WEZESHA PROGRAM: Changing the future of farming!

Globally, climate change posses a significant risk threatening the lives and livelihoods of communities. The impacts of climate change are here and significantly increasing. Kajiado county is experiencing the worst drought reported by National Drought Management Authority(NDMA). According to the report, if urgent interventions are not taken, the results can be devastating. Data shared by the County government of Kajiado in March this year, indicates approximately 485,000 households are facing starvation and in urgent need for food relief. 

Climate change adaption and resilience strategies and interventions play a significant role in cushioning communities from the shocks of climate change but also accelerate development, reduce poverty and create job opportunities.  

It’s a sunny morning, a beehive of activity in the 7-acre Wezesha demo farm, located in Nkama farm, Kuku ward, Kajiado South sub-county. The solar powered demo farm which neighbors Kenya-Tanzania Loitoktok police border post, is a perfect example of how climate smart adaptation can contribute to sustainable farming solutions in a semi-arid land region.

“This is a sight to behold, It’s beautiful!! I have never seen such an ever-green farm in this semi-arid region of our County.” Said a surprised Olaitotioni ole Kanchori, a visiting farmer to the Wezesha demonstration farm.

Today marks a special day for 484 smallholder farmers who will be graduating from the Wezesha Agri programme after having gone through special training on climate smart agriculture and agri-business. The launch event also presented an opportunity for 1,300 visiting farmers to tour the Wezesha farm and witness for themselves various technologies, Innovations and solutions that promotes all season farming. The drought situation in Kajiado County continues to worsen with 485,000 households now facing starvation up from 300,000 households in the last three months.

“I am so happy to be graduating today! As a youth am convinced that I can farm for a living.”

Thanks to the solar powered innovations that I have been exposed to and witnessed for myself. We seriously need to change our mindset and minimize our reliance on rain fed agriculture if we are to earn profitably in farming” Says Erickson Ngei, a youth farmer.

Ngei a youth farmer receives certificate during graduation as Dep. Governor Hon. Moshisho &Partners witness.

For close to four months Ngei together with other youths and women in Kajiado South Sub-County have been going through intense training on good agricultural practices, home economics, agri-business and entrepreneurship, group dynamics and safe use management of crop inputs. Africa Instore Solutions team in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Kajiado County has delivered the trainings.

Africa Instore Solutions Limited the implementing partner of the Wezesha Programme in collaboration with Safaricom Foundation, GIZ Energizing Development program (EnDev) programme together with and Digi Farm Kenya designed the Wezesha Agri Programme in 2021.The overall goal of the program is to improve the lives of women and youths by adapting agriculture as a viable and dignified source of livelihood. The program seeks to impact-to-impact over 1,000 women and youth. To achieve this goal, AIS set up a demonstration farm to showcase technologies and innovations that support climate smart agriculture approaches for adoption by farmers and entrepreneurs. Over 15 stakeholders and agri actors actively and directly support AIS at the farm.

The field school field school model delivered by AIS promotes hands-on participatory learning approaches that encourage skills enhancement and faster adoption of technologies. The overall objective is to promote food food security, increase job creation opportunities, enhance rural development and spur economic growth in Kajiado County. These possibilities outcomes provide relief to a county where drought, hunger and poverty are most prevalent in Kenya. The Wezesha Program began in June 2022 and will be running until November 2023.

“We recognize the challenges smallholder farmers in Kajiado face primarily relating to dependence on rain fed agriculture and there has also been concerns on food safety through use of uncertified crop inputs, that’s why we came in as Wezesha to empower farmers to embrace farming technologies” says Jennifer Githinji the Executive Director, Africa Instore Solutions.

Africa Instore Solutions is a local for profit enterprise that supports micro, small and medium sized Enterprises (MSME’s) with commercial based solutions through enterprise development programs. AIS works with MSMEs to build their capacity to competitively engage and scale in the market place. AIS collaborate as an implementation partner with various organizations that focus on supporting MSMEs including smallholder farmers. This is by enabling them improve productivity and realize profitability from their farm investments.

The region of Nkama, Loitoktok is reported to be the second largest producer of tomatoes. Recently the national government under the Ewaso Ng’iro South Development Authority (ENSOA) established a 430 million-tomato factory called Kimana Modern tomato factory. The region has previously been affected by drought, unpredictable and unreliable rainfall as well as high temperatures brought about by climate change. As a result, many farmers in this region have been forced to eke out a living. The introduction of new farming methods using new series of certified seeds, safe agro-chemicals use, using alternative solar powered energy to run their farms is definitely going to be a game changer for the smallholders farmers. 

“I am a happy farmer! Through the Wezesha programme I have learnt various kitchen garden models. Now I am able to grow crops such as spinach and sukuma at my back yard. I have also learned about drip irrigation and so much more. My family is no longer hungry. “Says Elizabeth Peters a woman farmer in the region.

The Wezesha Programme is key to improve the lives of women and youths in Kajiado County by promoting the adoption of agriculture as a viable and dignified source of livelihood. In collaboration with Agrochemical Association of Kenya (AAK), 52 youths attended spraying service course among them 35 men and 17 ladies. The group is set out to be certified service providers in their communities. They will provide spraying services to farmers at a fee hence generate income for themselves.

“The demo farm is a beacon of hope for smallholder farmers in the county, it has served as a model for sustainable agriculture, showcasing innovative technologies and this will help improve farmer’s yields and environment impact. “Said Ms. Lynda Kasina a trustee at Safaricom Foundation.

Through the support of GIZ Energizing development Programme (EnDev), Wezesha champions productive uses of energy (PUE) and exposes its beneficiaries and communities on various ways of using off-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity to power electric appliances that helps in running a business or an income generating activity. These innovations include installation of immersible water pump at the Wezesha demo farm that has enabled use of drip irrigation system. The technology slowly delivers water to the base of a plant drip by drip. So far, Africa Instore Solutions (AIS) has trained more than 400 farmers to use this technology more than half of them being women and youths.

“Through this partnership we come in to provide solar solutions such as solar barber kits, sewing machines, solar water pumps and sound amplifiers that can provide entrepreneurship opportunities for the youths and women.” Says Hanna Salian, Program Director-Energy, Transport and Climate Change Cluster,Deutsche Gesellschaft Fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit(GIZ)