This archive report was first published on 13 October 2021.
On October 13, 2021, Boeing officially launched the Maragua Ridge Food Security and Water project in Murang'a county, in partnership with Bethel Network.
The project aims to provide a reliable source of water for farmers, enabling them to cultivate kitchen gardens and food forests, thereby promoting food security.
Through this partnership, 1,000 mapped households will allocate at least a quarter-acre piece of land for farming, where over 20 species of diversified food crops and different varieties of fruit and non-fruit trees will be planted.
Speaking during the launch, Mrs. Mary Ndung'u, CEO of Bethel Investment Network, emphasized the importance of community involvement and collaboration in achieving the project's goals.
"It is only when we work together that we will be able to change for the better of our county and indeed the whole nation of Kenya."
The project has already seen initial activities rolled out, including mobilization of the community, problem identification and analysis, and capacity building of project beneficiaries.
Over 180 households have already started adopting the technology in their individual household level.
The project has also put in place 10 part-time community volunteers/trainers to undertake practical training to the groups on farm management practices.
The community trainers will continuously visit the farms of their respective farmers to offer technical support and report on progress on a monthly basis.
The project aims to improve the lives of the Margua people and yield results towards a better future.
A borehole has been sunk on elevated ground, and water supplied to the farms through gravity, with a capacity to produce 0.5 M3 of water.
Two water storage tanks of 10,000 liters capacity each have been installed to enhance continuous supply of water to the nursery seedlings community tree nursery.
