What problem or need is the project addressing?
Mbeere is in a semi-arid area of central Kenya. Climate change is badly affecting the communities living in the district, whose vulnerability is increased by their dependence on rain-fed agriculture and livestock production, which generate little surplus.
Declining and unreliable rainfall over the last few years has led to poor harvests, dying livestock and an increasingly fragile environment. Increased prices of basic food commodities and fuel have put additional pressure on peoples’ limited resources, and many families in the area are reliant on food aid for their survival.
The target communities also have very limited income-earning opportunities and are rarely able to take advantage of potential markets in urban areas. This is largely because they do not have the organisational capacity, resources, education, skills, or infrastructure to do so. The problems facing poor rural communities are compounded by the inability of NGOs, the private sector and the government to effectively work together to tackle the problems they face. As a result, these communities are trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty and food insecurity.
What is the project doing?
The project aims to help 2,000 small-scale farmers in Mbeere district to increase their incomes and develop sustainable climate-resilient livelihoods. It is doing this in two ways:
- Enabling them to access climate information and use this to improve and diversify their agricultural production
- Building their capacity to use market intelligence and access marketing opportunities for their produce
The following activities are being undertaken:
Using climate change information to improve and diversify agricultural production:
- Providing training for target farmers in climate change and adaptation, drawing upon local knowledge and experience of recent climate change to reconstruct trends on key climate features such as amount of rainfall, reliability of rainfall, intense rainfall/drought spells within the growing season, flood episodes, temperature and so on.
- Supporting the provision of climate information by service providers and lead farmers. Later in the project an interactive SMS platform will be put in place to provide on-time and appropriate agricultural and climatic information.
- Improving access to and use of climatic information from scientific agencies such as the meteorological department, with a particular focus on seasonal forecasts.
- Distribution of climate change adaptation toolkits, and training for community organisations in the use of these.
- Facilitation of exchange visits/trainings between farmers and climate scientists.
- Training in diversified agricultural practices taking into account local climate change analysis done by farmers.
Building capacity to use market intelligence and access marketing opportunities:
- Training and formation of farmer marketing groups. Farmers are able to leverage better prices and terms of sale as a group than as individuals. The project will support them to establish group collection centres where they can bulk and quality control their produce. This will attract bigger buyers who will be assured of economically viable collection and transport and assured quality, thereby cutting out middlemen and paying the farmers a better price for their produce.
- Training on how to access and make use of market information.
- Supporting farmers to grow and market climate-resilient crops that provide both food security and good incomes, selected on the basis of value chain analysis of key products in the area.
What impact has the project had?
The project has only recently started so it is too soon to assess impact. However, by the project’s end we expect:
- 2,000 target farmers will have improved knowledge of and access to scientific information on climate change, and will be applying this to improve their production and marketing of agricultural produce.
- There will be a 70% increase in agricultural production of staple crops resulting from better awareness of climatic changes.
- Farmers will have increased awareness of market information and will be targeting their production at urban markets’ demand.
- At least 50% of the target farmers will have access to urban markets (without the services of middlemen) through direct contact with big buyers.
- Improved and climate-sensitive agricultural services will be provided by local organisations and government agencies.
- Target farmers will see at least a 30% increase in their income.
Our local partner
This project was developed by Christian Aid. It is being implemented in partnership between Christian Aid East Africa, Traidcraft and Christian Community Services Mount Kenya East (CCSMKE), the development Arm of the Anglican church of Kenya covering the former Mt. Kenya East Diocese.
How is this project funded?
The project is funded by Christian Aid East Africa.
