CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE: Modern farming techniques deliver life-changing benefits for women farmers in Kajiado.

When Lucy Tatia whose crops failed due to lack of rain a year ago, she thought her life as a farmer had come to an end! Tatia spent decades cultivating her piece of land yielding poor yields. Until she joined many other women farmers like her at the Wezesha agri program and her life was transformed totally as a woman.

“I had given up farming, if we got lucky my family would have just enough to feed my children. This is until I went through the training by Wezesha. We didn’t know there was a different approach to agriculture until I was empowered with knowledge through training on smart farming” Says Tatia, a woman farmer in Nkama, Loitoktok.

Tatia’s story is similar to many women farmers in Kajiado County, where although women are the majority of the agricultural labor force-Multiple barriers like climate change stand in the way of their progress.

Lucy Tatia poses for a photo at the Wezesha agri farm in Nkama, Loitoktok

Agriculture is the most important employment sector for women in low- and lower middle-income countries during periods of drought and erratic rainfall, women as agricultural workers and primary procurers, work harder to secure income and resources for their families.The increasing drought and hunger in Kajiado County due to lack of rainfall is one of the many side effects of climate smart change. Majority of the population in Loitoktok engage in agriculture, which is a key sector to lifting women out of poverty. But the increasing degradation of land and natural resources caused by climate change is making women more vulnerable.

To combat the negative impact of climate change on women’s livelihoods, the Wezesha agri program funded by Safaricom Foundation enDev program and Digifarm Kenya while being implemented by Africa Instore Solutions aims at empowering at least 1,000 women and youths with trainings and exposure to climate smart technologies that support and create entrepreneurship opportunities. In addition, Wezesha program seeks to transition farmers to Digifarm program for further support in access to agricultural inputs, credit and market linkages support.

“We have also partnered with agricultural stakeholders which include farmer cooperatives, Private organizations-inputs suppliers, research organizations and service providers. This allows synergies among the actors to promote policy improvement on food safety.” Says Jennifer Githinji, Executive Director, Africa Instore Solutions.To restore food production, the Wezesha program also trains women on home economics, group dynamics and safe use of crop inputs.

“Thank goodness we learned that there are better certified seeds that take a short time to grow. We have also discovered safe agrochemicals for our crops. Now we don’t have to cross the border to Tanzania to buy such again.” Says an excited Monicah Wambui a woman farmer.

“Wezesha program has taught me to diversify the crops that I grow in my kitchen garden with the introduction of certified seeds to grow spinach, kales, tomatoes, carrots, carrots among other crops,” says another empowered farmer as she holds her bountiful harvest smiling.

Women farmers at the Nkama farm hold a bountiful harvest ready for the market.

The Wezesha program started its activities in 2021 in Nkama Farm, Loitoktok, Kajiado County. Kereya Ene Tatia and Monicah Wambui are among 484 youths and women who are graduating in the first cohort of the Wezesha program training, setting the pace for many others going through the same training program.

Giz enDev program has been in the forefront pushing for the adoption of climate smart agricultural approaches in farming relevant for ASAL regions through supporting trainings whereby farmers are encouraged to leverage on renewable energy though offering solar solutions to improve farm productivity and profitability. Women groups are encouraged to invest as groups and purchase solar items like solar incubators for their poultry, sound amplifiers to complement those offering event-planning services.

 Empowered farmers all smiles during graduation day.

The County Government of Kajiado who has assured farmers that the project will be replicated in many other regions in Kajiado County to enhance sustainability also supports the Wezesha Agri program.

This project has helped contribute to the reduction of gender-based violence by enabling women to earn an income while enhancing food security. These women are gradually overcoming cultural and physical barriers to achieve success through breaking stereotypical gender roles.The program is geared towards the realization of vision 2030 through sustainable development goal 3, which includes promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women in the country.