Written by Dennis Avokoywa.

USAID Kenya Impressed by Innovative Irrigation Technologies in Isiolo to Combat Climate Change in ASALS

The Current and Emerging Threats to Crops Innovation Lab, PlantVillage Kenya, and the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), through the Department of Horticulture and Food Security in Kenya, are pleased to share a milestone achievement in our work to change the lives of pastoralist communities in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands of Kenya who face significant threats to their food security under climate change.

We recently had the privilege of hosting a delegation from USAID Kenya on a learning field visit under the Isiolo County USAID Partnership for Resilience and Economic Monitoring at our Community Center for Innovation (CCI) agricultural farm in Attan, Isiolo County.

A photo of the drip, vertical, wick, and moist bed irrigation system respectively in Attan, Isiolo County.

 

The delegation was co-led by Isiolo Deputy County Secretary Mohamed Boru and USAID's Kenya and East Africa Resilience Coordinator, Jennifer Maurer. This visit provided a platform to showcase groundbreaking water-saving irrigation technologies to the county technical staff, USAID staff, and implementing partners.

Coordinator Maurer was impressed by the potential of these innovations to address the region's water scarcity challenges and enhance food security. The arid and semi-arid drylands are challenging environments that cover over 80% of Kenya’s land. 

"The U.S. government, through the Feed the Future initiative, a global hunger initiative, partners with U.S. and Kenyan universities to work with young scientists and researchers to bring innovative tastes and adapt to local cultures, conditions, and environments, as well as productivity. Together with the technology department and Isiolo’s County agricultural extension staff, we are discussing ways this technology can be made available to all community members and how the community can be continuously trained to utilise it to increase production and have nutritious food available at the household level. This will also allow the sale of produce for income generation," said Maurer during an interview at Kenya's KTN Home.

USAID Kenya and East Africa Resilience Coordinator, Jennifer Maurer (in a red top), with PlantVillage East and Southern Africa Director John Chelal (second from left) during a visit to Attan, Isiolo County

 

Dr. John Chelal, who is the East and Southern Africa Director of PlantVillage and Professor at Moi University in Kenya, led a comprehensive tour of the farm, highlighting the various irrigation systems in place. Among the systems installed are wick, drip, vertical, and moist bed irrigation systems. These systems are currently undergoing pilot testing to determine their optimal performance for different crops and environmental conditions.

"The goal is to identify the most effective approach suitable for this area for scaling up the technology and training the community in its management,"  Said Dr. Chelal.

By empowering the pastoralist community with these innovative tools, we aim to diversify their livelihoods and improve nutritional outcomes, a critical step towards addressing malnutrition, which is a persistent issue in the region.

A group photo of delegates, PlantVillage's East and Southern Africa Director Dr. Chelal, Isiolo County officials, and local pastoralists

 

PlantVillage is immensely grateful for the support of USAID through the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Current and Emerging Threats to Crops (CETC IL). This partnership has been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition and making a tangible impact on the lives of the people of Isiolo.

Going forward, PlantVillage is committed to working closely with the community, government officials, and partners to ensure the successful implementation and sustainability of this initiative. We believe that by combining local knowledge with cutting-edge technology, we can create a brighter future for the people of Isiolo, who face the challenges of climate change.

For more information about the project, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3wIa2z2

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