BLOGS
Garissa farmers get bumper harvest
KRCS trains farmers and helps them get market for their produce. (courtesy)
A project by the Kenya Red Cross society that is aimed at increasing food production has benefited more than 5,000 households in Garissa County.
Residents are encouraged to adapt farming, crop diversification and better animal husbandry. Kenya Red Cross society started this project in October 2015.
Already this project has directly supported 2,500 households, 665 households benefited through farming support while 1,200 households benefited through pastoral activities.
Thursday last week, farmers at Damajaley in Dadaab sub county had a bumper harvest of watermelons and cow peas.
The harvest came on time considering the financial problems in January such as school fees payments and the natural economic standstill.
Currently, the project is on going at Jambele, Nanigi, Warable and Kamuthe locations in Fafi constituency. It is also being implemented in Kulan locations and Damajaley of Dadaab constituency.
Victor Kiprotich, the Kenya Red Cross Society project officer said farmers get support from the production process, input to markets.
“When they harvest, KRCS helps them in getting market for the produce,” he said. Some farmers at Damajaley are currently selling their produce locally.
Hassan Abdi, a farmer, has said their lives has been greatly transformed by this project.
“The money that I earned from selling the first harvest helped me pay school fees for my son that amounted to 50,000,” he noted.
The success of the project has been attributed to the community’s support and embracing it. The community has been given central role to collectively fight hunger, shocks and other stresses.
The Kenya Red Cross Society has also trained farmers and involved them in different farming activities.
