Climate change continues to disrupt farming in Kenya, especially in dry and semi-arid regions where water scarcity is pushing smallholder farmers to the brink. With agriculture being the main source of income for most rural households, farmers are now being encouraged to adopt modern, climate-smart techniques to safeguard their livelihoods.
In Meru County, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy has rolled out a Sustainable Agriculture Program aimed at helping surrounding communities increase food production, protect the environment, and adapt to worsening climate conditions.
The initiative promotes innovative farming technologies such as drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, conservation agriculture, hybrid seeds, improved crop varieties, safe pesticide use, and improved animal feed production, including hay and silage. During a recent Farmers Expo hosted by the conservancy, agricultural experts and farmers came together to share experiences and explore new solutions suited for dry-land farming.
John Kinoti, the Head of Programs Implementation at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, said the expo provides a critical learning platform for farmers while also giving experts an opportunity to gather real field insights.
“The expo helps farmers interact directly with agricultural technologists to know which crops and inputs work best for their farms. The experts also collect feedback from farmers to help improve seed quality and adapt to the changing climate,” he said.
Agro-technologist Edward Mburu highlighted improvements made in pumpkin varieties tailored for low-rainfall areas.
“We have developed new pumpkin types that can survive in arid areas and have higher nutritional value. These will help improve food security compared to traditional varieties,” Mburu noted.
For farmers like Carol Makena from Buuri Sub-county, the lessons from the expo are already shaping a new outlook on farming.
“I have learned modern farming skills that will help me make better use of my small piece of land even with little rainfall,” she said.
Expo organizer Lawrence Riungu confirmed that the outreach program will continue across more arid areas surrounding Lewa Conservancy as part of its commitment to community empowerment.
“We plan to take these expos to more dry areas so that more farmers can benefit from the knowledge and technology being shared,” Riungu said.
With changing weather patterns threatening traditional farming practices, the Sustainable Agriculture Program is expected to play a vital role in improving resilience and securing food supplies for communities living in Kenya’s dryland regions.
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