Declining land sizes, depletion of soil fertility and poor yields are slowly pushing from being a food secure region on an unreliable place that cannot sustain its own. What used to be rolling green farms blossoming with a variety of crops have now been subdivided into tiny pieces of land. Crops like cassava and millet have disappeared from the farms and many large families are no longer able to foot their bills. Simple crops like potatoes, which used to be in plenty, have to be brought in from foreign countries to satisfy the local demand. Pumpkins have become rare as vegetable farming has since moved to the clouds.
Regrettably, it is a matter of day before we get pushed out of other ventures too. The problem is compounded by year-round farming, which has depleted soil fertility, with bad fertilizer and seeds. With a population of 1.3 million residents, many of them living in the highly fragmented land in the villages. More than 1000 people scramble for space within a square kilometer radius, making Kenya one of the most densely populated areas in the country. The land size for a household now ranges from 0.5 to 4.5 acres.
Solution to sustainable agriculture
The Organization is clear that external resources do not create development. Rather, they are injected in so as to catalyze the slow process of changing people’s lives positively. Upon provision of knowledge and skills, farmers are more exposed, informed and empowered. They are hence able to design and follow their desired destiny in life.
To achieve this, we will work on the following programs:
- Farmers’ mobilization and organization into agricultural development fora.
- Conducting hands-on training and exposure to the groups in all aspects of agriculture – production, processing, marketing or Organic products.
- Training and supporting farmer groups in the creation of a savings and credit culture.
- Documentation of Sustainable Agriculture Principles and using the same to inform and influence development policies, approaches and practices.
- Networking with the development Institutions of Government, funders, NGOs and individuals committed to Sustainable Development and empowering of people.