Climate-Smart Agriculture Boosts Food Production, Income in Semi-Arid Regions

Kenyan farmers in semi-arid regions are reaping the rewards of increased food production and elevated income levels, thanks to their participation in a $60 million regional project.

This initiative, launched in the 2021 production year by the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), is specifically designed to accelerate the adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies.

Smallholder women farmers and youth have been the primary beneficiaries of this project, gaining exposure to modern agricultural technologies that focus on consistent food production, particularly in the realm of vegetable cultivation.

Julian Barungi, ASARECA’s program officer in charge of policy, explained the positive impact of the initiative during a recent farmer training session in Machakos County.

Ms Barungi highlighted the successful adoption and implementation of CSA skills by farmers, highlighting that the project spans across Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui counties in Kenya, as well as extending its reach to Zambia, Ethiopia, Mali, Senegal, and Ghana.

Thanks to funding from the World Bank, the Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project is a collaborative effort between ASARECA, the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Organisation (KALRO), and leading institutions such as the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT).

ASARECA and KALRO researchers are actively training smallholder women farmers to enhance their proficiency in utilising critical CSA technologies.

The focus is on empowering these farmers to adapt to climate change effects, including El Niño rains. Ms Barungi stressed the importance of the project, stating that it will be extended for an additional two years to ensure farmers fully benefit.

Key CSA technologies that farmers have successfully incorporated into their practices include cone gardens for efficient vegetable production and space optimisation, shade nets for crop protection and moisture management, and the use of biopesticides for environmentally friendly pest and disease control, reducing climate-related risks.

Kwena Kizito, a soil scientist with KALRO – Katumani Centre, highlighting the significance of cone gardens in addressing waterlogging challenges during heavy rains.

“Their land sizes are becoming smaller. Yet the demand for vegetables is increasing.  So vertically, horizontally, they may not have a lot of land to produce a lot of vegetables. But there is a lot of space in the air, which is what the cone gardens are taking advantage of, so that they are able,” said Dr Kizito.

Farmers, armed with climate information and utilising weather forecasts and climate-tolerant crop varieties, have effectively mitigated the impact of climate shocks.

Elizabeth Matheka, a member of the Green Shade Women Group, a beneficiary farmer group, attested to the tangible benefits, citing regular food availability and improved income levels.

She highlighted the cost-effective use of biopesticides, contributing to successful pest and disease management, enabling farmers to meet daily family obligations and venture into additional income-generating activities.

gandae@businessdayafrica.org