This archive report was first published on 13 January 2020.
World Bank Funds Kenya's Climate Smart Agriculture Programme ¶
On January 13, 2020, the World Bank announced a Sh149 million funding allocation to Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet counties to support Kenya's Climate Smart Agriculture Programme.
The programme aims to boost food production through irrigation among small-scale households and support environmental conservation through agro-weather, market, climate, and advisory services.
Uasin Gishu received Sh104 million, while Elgeyo Marakwet got Sh45 million for the project. The funding targets potato and tomato production, as well as chicken rearing.
According to World Bank lead mission member Kumar Vutukuru, the support is part of a $250 million (Sh25.3 trillion) allocation to 24 counties across the country to improve food security and fight climate change.
“The objective of the Climate Smart Agriculture Project for Kenya is to increase agricultural productivity and build resilience to climate change risks in the targeted smallholder farming and pastoral communities in Kenya and to provide immediate and effective response in case of emergency,” Vutukuru said.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago stated that the project aims to increase the commercial benefit of farmers through intense irrigation farming. “We have identified two areas for this programme and it will directly benefit at least 300 households. We want to put over 100 acres under irrigation through this project,” he said.
Elgeyo Marakwet Agriculture Executive Anne Kibosia encouraged beneficiaries to move away from subsistence agriculture and venture into commercial farming. “We have the capacity to produce more, especially now that we have partners who are ready to work with us,” she said.
