What Turkana is doing to beat hunger, poverty

Turkana County’s Agriculture, Pastoral Economy & Fisheries county executive committee (cec) member, Chris Aletia Imana, highlights the policies put in place to move the county out of hunger.

Turkana County has constantly been in the limelight in need of humanitarian emergencies due to food shortage. What policies have been developed to move the county out of this cycle? 

Turkana County has put in place legislations to move the county out of. We are currently working on a policy and bill, which puts in place various regulations including a subsidy in mechanization. The County executive and the assembly will be guided to allocate substantial amount of funding so that farmers can pay less for services including use of tractors in their farms.

We also have the Livestock Policy and Bill, which will help in marketing of produce. The policy will guide towards improving livestock value chains such as goat meat and leather industry to enhance earnings for farmers.

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We strive to increase crop productivity, boost agribusiness, mechanization, agri-nutrition and climate smart agricultural ventures. Turkana County Government wants to revitalize irrigation schemes while promoting water saving technologies. 

Turkana was once described as ‘shamba la mawe’. Is there any agricultural potential in this highly arid area?

The larger Turkana has 2.5 million hectares of arable land. Though the soil is poorly developed due to its aridity and constant erosion, the County leadership is striving to achieve food productivity.

Our intent is to change this region, considered as perennially food deficit to a region where we can produce sufficiently and make Turkana a food secure County. We are transforming other expansive non arable land into Agricultural use through irrigation and other practices like green houses for crop productivity.

Migratory pastoral residents are best known for their attachment to livestock. What is the agriculture department doing to promote crop farming for food security and good nutrition?

Since land is communally held, there are no livestock ranches. However, there are pasture enclosures and designated wet and dry season grazing areas. We are embarking on rangeland mapping to enable the county exploit the potential untapped in ranging. We are developing rangeland management structures.

There is also need to ensure adequate water sources for livestock. This, we have done through creation of rock catchment, sand dams, water pans, or sinking of boreholes along the livestock migratory routes. This will lessen movement of our pastoralists to neighbouring countries, hence minimizing conflicts.

There exists modern agricultural techniques like use of green houses and irrigation contributes towards food security. How is the county tapping into this?

Conventional irrigation is mostly practiced along the two rivers of Turkwel and Kerio. Since the two rivers are perennial, efforts have also been put in place to utilize ground water for irrigation.

The County has 56 Conventional irrigation schemes. We are also utilizing surface, spate and drip irrigation technologies, most of which are river based. The total area under Conventional irrigation is 7,859 hectares, 400 hectares are under spate irrigation and the very productive area under rain-fed agriculture is 10,045 hectares. Through Agriculture, Turkana County Government is able to feed approximately 340,000 (28 percent) of its population.

One of the latest technologies we are making better use of is Flood Based Farming (Spate Irrigation), which depends on floodwater from neighbouring countries and counties.

Lake Turkana is the largest water body in Northern Kenya and is at the heart of Turkana County. How best has it been utilized in agribusiness?

Turkana County Government has seen immense potential in Lake Turkana, and has used this to further support investment for income generation. Residents are engaged in fishing and tourism activities. Turkana County Government has promoted fishing industry through provision of fishing gear; enhance fish preservation and storage; designated and developed fish processing facilities. The county government also purchased three rescue boats and has embarked on control of illegal fishing in the water body.

The county is a member of the North Rift Economic Bloc (NOREB) and despite food scarcity, other members have in plenty. What is the department doing to encourage potential opportunities within the bloc?

NORED has created opportunities for partnership through trade and investment integration. It provides the foundation for mega projects in the region. Through NOREB, the governors of the region are able to address insecurity and manage natural resources. This is a means to progressing the region and attracting more investors. Turkana has taken part in the Caux Dialogue on Land and Security (CDLS) – part of the annual Caux Forum of conferences, training and dialogues – where we have discussed how to advance development initiatives that link issues of land degradation, climate change and human security among others.

Residents have huge herds of livestock, but the region is still rated high in poverty levels. Are there initiatives to generate income through improved cross border trade, value addition among others?

For livestock production, residents mostly keep indigenous breeds of goats, sheep, cows, camels, donkeys and some poultry. We have 21 private stakeholders participating in livestock value chain. Facilities targeted at improving the livestock value chains such as abattoirs, tanneries and marketing facilities have been developed to add value to products. Markets have been constructed along border areas with Uganda and South Sudan. These are intended to open cross border trade and enhance peace.  

What measures are in place to mitigate the effects of climate change that has resulted to droughts, floods and other catastrophes in Turkana county?

Kenyan Government data indicates a trend of rising average temperatures in Turkana County. This has led to increased evaporation, and hence decreased precipitation. Long rainy season becoming shorter and drier and the short rainy season becoming longer and wetter, affecting the ability of pasture to grow effectively.

Turkana has suffered prolonged drought, floods, famine, loss of livestock and increase vector-borne diseases due to climate change. The administration has developed a climate change Policy and Bill and also embarked on awareness creation. The policies have yielded to legal instruments that assist in mitigating effects through other mainstream programs like water harvesting and management. Farmers have also had to rely on growing drought tolerant crops and keeping of drought resilient livestock.

Owing to the hot climatic conditions, Turkana produces some of the best grapes and watermelons, how are you supporting farmers to grow such?

Watermelons and other horticultural crops require a lot of water. Irrigation maintains moisture consistency. Turkana County Government has encouraged growth of vegetables and fruits from our various irrigation schemes. Farmers are encouraged to form associations; through which they can produce quality products. Extension services are also provided for all agricultural sectors.

What are some of the agricultural opportunities for outsiders and what incentives are there given that road network and markets is a problem?

With land in Turkana being communally owned, it is a challenge to potential non-resident investors. The county in conjunction with International Council for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), is mapping potential agricultural land for investor use. Road network is being improved and will ease movement and increase trade routes to the County.  

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