworms. At the moment he has a production capacity of about 10 tonnes. Then there is the production of vermitea, a lateral product of the vermicomposting process, which contains nitrogen, phosphorous, micronutrients, hormones and earthworm enzyme, which promote plant growth and I wanted to add value to the effluent from the biogas plant by producing an improved organic fertiliser yield as well as increase the resistance of the plant to disease and pests. “I also produce Eisenia fetida, known under various common names such as manure worm or redworm. This is a species of earthworm, which I sell to other farmers,” explains Mr Wafula. But apart from the business side of it, this farming has immense environmental advantages. “The right proportion of organic, biofertiliser and chemical fertiliser can produce an equivalent yield of the crop as that produced by chemical fertilisers. We can, therefore, decrease our use of chemical fertilisers. The latter has been known to increase the emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide from the soil. Both of these are greenhouse gases.” His inspiration to venture into this stems from his experience with the biogas dissemination programme while at the Ministry of Energy. “I wanted to add value to the effluent from the biogas plant by producing an improved organic fertiliser. By using the effluent (cow dung slurry) as part of the feedstock for earthworms, vermicompost can be produced,” he says. Though rewarding, this venture requires skill and caution. “For instance, when it comes to choosing vermibedding, any biodegradable material that provides the worms with a relatively stable habitat, you must ensure that it has high absorbency. This is because worms breathe through their skins, and therefore must have a moist environment in which to live. There should also be good bulking potential because worms require oxygen to live.” Apart from that, he says, there has to be high carbon and low protein (nitrogen) content. “High protein levels can result in rapid degradation and its associated heating, creating inhospitable conditions,” explains Mr Wafula. Also, though earthworms will consume many types of dried animal manures and biodegradables, you have to ensure that the feeds containing high amounts of carbohydrate or woody residues are composted beyond the heating stage. “The feed and supplements can be spread on top of the bedding about three-four inches deep. Food scraps should be pre-composited or covered to prevent fruit flies and other pests. Feed the worms regularly (once or twice a week). When all of the feed has been consumed, it is time to feed again. If too much feed is added, the beds may overheat, become anaerobic (oxygen-deprived), or too acidic,” he explains. Nutrient tests are usually carried out at the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation labs. One should also look out for predators including mites, birds and ants such as safari ants, he says. “For this reason, enclosing the vermicomposting site with wire netting can mitigate bird invasion. Ants can be controlled with insecticide powders sprinkled cautiously at the base of the vermibed bins,” says Mr Wafula. Harvesting beds or bins, he says, may be accomplished by several methods. “The common harvesting technique is using either brilliant sunlight or bright light shining overhead to drive the worms deeper into the pile to escape the light,” he says. pongaji@ke.nationmedia.com What About Livestock? Here’s how Kenya and ILRI are Building Climate Resilience in the Sector In its fight against climate change, Kenya gets crucial research support for its big and growing livestock sector PHOTO | ILRI/GEOFFREY NJENGA Kenya is a leader in climate-change research and policy in Africa. ILRI takes great pride in partnering with Kenya on work that is improving the livelihoods of its smallholder farmers and herders, as well as food and nutritional security for the whole population. The multi-year series of droughts ravaging Kenya’s vast north-eastern drylands is but the latest alarm bell ringing of the dangers a changing climate is bringing to this largely rain-fed agricultural nation. As pastures and riverbeds dry up, an estimated one and a half million livestock have been lost and three and a half million livelihoods devastated. Following three consecutive poor rainy seasons, the country’s pastoral households, normally so resilient, are finding themselves no longer able to cope. Unable to keep most of their stock alive, to feed and nourish themselves adequately, or to continue to educate all of their children, households and communities here are being forced to ask for support, which Kenyan and humanitarian agencies are providing. But the Kenya Government is doing much more than that. As a major livestock-producing country, Kenya is specifically targeting efficient livestock management in its ‘climate-smart agriculture’ agenda. This includes Kenya’s plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions as stipulated in its ‘nationally determined contribution’ to achieve the global temperature goal set out in the 2015 Paris Climate Accords. Partnering with Kenya in this work to develop its livestock systems in the face of climate change is the CGIAR’s International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). ILRI works directly with Kenya’s government ministries, research agencies, private companies and local communities to help solve problems faced by the country’s millions of small-scale livestock farmers and herders trying to produce food under a drying, harsher and more erratic climate. Much of this joint Kenya-ILRI climate change work falls in four broad areas. 1) Developing climate-smart livestock policies and solutions Joint ILRI initiatives with Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Co-operatives, are helping to guide implementation of the Kenya Climate-Smart Agriculture Implementation Framework and other national climate-related policies. ILRI’s Mazingira (‘Environment’) Centre is determining reliable greenhouse gas emission factors for livestock, to help Kenya and other African countries more accurately report on their greenhouse gas reduction targets. ILRI is also supporting Kenyan livestock solutions to climate change that provide both greater gender equality and more jobs for the youth. And ILRI has helped Kenya improve the efficiency of its livestock production systems, which enhances livestock yields while reducing livestock greenhouse gas emission intensities via better feeds and breeds and better management of rangelands and manure. 2) Implementing early warning and climate information systems ILRI and Kenyan experts are building tools that help the country to prepare for climate shocks. ILRI leads a programme in Kenya, for example, called Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA), which makes climate information services and climate-smart agricultural information more accessible to smallholder farmers. This joint ILRI-Kenya work includes the Kenya Agricultural Observatory Platform, which is developing a web-based dashboard bundling climate and agricultural advisories. ILRI and Kenya host the Jameel Observatory for Food Security Early Action (https://jameelobservatory.org/), which is creating open innovation ‘labs’ where observatory partners, collaborators and a wider community of practice can connect to identify bottlenecks to climate-related food security and nutrition in drylands. 3) Building more efficient livestock markets and value chains ILRI is working with Kenya to develop or refine livestock market information systems and value chains. One of these, KAZNET, uses a mobile phone app to crowdsource market data in pastoral areas so that livestock producers and traders have ready access to the same information on livestock prices. 4) Expanding local capacity in developing profitable, safe and sustainable livestock systems A major climate change objective of both ILRI and Kenya is greater knowledge exchange and local capacity in research on livestock herding and mixed farming systems. Through the Programme for Climate-Smart Livestock, ILRI and Kenya have created knowledge resources encouraging farmer-to-farmer training while promoting local knowledge and practices on climate adaptation and mitigation. And through their many training and fellowship opportunities, ILRI and Kenya are enhancing the capacity of hundreds of Kenyan researchers, technicians and partner staff to support Kenya’s national climate change agenda. For more information, go to www.ilri. org or email ILRI-Kenya@cgiar.org
DAILY NATION SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022 Republic of Kenya Inside Govt Strategy to Instil Climate-Resilient Agriculture BY PETER MUNYA, EGH Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Co-operatives C limate change is a major impediment to sustainable development. The need for urgent action to mitigate its negative impacts is evident. Changes in temperature regimes and precipitation patterns, and extreme weather conditions, are negatively affecting farming in all its forms: Crop growing, livestock raising, and fishing. The rain-fed nature of the country’s agriculture makes it much more vulnerable to climate change. Yet agriculture remains the backbone of our economy. Therefore, we must give this phenomenon the attention it deserves because it threatens our livelihood, and by extension, national development. We must shield ourselves from the relentless onslaught by climate change, by strengthening the resilience of our farmers and fisher-folk. It is for this reason that the Ministry of Agriculture is closely working with stakeholders to promote climate-smart agriculture (CSA), which implies enhanced adoption of climate-resilient agricultural practices. The Kenya Climate-Smart Agriculture Strategy (KCSAS) 2017-2026 is our guide. Its broad objective is to help the farming community to adapt to climate change, and to build the resilience of agricultural systems for enhanced food and nutritional security. This is to sustain and even improve livelihoods. The specific objectives of the KCSAS are fourfold. The first one is to enhance the adaptive capacity and resilience of farmers, pastoralists and fisher-folk to the adverse impacts of climate change. The second one is to develop mechanisms that minimise greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural production systems. The third one is to create an enabling regulatory and institutional framework. And finally, the strategy seeks to address cross-cutting issues that adversely impact climate-smart agriculture. As the impacts of climate change escalate, we join the rest of the world to call for enhanced adaptive capacity, strengthened resilience, and reduced vulnerability towards sustainable development and addressing the temperature goal. There is a need for urgency to scale up action and support to strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change, including through en- hanced finance, capacity-building and technology transfer. The implementation of KCSAS will require a total of Ksh500 billion (approximately US$5 billion) for adaptation and mitigation actions for the agriculture sector, up to 2026. Stakeholders need to collectively contribute raising recourses towards achieving this target. I believe we can achieve it if we keep our eyes focused on the ultimate prize: Highly productive agriculture that does not harm the environment. Importantly, we need to adopt an approach that respects the aspirations of local communities, which can then be aggregated upwards to define what constitutes resilience in the face of different hazards of floods, droughts, storms, extreme temperatures and sea-level rise. How We are Acting to Safeguard Crop Production, Fisheries and Aquaculture Why Kenya’s Livestock Sub-Sector Must Quickly Adapt to Climate Change BY DR FRANCIS OWINO, PhD, CBS The Principal Secretary, State Department for Crop Development and Agricultural Research, and State Department for Fisheries, Aquaculture and the Blue Economy BY MR HARRY KIMTAI, CBS Principal Secretary, State Department for Livestock Crop Production Extreme weather events such as drought, floods, strong winds, hailstorms, and frosts lead to reduced crop productivity. Yet projections indicate that these incidents could intensify. For instance, Kenya’s famine cycles have been reducing over time, from 20 years (1964-1984) to 12 years (1984-1996), to two years (2004-2006), and to yearly (2007/2008/2009). To help farmers cope with the changes in climatic patterns, the Government is implementing a number of policies that specifically support response to the effects of climate change. They include: The Kenya Climate-Smart Agriculture Strategy (2017-2026); Climate-Smart Agriculture Implementation Framework Programme (2018-2027); and the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS) 2019-2029, among others. In particular, the Department of Climate-Smart Agriculture seeks to increase crop productivity and profitability of farming, build resilience of farmers against the impacts of climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions where possible, through initiatives that include: Promotion of drip irrigation and solar energy in small-scale irrigation systems to ensure efficient water use and reduced use of fossil fuels in irrigation systems. Subsidised inputs for smallholder farmers, such as fertilizer and certified seeds of drought tolerant crops. Crop insurance scheme. Postharvest management through mechanised drying of grains. The Department also spearheads implementation of specific adaptation and mitigation projects, which include the climate-smart agriculture, the National Agriculture and Rural Inclusive Growth (NARIG) project, drought resilience project, and the Kenya Cereal Enhancement Programme Climate Resilient Agricultural Livelihoods (KCEP-CRAL). These projects promote various technologies, practices and innovations aimed at improving productivity, enhancing resilience for the small-scale farmers and reducing emissions from the agricultural systems. The Department has also established a climate change unit that coordinates the Climate-Smart Agriculture Multi-Stakeholder Platform for enhanced, coordinated and efficient implementation and reporting of climate adaptation and mitigation actions in the sector. Fisheries and Aquaculture Climate change impacts fisheries and aquaculture too, thus affecting the fisher-folk immensely as far as their income and livelihoods are concerned. The State Department for Fisheries Aquaculture and Blue Economy has adopted climate-smart approaches in fisheries and aquaculture to address three key objectives that would enable effective climate change adaptation for improved resilience. The first one encompasses environmental, social and economic aspects of fisheries. The State Department is modernising the fisheries infrastructure at various landing sites to improve hygiene during postharvest handling and value addition. We are also promoting adoption of climate-smart fisheries and aquaculture interventions closely linked to communities and fish farmers’ knowledge and priorities, such as fish farming through innovations like aqua-parks, cage fish farming, restocking of dams and rivers and teaching of aquaponic technologies in learning institutions. The second objective is to reduce the vulnerability of the sector to the impacts of climate change and build resilience. Towards this, the State Department through the Aquaculture Business Development Project (ABDP) and the Kenya Marine Fisheries and Socio-Economic Development Project (KEMSFED), is helping fishermen improve on their alternative sources of livelihoods and incomes. The third objective is to enable the sector, where possible, to contribute to the mitigation of greenhouse gases emissions during the harvest and production stages and throughout the entire value chain. The State Department, in collaboration with County Governments and other stakeholders, has ensured a conducive and resilient trading environment for fish traders across the Kenyan borders. I n just the last 12 months, most pastoralists and herders in arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) have lost more than half of their livestock. Current estimates from the State Department for Livestock indicate that about 3.5 million Kenyans who depend on livestock have lost their livelihoods due to climate-induced drought and famine that have led to decimation of livestock. There is growing evidence that in decades to come, climate-induced heat stress will reduce the productivity of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry, particularly in low and middle-income tropical countries. This reality is quite evident here in Kenya. Studies from research institutes such as KARLO and ILRI show that heat stress has already reduced milk yields and red meat production in Kenya and East Africa by 30 percent since 2017. White meat production will also become increasingly hard to maintain due to heat stress and increasing costs of feeds and other inputs for production, and declining precipitation for feed production. These situations require that we put in place specific interventions to uplift the resilience of the actors in the different value chains. We need to produce more and better food, not less. The State Department for Livestock is working to integrate livestock into national climate-change adaptation and mitigation strategies. We’re increasing our domestic funding for agricultural research through programmes such as Kenya Climate-Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP). Additionally, we are arguing for greater access to the international resources that have been promised for programmes such as the Kenya Dairy Nationally Appropriate Mitigation (NAMA), that seek to help the sub-sector to adapt to and mitigate climate change. KALRO, ILRI, and other researchers are developing drought-tolerant forages and feed crops to ensure increased access by even the poorest livestock-producing households. These better-quality feeds will have the added benefits of increasing livestock productivity while helping animals to cope better with heat stress. With respect to breeds and breeding, on-going support is being directed towards exploring the genetic traits of indigenous livestock (such as the Boran cattle) and their natural adaptability to heat, to make better and wider use of the traits. This is in realisation that although foreign breeds increase milk yields, it is often at the cost of coping less well with heat and heat-related diseases. Index-based livestock insurance (IBLI) products available in Kenya now help protect herders from drought-related animal losses. And in Kenya’s northern drylands, some pastoralists are already shifting from cattle to small ruminants (sheep and goats) and camels. At the county level, livestock extension personnel are providing advisory services to farmers and pastoralists on aspects related to herd-health management practices such as crepuscular feeding (done during twilight hours to limit animal exposure to midday heat) and installing ‘cow showers’, which help to bring down animal body temperature. Done thoughtfully, these investments can open new job opportunities and generate higher household incomes and better nutrition and health, while at the same time lowering greenhouse gas emission intensities and improving crop soil and rangeland health. Working smart, and working together, we can beat heat stress in food-producing animals.
5 GIZ’s ProSoil project enhances farmers’ adaptive capacity Smallholders growing green manure cover crops to enhance soil fertility at a previously degraded plot. Agency pushes for adaptation to climate change and mitigation of greenhouse gases through sustainable soil management in Western Kenya T he German Agency for International Cooperation, GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), is implementing the “Soil Protection and Rehabilitation of Degraded Soils Project (ProSoil)” in Western Kenya on behalf of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The project is part of BMZ’s special initiative – “ONE World – No Hunger” – and aims to support farmers in adopting sustainable soil management practices such as conservation agriculture, integrated soil fertility management and soil erosion control. This is achieved through training of farmers and agricultural extension officers in Siaya, Kakamega and Bungoma Counties in Western Kenya. Based on the project’s experience, ProSoil supports the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives (MoALFC) in improving the countrywide regulatory and socio-economic framework for farmers. Moreover, lessons learned are evaluated and transferred to global policy fora such as the United Nations Conferences on Desertification (UNCCD) and Climate Change (UNFCCC). Western Kenya has suffered many years of crop failures due to irregular weather patterns that include both dry spells and heavy precipitation. These developments have been attributed to climate change. Smallholder farmers in the region often lack information, knowledge and financial resources to adapt. As a result, both staple and high-value crops have been affected as weeds and pests such as the African Army Worm and locusts become more prevalent. Projections developed by ProSoil’s research partners show that average temperatures and rainfall intensity will increase considerably in the next 50 years. Erosion control and improvement of soil structure and water holding capacity are suitable pathways for adaptation. At the same time, agricultural soils play a key role in the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. With soil being the second largest carbon storage following the ocean, one has to acknowledge a global responsibility to conserve below-ground biomass (soil organic carbon). Furthermore, farming practices utilising the threefold advantages of organic fertilization (replenishment of nutrients, improvement of soil structure, enhanced biologic activity) sequester additional carbon from the atmos- phere, and thus contribute to mitigate global warming. Since 2015, ProSoil has trained about 130,00 smallholder farmers on sustainable soil management measures that have the twin benefit of supporting both carbon sequestration and the adaptation of farming systems to climate change. These include composting, green manure, agroforestry, terracing, and minimum tillage, among others. Farmers organise in groups and commit to the adoption of the same as part of self-developed action plans. Over 36,000 farmers are consistent listeners or recipients of radio broadcasts and text messages designed by the project. A feasibility study carried out last year revealed that the carbon sequestered when adopting the practices promoted by Prosoil (currently estimated at 3.6 tCO2e/ ha/year), would be eligible for the certification by an internationally recognised standard for carbon credits. GIZ and its partners have therefore started to develop a scheme that would allow to re-invest the returns from the sales of such certificates on the voluntary carbon market into long-term agricultural advisory services. This way, smallholders in Western Kenya would be continuously supported in their efforts to increase productivity and adapt to climate change beyond the end of the project. Against this background, GIZ supports the implementation of multiple policy initiatives by the Government of Kenya such as the National Adaptation Plan 20152030 and the Climate Smart Agriculture Strategic Plan recently launched by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fischeries and Cooperatives. Maize in combination with green manure cover crops that enhance nitrogen fixation.
SUNDAY NATION June 12, 2022 > Resilient farm systems Rural Initiatives Development Programme CEO Zachary Makanya. PHOTO | FILE Dryland agroecological demonstration farm run by a Tharaka Nithibased CBO aims to ease the burden of food insecurity and poverty while improving the environment Training hub equips farmers with skills for eco-friendly agriculture By Mercy Chelangat I n Marimanti, Tharaka Nithi County, a farm silently combats the effects of climate change while at the same time acting as a training ground for farmers who would love to see their ecosystem prosper. It is a dryland agroecological demonstration farm run by the Rural Initiatives Development Programme (RIDEP) whose aim is to ease the burden of food insecurity and poverty while improving the environment. RIDEP, a community-based organisation, which was founded in 2003, promotes rural initiatives with more than 300 beneficiaries. Mr Zachary Makanya, the organisation’s CEO, says the farm was established to demonstrate dryland technologies so that farmers can learn and replicate them on their farms. Through agroecology, explains Mr Makanya, farmers use local resources with minimal external inputs to produce maximum crop yields. This includes conserving seeds from the previous season and sharing with their neighbours to reduce the costs of inputs. RIDEP encourages farmers to use their seeds because they already know and trust them having used them over the years. These seeds are also drought-tolerant and resilient against the negative impacts of climate change. “For the farmers with small farms, we encourage them to use bio-intensive agriculture systems. We also urge them to use double-dug beds and on-farmmade compost manure using local resources. We also promote vertical and hanging gardens to maximise space. RIDEP does this while discouraging the use of chemicals, pesticides or herbicides,” he says. “We ask farmers to make their compost fertiliser using local resources. It takes only three weeks and is organic. It is very rich in nutrients as compared to shop-bought fertiliser that may contain only two or three chemical nutrients.” Using agroecological practices, farmers reduce the costs of inputs and can increase their profit margins. The farm, he says, was established in 2007 and has been improving over the years. It peaked in the last two years. He says every year, RIDEP receives more than 1,000 visitors and farmers come to learn and for exposure. To ensure food security, farmers are helped to plant as many types of crops as possible, including many varieties of a single crop. RIDEP also encourages farmers to set up multiple on-farm enterprises such as the rearing of chicken and goats, and beekeeping for additional income. Besides, farmers are encouraged to practice agroforestry and afforestation. Trees reduce carbon in the air and hence minimise the negative impact of climate change. “The practice of agroecology demands the use of eco-friendly agricultural systems. That is why we make sure to teach farmers not to destroy the ecosystem. We tell them to produce bio-repellents that chase away pests instead of killing them and other insects, some of which are beneficial to the crops. We also encourage them to teach other farmers to ensure that the knowledge and these technologies and best practices spread,” says Mr Makanya. Prof Paul Kimurto, a lecturer at Egerton University, faculty of agriculture, explains that agroecology focuses on conserving resources including those that can be recycled, like carbon. Agro-ecology, therefore, combats climate change by making sure that carbon doesn’t leave the soil into the atmosphere and lead to global warming. “Carbon can be negative or positive as regards climate change. Through agroecology, you fix and sequence carbon to allow it to be used in the soil. The plants will use the carbon dioxide for photosynthesis to produce food, which reduces carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere,” says Prof Kimurto. Farmers, explains the lecturer, should also adopt modernisation in conservation. This can be done through smart tillage practices such as the use of equipment that does not disturb the soil to avoid loss of water, mulching, intercropping and using cover crops that can be converted into green manure. Prof Kimurto says livestock is one of the biggest contributors to climate change. “They participate in the degradation of the ecosystem because of their movement. They also graze and expose the environment to soil erosion, whose net effect is flooding and disasters arising from degradation of the environment,” he says. “Livestock needs to be managed by ensuring that we maintain the right stock. Keeping a small number of livestock protects the land from degradation. We also need to introduce proper grazing systems.” Farmers, he advises, should be trained on how to use weather patterns and make predictions. “They need to be knowledgeable to predict rainfall and implications of the amount of water available for livestock and its relationship with conflict. The drier it is the scarcer the resources and the more people such as those in Baringo conflict over grazing areas. There is an inter-relationship between peace and understanding climate change,” he states. Livestock needs to be managed by ensuring that we maintain the right stock,” Zachary Makanya, chief executive at RIDEP According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), climate change may negatively or positively impact agriculture depending on the regions of the world. It explains that countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, are likely to feel adverse effects, which may lead to reduced agricultural productivity, and loss of crops, livestock, fish and agricultural investments. The CBO blames weak policies, laws, enforcement, the overlap of regulatory mandates, and poor coordination and collaboration among institutions and stakeholders in climate-smart agriculture for the country’s inability to effectively address vulnerability and greenhouse gas emissions. “Kenya’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were estimated to be 73 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2010 and are expected to rise to 143 million tonnes in 2030 unless appropriate mitigation actions are taken,” says the UNDP. “Agriculture is the largest source of GHG emissions. It was responsible for one-third of Kenya’s total emissions in 2010. Agricultural emissions are likely to increase from 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2010 to 27 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030. This is largely driven by livestock methane emissions and landuse change, which account for 90 per cent of agriculture emissions and 30 per cent of overall national emissions.” mchelangat@ke.nationmedia.com
June 12, 2022 7 Here is the roadmap to COP27 climate change forum in Egypt BY ISAIAH ESIPISU After the release of the latest climate-related scientific report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in February, a team of experts and environmental technocrats from different countries are sitting in Bonn, Germany, from June 6 to 16, to analyse the findings to advise policy-oriented needs during the forthcoming 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) in Egypt. The Conference of Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that binds together 197 member countries also known as parties, which usually meet every year to discuss matters related to climate change, review the implementation of the convention and any other legal instruments, adopts and take decisions necessary to promote the effective implementation of scientific findings. During last year’s COP in Glasgow, Scotland, Kenya urged all nations to embrace such scientific evidence and urgently implement bold mitigation and adaptation measures to avert the looming climate catastrophes. “Climate change poses an existential threat to Kenya and most countries in the African continent,” said President Uhuru Kenyatta noting that the country’s extreme weather events including floods and droughts, lead to between three and five per cent losses in annual gross domestic product. Why hold costly conferences to discuss climate change? Nearly all scientists believe that the changes in climatic conditions experienced all over the world such as storms, and floods that result in landslides, droughts, warming of oceans, which lead to the destruction of aquatic biodiversity and even change of seasons have been caused by human activities. According to a scientific journal – Nature Conservancy, humanity’s accelerated burning of fossil fuels and deforestation (forests are key parts of the planet’s natural carbon management systems) have led to rapid increases in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and global warming. Since time immemorial, scientists have shown that greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane prevent a certain amount of heat radiation from escaping the earth’s atmosphere back to space, making the earth a warm place for life to thrive. To balance this, human beings and bacteria breathe in oxygen and carbon dioxide out, and then plants do the opposite to consume the carbon produced by humans. However, the more carbon diox- ide in the atmosphere, the warmer the earth gets. Burning more fossils, therefore, means more carbon in the atmosphere, and cutting down trees, means that there will be no plants to absorb the excess carbon dioxide, which makes the earth warmer than usual – a concept known as global warming. The main threats of climate change, stemming from the rising temperature of the earth’s atmosphere include rising sea levels, ecosystem collapse and more frequent and severe weather. It is, therefore, through such climate negotiations that parties (countries) meet under the UNFCCC to negotiate the best way possible to reduce further emissions of greenhouse gases, how to contain the existing excess greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and how to help communities cope with disasters that have been caused and are still being caused by extreme weather conditions. Gains and bottlenecks so far Experts and developing country representatives believe that the most important fact is that the discussions have started, and are ongoing. Though, despite the discussions having been held for more than two and a half decades now, some people argue that there has been no notable gain. However, Africa’s civil society representatives think otherwise. “The gains may not be very visible, but with the establishment of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), it is a step forward for the developing and poor countries,” said Charles Mwangi, acting executive secretary at the Pan Africa Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), an umbrella of more than 1,000 civil society organisations in Africa. The GCF was established within the framework of the UNFCCC as an operating entity of the Financial Mechanism to assist developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change. The other financial facility is the Adaptation Fund, which is a finan- “Climate change poses an existential threat to Kenya and most countries in the African continent,” President Uhuru Kenyatta cial instrument under the Kyoto Protocol (UNFCCC agreement in 1992 in Kyoto, Japan) and has been established to concrete adaptation projects and programmes in developing countries parties to the Kyoto Protocol, to reduce the adverse effects of climate change facing communities, countries and sectors. However, the biggest bottleneck, according to representatives from the developing world, is the means of accessing money from these climate finance facilities. “Challenges remain in accessing GCF support due to a myriad of complexities surrounding the GCF NAP Readiness Support Programme. Procedural complexities, unstandardised formats and long review processes of submitted proposals are but a few examples,” said Munir Akram, Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN and the current chair of the 134 developing countries that are members of the G-77 and China. The hallmark of the entire climate negotiation process was the ratification of the Paris Agreement, which emanated from the 21st round of negotiations held in Paris, France in 2015. The Paris Agreement sets out a global framework to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. It also aims to strengthen countries’ ability to deal with the impacts of climate change and support them in their efforts. To facilitate this, developed countries agreed to mobilise at least $100 billion every year in support of the developing countries to adapt to climate change. COP 27 in November As we move towards COP 27, we call upon the developed countries to honour their pledges, we call on the available climate finance mechanisms to ease their proposal stringent rules to make more affected communities access the funds, and above all, we are joining the G-77 and China in calling for a special dedicated finance facility for ‘Loss and Damage’,” said Mr Mwangi. African parties, including the civil society, are also looking forward to the negotiators, according to the continent’s special circumstances, given that it emits less than four per cent of the total greenhouse gas emissions, yet it is the most impacted continent. They are also calling for the implementation of the Global Goal on Adaptation, an often overlooked aspect of the Paris Agreement that was established to increase the status of – and financial flows to – countries’ adaptation activities. The 27th round of negotiations will take place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt from November 7-18 this year. Ann Kosgey (centre) of Sunculture displays a solar water pump at an agricultural exhibition in Eldoret on February 29, 2020. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA Tech platform sets the stage for climate-smart farm systems in Kenya Responding to climate change’s negative impacts on agriculture requires the coordinated efforts of different actors. The Climate-Smart Agriculture Multi-Stakeholder Platform (CSAMSP) does just that – coordinating and harmonising the implementation of climate-smart agriculture (CMA) among a wide range of stakeholders. The MSP is chaired by the Climate Change Unit (CCU) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives and includes more than 40 member organisations. A steering committee of representatives from the government, private sector, research and academic institutions, NGOs and development partners gives strategic direction to the platform. The CSA-MSP engages at the county level through a process of stakeholders’ engagement and consultative meetings. The forums have been held in Bomet, Busia, Embu, Kakamega, Kisumu, Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Meru, Murang’a, Nakuru, Narok, Nyamira, Nyandarua, Siaya, Taita Taveta and Tharaka Nithi counties. Joint planning and resource mobilisation by the national CSA-MSP stakeholders with financial support from MSP member organisations -- SNV, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and Biovision -- have made these engagements possible. The goal is to ensure national outreach to all counties. Counties do not need to wait for the national MSP to start integrating climate-smart agriculture into their plans and promote it among farmers and value chain actors. Allocating financial resources to include CSA technologies and practices in agricultural extension services can help get knowledge into farmers’ hands. Supporting small and medium enterprises to use CSA approaches along food value chains can also help agripreneurs to adapt to the changing climate and ensure the food and nutrition security of the Kenyan population. One of the key objectives of the CSAMSP is to ensure that climate actions in agriculture are gender-responsive and socially inclusive. This will ultimately contribute to the reduction of gender inequalities and ensure equal benefit-sharing from CSA interventions and practices, achieving sustainable and equitable results. CSA initiatives should take into ac- count the different roles and abilities of women, men, youth, elderly, persons with disabilities and marginalised communities during design, budgeting and implementation. For example, considering gender roles when promoting livestock feeding practices or cropping management technologies can avoid adding too much labour to women who are already overburdened. The efforts at the county level are critical to be able to reach farmers on the ground and also to ensure that the monitoring and evaluation of CSA actions are effective. The CSA-MSP has worked with partners to develop robust and comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system that will facilitate tracking climate action goals and objectives. This monitoring and evaluation framework for CSA has been developed to help transform the agricultural sector to be climate-resilient. The monitoring and evaluation framework will ensure harmony and provide coherence in reporting. By having as many stakeholders as possible capture and report on data, information and results, we can evaluate the progress Kenya is making in achieving climate-resilient, low-carbon development in the agriculture sector. Adapting our agricultural systems to the changing climate will take an enormous coordinated effort. The CSA-MSP encourages all those interested in implementing climate actions in agriculture to join us in sharing information and building partnerships during our quarterly meetings. Information on how to become a member of the platform is available on the website: https://csa-msp.kilimo.go.ke/. You can also follow the MSP on Twitter @KenyaCsaMsp. Farmers and agripreneurs can inquire with their county-level agriculture officers about available CSA technologies and practices and share their experiences in adapting to changing weather patterns, higher temperatures and other challenges to learn from each other. As we head towards the next global climate change conference, COP 27, in Egypt, the activities of the Kenya CSA MSP will help Kenyan negotiators advocate in the country’s best interest and ask the world to pay attention to how agriculture needs to adapt to climate change.
DAILY NATION SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2022 SNV, a one-stop institution for climate resilience building B uilding resilience against climate change is an urgent call. In recent years, 96 percent of disaster-related deaths have occurred in developing countries, often caused by extreme weather events. Climate change continues to undermine all aspects of food security and sustainable development, threatening to erode and reverse gains made in ending hunger and malnutrition. At the same time, food production needs continue to increase in a bid to feed Kenya’s growing population. Government and development organisations providing basic livelihood services are not able to cope with today’s climate variability SNV Country Director during a tree planting and stresses alone – the whole economy, in- initiative to commemorate 55 years of SNV in cluding businesses - need to step in. Kenya. PHOTO | SNV Climate Financing The subject of Climate or Green Financing continues to raise a lot of interest and conversations especially after the COP26 gathering in Glasgow last year. Both terms, however, fall under the term sustainable finance which seeks to cover all financing activities that contribute to sustainable development. The Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD) enables private sector investment in projects aimed at climate adaptation and mitigation in developing countries by employing the blended finance model. Mitigation aims at reducing the factors that contribute to climate change, such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the use of fossils fuels, changing land use, and production of food. Adaptation focuses on improving capacities to be better prepared for unpredictability, slow trends, and responding to climate threats. “Even though climate adaption is the core mandate of DFCD, it is also looking to address other development challenges such as youth and gender empowerment, application of climate smart agriculture and restoration of ecosystems to protect the environment,” says Tigere Muzenda, the Project Manager for DFCD Africa. DFCD in Kenya has been collaborating with SokoFresh to help address the issues of reducing post-harvest food losses in (Muranga, Meru and Kitui Counties) and with Solar Springs (Formerly SWS) for provision of clean water to communities in Kitui County. DFCD will work to ensure that it connects the long – standing project development expertise of consortium partners with the relevant community projects ASokoFresh staff weighs avocado to ensure that climate financing results in sustainable before storage in the cold units in Muranga county. PHOTO | SNV development. Climate-proofing water systems Nzokani borehole in Kitui. PHOTO | SNV Building resilience of ASAL communities Climate-related hazards are a serious threat to Kenya’s development especially in the ASAL areas where agriculture and particularly pastoralism is predominantly reliant on rainfall making it highly vulnerable to climate change. The recurrence and intensity of droughts has increased in Kenya, now recurring almost on an annual basis. This has contributed to reduced production in agriculture and livestock. In the Northern Frontier, SNV implements the Laikipia, Isiolo, Samburu Transforming Environment through Nexus (LISTEN) project; working with the counties to ensure climate change adaptation through the nexus approach by building resilience for enhanced food, nutrition, and water security. We continue to work closely with the county However, most businesses do not fully understand their exposure to climate change or recognise the growing opportunities in climate action. Changing businesses’ perception and understanding of climate change remains pivotal in transforming food systems through sustainable practices and realisation of climate change adaptation and mitigation. SNV Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) works to strengthen capacities and catalyse partnerships among all actors to transform the food, energy, and water systems that enable sustainable and more equitable livelihoods for all. “SNV is firmly committed to dealing with climate risks by integrating climate services through all the projects it is implementing,” Jeen Kootstra, Country Director, SNV Kenya. Only 11 percent of Kenya’s landmass has water for proper sanitation and hygiene due to the existence of water bodies and adequate annual rainfall with at least 80 percent of the remaining land categorised as Arid or Semi-Arid (ASALs). Population growth also compounds the administrative efforts to equitably distribute adequate water services in ASAL regions where 38 percent of Kenyans live. Climate change is affecting the hydrological cycle, further aggravating challenges in performance and functionality of water use systems. This results in unregulatgovernment to ensure policies focusing on climate change, grazing and rangeland management are developed for communities to adapt to climate variability and change. The project supports Water Resources Users’ Associations (WRUAs) to enhance their capacity to manage climate change induced water related conflicts and other climate change mitigation measures in their catchment areas. This has improved the capacity of water resource management in the Ewaso Nyiro River basin, Demonstration plots on drought-resistant crop value chains have been set up to promote innovations Good Agricultural Practices, efficient water management and technologies. The demonstration plots also provide a learning platform for the communities for increased production and income. In the Southern rangelands, ed self-supply for domestic, productive, and industrial uses. This is evident by the failures in water governance that leads to pollution and other water related risks. SNV in Kenya is tackling this interplay of climate change and population growth exacerbating water supply by climate proofing water infrastructure in the ASAL counties of Kilifi, Kitui, Baringo, Samburu, Taita-Taveta, Kajiado, Mandera and West Pokot. With funding from the European Union, SNV is structuring Public Private Community Partnerships that engage domestic private sector entities in a multistakeholder management of rural water systems. Noonkuta, a farmer from the Wild Shamba in Narok County planting forage seeds before transferring to the demo farm to increase chances of germination. PHOTO | SNV SNV implements the Integrated & Climate Smart Innovations for Agropastoralist Economies and Landscapes project (ICSIAPL). The project seeks to improve livelihoods of agro-pastoralist communities through improved forage production, climate resilient landscape management and upscale commercialisation of climate smart innovations for the livestock sector in Taita Taveta, Kajiado and Narok counties. An important strategy adopted by the project is to apply forage research to fast-track innovations through supporting the private sector to adopt and facilitate building more resilient and market-based solutions for improved forage production and livestock husbandry by agro-pastoralists and other livestock keepers, commercial forage producers, ranches, and conservancies. By the end of the project, the resilience of 10,000 agro-pastoralists and SMEs against climate shocks will have increased by up-scaling of appropriate grazing and feeding innovations. Sustainable energy for improved agricultural productivity Sustainable energy is a key enabler to drive agricultural productivity and improve climate resilience among small- and medium-scale farmers in Kenya. Solar-powered systems for productive uses The “Sustainable Energy for Smallholder Farmers (SEFFA) project addresses the lack of access to sustainable and affordable renewable energy technologies and services for productive use of energy (PUE) in the agricultural sector. In the absence of grid connection, farmers only have access to con- Njomo, a farmer in Machakos ventional technologies irrigating his crops using a solarpowered by fossil fuels. By powered pump. PHOTO | SNV ensuring access to clean energy solutions for the smallholder farmers through off-grid renewable energy, the project will contribute toward combating climate change through reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In addition, the uptake of clean energy technologies increases communities’ resilience to climate shocks, making farmers less dependent on unreliable rainfall and frequent episodes of drought. The project provides market development support to promote the distribution and sustainable use of solar-powered technologies and energy services focused on irrigation, cooling, and drying, for the smallholder farming households and the related agri-businesses in the horticultural and dairy value chains. Distributors of the solar-powered technologies are supported through a Results-Based Financing (RBF) mechanism for market development. Dual benefits of biodigesters: clean fuel and fertiliser To achieve a sustainable, stable, and growing market for biodigesters that significantly contributes to achieving national energy access and climate targets, A farmer in Kiambu County feeding cow GIZ and SNV implement dung in a biodigester. PHOTO | ABC-K PROJECT the “Africa Biodigester Component” (ABC) project by following a market-based approach to triggering demand, promoting the supply of high-quality technology and services, and improving the enabling environment. Biodigesters are systems utilizing organic waste, particularly animal manure, to produce biogas which can be used as a cooking fuel or other energy uses, and bioslurry which can be used as a potent fertiliser. The ABC project will promote the use of bioslurry as a fertiliser and use of gas for energy generation, aimed at improving of the business case for end-users to install a biodigester. The project will drive market development for biodigesters in Kenya by boosting demand and supporting biodigester companies in acquiring more clients for small-scale and medium-scale digesters. Core to the project will be a financing mechanism that will push the biodigester market to reach a critical mass of clients among Kenyan farmers, as well as extensive capacity building and awareness raising across Kenya on the benefits of biodigesters. The project’s goal is to install at least 20,000 small-scale digesters and 250 medium-scale digesters, providing over 100,000 people with access to clean cooking. 90% of all users are expected to apply bio-slurry as fertiliser and/or sell (excess) bio-slurry to other users This will contribute to the reduction of 113,000 tCO2eq emission per year by the end of the implementation period. Furthermore, new jobs will have been created, 30% of which should be filled by women. About SNV Over the last 55 years, SNV Kenya has impacted the lives of millions of Kenyans living in poverty by helping them raise incomes and access basic services. To achieve this, SNV Kenya adopted a market-based approach (a deviation from traditional development aid), that is applied in all three sectors: Agriculture, Energy and Water. With over 12 projects across all the 47 counties in Kenya, SNV is committed to making a lasting difference in the lives of people living in poverty by helping them raise incomes and access basic services. Article by Bibiana Wanalwenge, Media & Communication at SNV
9 Climate Resilience Agribusiness Promoting Circular and for Tomorrow Project Regenerative agricultural practices in Western Kenya CRAFT Kenya Project Manager, Harold Mate, showcasing the CSA Manuals to CAS Anne Nyaga of the State Department of Crops and Reaserch. The CSA Manuals for the sorghum, potato, green gram and bean value chain. BY HAROLD MATE T Farmers taking part if setting up of a compost manure pit. REALMS AT ER EN REG MA RKE TS The writer is an Agronomy and Biodiversity Advisor, REALMS project D& W estern Kenya is characterized by high population growth and an ever-increasing demand for food. Increased food production through poor agricultural practices increasingly leads to degraded lands, fragile landscapes and weakened livelihoods. SNV Kenya seeks to address this, through promotion of Regenerative and Circular agricultural practices. SNV and IKEA Foundation have together, through a shared vision purposed to contribute to an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient food systems that provides diverse nutritious food for all within planetary boundaries; developed The Regenerative Agricultural practices for improved Livelihoods and Markets (REALMS) project. The project is implemented by SNV in the counties of Nakuru, Kericho, Bungoma, Kakamega and Uasin Gishu. The project seeks to create conditions for successful adoption of regenerative agricultural practices by working with smallholder farmers, supporting local service providers (SMEs) and engaging with relevant stakeholders influential in creating the necessary enabling environment. The project addresses the drivers behind the degradation of natural resources and incomes linked to unsustainable practices and promotes concrete regenerative methods that are beneficial for smallholder farmers, service providers (SMEs) and the community. Regenerative agriculture (RA) adopted by farmers include setting soil and water conservation structures to stop erosion and pollution of water bodies by siltation; reduced use of chemical fertilizers and increasing the use of organic fertilizer from farm compost, animal manure, vermicomposting, and commercial organic fertilizer. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) measures where farmers reduce the use of chemical pesticides and substitute or complement these with bio-pesticides, mechanical and cultural methods of pest control to encourage beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies to thrive; restore the soil and biodiversity at the farm. Agroforestry systems are also promoted to increase tree cover and improve ecosystems functions. Farmers are trained in groups where they learn by doing through the farmer field school approach (FFS). “We have been able to establish that we can wholly rely on compost manures for planting. In this season, we eradicated the Fall Army worm and Stalk borer attack on our maize using the RA principles that SNV team taught in our”, Pauline Barasa, facilitaor of the Arising stars FFS, Bungoman County. On the other hand, Circular agriculture is based on principles of nutrient recycling, optimal use of resources, biodiversity, and use of renewable energy. SNV has trained farmer to embrace recycling out waste through composting farm wastes such as stover and animal waste to manure, and use of crop residue for animal feed; Optimal use of resources at the farm level and by businesses such reducing post-harvest losses by producing quality marketable products. In addition, SNV promotes increasing diversity through mixed cropping and crop rotation to take advantage of seasonal changes, agroforestry, and mixed cropping systems for multiple sources of foods for the households; Use of renewable energy such as biogas or solar systems and wood fuel from agroforestry trees. SNV focusses on supporting practices that are geared towards regenerating soils, enhancing biodiversity and eco-systems, promoting optimum use of resources, using renewable energy and cycling and designing out waste for increased food production. HO O BY JUDITH LIBAISI IV I EA EL GR LIV ICU VED LTU PRO RAL P RACTICES FOR IM he Climate Resilient Agribusiness for Tomorrow (CRAFT) is a five year project, which commenced in 2018 and is implemented by a consortium of partners led by the SNV Netherlands Development Organisation in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda focusing on three pillars; 1) increasing adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices and technologies amongst farmers and agro-enterprises; 2) increasing investments and business growth in CSA value chains; and 3) creating enabling environment necessary to ensure large-scale roll-out of market driven climate smart agriculture. Furthermore, the cross-cutting workstream for gender and youth inclusion emphasizes targeted interventions to ensure equity and inclusion through a sustainable gender sensitive CSA service provision.The project has so far delivered impact in: Increased productivity and income for 42,891 smallholder farmers, improved business performance for eight agribusiness SMEs and five cooperatives (of which at least 44% are managed by women and 67% are youth-led), and climate resilient sustainable food production practiced on 2,016 hectares of land. Through its Climate Innovation and Investment Facility (CIIF), CRAFT provides performance-based grants to the private sector. enabling it, to roll out to their contracted farmers, a combination of CSA practices, technologies and interventions. The grants are meant to de-risk and facilitate the scaling of climate smart investments in the selected value chains. CRAFT Kenya has co-invested and assisted in building up 14 business cases and financing solutions necessary for the wide-scale adoption of climate smart practices in selected crop specific value chains. These business cases have a targeted outreach of 83,600 smallholder farmers by end of the project. The project has supported the Multi-Stakeholder Platform for Climate Smart Agriculture and recently, the launch of the MSP-CSA Strategic Plan 2022-2026 by incorporating its learnings and expertise into the CSA training manuals for the 4 target value chains. The manuals will assist in disseminating information including innovative climate smart and environmentally friendly pre-and post-harvest Integrated Crop Management (ICM) practices as well as presenting new technologies and practices to address emerging challenges and opportunities in the bean, green gram, potato and sorghum producing counties of Kenya and beyond. These manuals therefore link climate change issues to agriculture while also providing a variety of solutions to protect farmers from the effects of climate change. Through the private sector, CRAFT has supported the actors adopt the CSA technologies and practices in their enterprises. The interventions cut across the Potato planter that ridges the soil and releases both seeds and fertilizer. Mechanized sorghum processing using a thresher. potato, green gram, beans and sorghum value chains. These CSA interventions include the Diffused Light Storage (DLS) facilities, Solar-Drip Irrigation Systems, potato planters, graders, rippers, threshers, hermetic bags and tarpaulins which have been integrated from production to storage/processing level. These CSA practices help in building resilience in terms of reduced cost of energy, sustainable use of soil and water, improved quality of produce and efficient use of natural resources. Therefore, the CRAFT project is designed to address climate change-related challenges affecting the agriculture sector by contributing to increased availability of accessible and climate resilient food for the growing population. This is achieved in partnership with the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), Wageningen University and Research (WUR), Agriterra and Rabo Bank. The writer is a Project Manager CRAFT Kenya For more information, contact us: SNV Netherlands Development Organisaton, Ngong lane, Off Ngong Road Tel: +254 724 463 355 | Email: kenya@snv.org | Website: www.snv.org.
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