As climate change intensifies, smallscale farmers in the heart of rural Kenya are confronting the growing challenges head-on.
Rather than succumbing to the climate impacts of prolonged droughts, unpredictable rainfall and deteriorating soil health, many farmers are embracing innovative solutions to secure their livelihoods and strengthen food security.
From water harvesting techniques to sustainable farming practices, their efforts are transforming agricultural practices.
They are also proving that even in the face of adversity, innovation and perseverance can pave the way for a more sustainable future.
Small-scale farmers are increasingly bearing the brunt of climate change, with the adverse effects threatening their ability to grow crops, maintain food security and sustain their livelihoods.
According to Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, women farmers are disproportionately impacted by these challenges.
In response, CGIAR’s GENDER Impact Platform has developed a groundbreaking methodology for mapping climate, agricultural and gender inequality hot spots.
This enables decision-makers to direct resources to the most vulnerable women, helping them mitigate climate risks.
A report co-published by CGIAR and the Food and Agriculture Organisation points out the severe risks climate change poses to food systems in low- and middle-income countries.
“The negative impacts extend beyond production, affecting agrifood value chains from production to consumption and influencing food environments, diets and livelihoods,” the report notes.
“These challenges have undone some of the progress made in addressing food and nutrition insecurity, particularly for marginalised communities. The need to address climate change has never been more urgent, as multiple interconnected stressors continue to intensify.”
However, farmers in some parts of Kenya are rising to the occasion, taking innovative steps to fight back against climate change.
In the arid regions of Tharaka Nithi county, Helen Gatii, a farmer from Kaukuro village in Tharaka South, has found a practical solution to water scarcity. Despite the area’s chronic droughts, Gatii manually waters her crops using water harvested from a small pan, a method she learned through training from a local NGO.
“I grow beans, maize, green grams, and have fruit trees like oranges and mangoes,” Gatii explains.
“Before, I would get little or no yields, and sometimes even my fruit trees would dry up. But now, with the water pan, I have consistent crops, even during drought.”
The water pan has provided her with a reliable water source, enabling her to harvest throughout the year, ensuring her family’s food security.
“I no longer have to buy food for my family, and sometimes I even have surplus to sell. I’ve also been able to pay school fees and buy a goat from the money I make,” says Helen of her newfound financial independence.
Eric Buteti, is a project manager at the Tharaka Children and Women Welfare Programme in Tharaka Nithi, who have been training farmers.
He said innovative practices like agro-ecology, water conservation through rainwater harvesting and the use of indigenous knowledge have helped farmers thrive despite the harsh conditions.
“Thanks to these methods, many farmers in the region now enjoy up to three harvests a year. We’ve in troduced water pans, which have allowed farmers to continue growing crops like pigeon peas, maize and green grams, even in the dry season,” he said.
“This approach strengthens food security and the resilience of the community,” Buteti said.
Further West, in Kakamega county, Caroline Naliaka, a farmer from Shibembe in Butere, has also turned to innovative farming techniques.
Previously, she relied on maize cultivation, but with changing weather patterns, her yields were often unpredictable and she could harvest as little as two or three 90kg bags per acre.
According to statistic from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation, maize is the most important staple food in Kenya, providing a basic diet for millions of people.
The total land area under maize production is about 3.7 million acres, with an annual average production estimated at 3.0 million tonnes, resulting in a national mean yield of approximately 16.2 bags per acre (two tonnes per hectare).
“Constraints to maize production include drought, low soil fertility, pests, and diseases. While maize remains the most important staple food in Kenya, production has not kept pace with the growing population, even though breeders and agronomists have maximised its genetic yield potential,” KALRO said.
To combat this, Naliaka says she embraced crop rotation and diversified her farm by adding beans, sweet potatoes, and leafy vegetables. This approach ensures that even if one crop fails, others thrive.
The story was produced with the help of CGIAR and MESHA
