The Mountain Journal
An organization is funding construction of 150 water tanks in the Ithanga
ward In Murang’a County in efforts to support the community in the semi-arid area.
Youth
Action For Rural Development (Yard) executive director Mr Sebastian Wambugu said
they have constructed the water tanks with capacity to store two million cubic
metres of water in enhancing water harvesting.
Photo/ Sebastian Wambugu the executive director at Yard
The organization,
Wambugu said, was also educating the community in the ward on water harvesting,
nutrition, and food security. He spoke at Ithanga Catholic Church when he
launched the second phase of the programme that will involve communities in
water harvesting and promoting organic farming.
In
the last three years, Wambugu said, Yard have done 135 water tanks that has transformed lives in the community.
“ We educate the small-scale farmers on the
use of the ingenious seeds sourced from the community seed banks. The GMOs are not credible as they have health
and nutritional implications,” he said.
Wambugu
said they are targeting farmers in semi-arid areas in an effort to enhance food
security for the interest of the future.
“In
the first phase we selected several households and introduced drought-resistant
crops and have been doing well,” said the executive director.
In
the second phase, the programme is designed to introduce yams, traditional
maize seeds, and sweet potatoes among other varieties, he said.
Pelum
advocacy official Ms Sarah Wambui said hundreds of small-scale farmers have embraced
the indigenous seeds programmes sourced from the communal seed banks.
Photo/ Sarah Wambui an official at Pelum Kenya
Kenya
Organic Agriculture Network Official Ms Jackline Waithira Njeri said through
market linkages Ithanga farmers have benefited from better prices of their
produce.
She
said the market for organic products was expanding
with the contracted farmers getting better returns.
“ A kilogramme of mangoes is fetching Sh60
above Sh20 that was offered by the traders before we partnered,” said Njeri.
Photo/ Jackline Waithira Njeri
