Last Friday, residents of Ganze in Kilifi county received a welcome respite from the drought ravaging arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), t...
Last Friday, residents of Ganze in Kilifi county received a welcome respite from the drought ravaging arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), thanks to a donation of maize from neighbouring Tana River county.
What is most gratifying is that the donated maize was harvested from the Galana-Kulalu food security project that straddles both counties, alleviating the high logistics costs incurred when relief food is transported from far places.
Galana-Kulalu is a flagship project of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation from which 130,000 bags of maize were harvested this season, out of which 62,000 bags were donated to residents of Kilifi, Tana River and other Coast counties.
The drought that has affected the 23 Asals counties has left a trail of hunger, as farmers and pastoralists count massive losses due to lack of rain, resulting in crop failures and dying emaciated livestock. Kilifi has been particularly hard hit.
That is why it is important that the concerned government agencies should embrace disaster preparedness and emergency coordination and management measures in the face of the vagaries of the weather.
It is only through keen adherence to early warning systems and monitoring that the relevant agencies can help millions of citizens in the affected regions with adaptation and mitigation measures to cope with the negative impacts of the forces of nature.
Understanding weather patterns and the effect of climate change will save livelihoods of these citizens a great deal. It’s only interventions based on applied research—such as the Galana-Kulalu project—that will spare Kenyans from the perennial effects of drought and famine.
Food insecurity not only has a negative impact on the people’s basic human rights, health and nutritional needs of the people but also has serious implications on their livelihoods as well as the local, regional socio-economy. The government has formed an inter-ministerial team to address drought and famine, which has left millions of Kenyans in 23 counties at risk of starvation.
Water Cabinet secretary Eugene Wamalwa and his Devolution counterpart Mwangi Kiunjuri, who are in this committee, visited the Galana-Kulalu project to witness how scientific research can help alleviate hunger.
Wamalwa said the project is part of the government’s plan to create regional breadbaskets so that the cost of transportation can be significantly reduced, while addressing the core issue of food security.
Food insecurity leads to unsustainable food import levels and a negative impact on the economy, resulting in lost opportunities for job creation and economic development.
It is apparent that success has been attained from the 2,500-acre model farm at Galana-Kulalu, where the 130,000 bags of maize have been harvested. If the momentum established here can be sustained and replicated in other regional breadbaskets, famine can be eliminated.
Leaders, regardless of their regional or political affiliations, need work together and end food insecurity in Kenya. Food insecurity has become a major national issue that requires political will and a priority if we are to end stories of famine haunting parts of this nation.
A permanent solution involving the National and County governments is needed to ensure no Kenyan starves because of drought. Scientific research, collaboration between researchers, policy-makers and communities can help tend the vicious cycle of drought and hunger, through the adoption and replication of modern irrigation methods such as the work being carried out at Galana-Kulalu.
Tana River Governor Hussein Dado emphasised the importance of this cooperation, citing the initial success at Galana-Kulalu. He notes that farmers and pastoralists in ASALs counties must be supported to guarantee food security, improve livelihoods and be protected from the negative impacts of harsh climate.albertoleny@gmail.com
