Support indigenous farmers for sustainable, safe food production, Ilchamus leaders say

TURIN, ITALY: The Kenyan government has been urged to protect indigenous farmers from the vagaries of commercial farming which might compromise quality and safety of food and culture.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre Conference in Turin Italy, Baringo County's Ilchamus Ward MCA Wesley Lekakimon said that learning from the Italian experience where different countries are showcasing their food culture, Kenya needs to have national fares on food so that even Kenyans themselves can learn about what their own countrymen are producing and eating.

"It is very sad that Kenyans come to Italy to learn about other cultures and show the world what they have but do not know about the different food cultures we have in our own country," said Lekakimon.

Lekakimon is the only elected leader who is representing the country at the worldwide conference that has brought together over 3,000 delegates to Italy. He said that it was very ironic that organisations from outside Kenya were fighting to save the country's indigenous foods and products while Kenya itself was not making any meaningful steps towards the preservation.

The MCA insisted on the need to ensure production that does not use so many chemicals in production as is the case currently. He also noted that these traditional methods that are being used to produce clean safe food can be turned into large-scale methods that do not compromise quality.

Lekakimon said, "As a country we should be proud of what we have so that unlike now whereby others are appreciating our indigenous products as we try to run away from it for food with lots of chemical."

He further argued that there was no need for the government to import so much food while it has the capacity and enough knowledge to produce its own food which will in turn offer economic value to farmers.

"Let the government market these indigenous products so that we can also turn to be exporters as opposed to now when we import what others have produced – what other cultures are eating which is not fair to our culture nor is it fair to our farmers," said the MCA who comes from the minority Ilchamus community in Baringo County.

The other community product that is being exhibited at the week long event is honey from the Ogiek Community in the Mau area.

Representing the Ogiek is Senior Chief Olesalimu Kibilo from Molo in Nakuru County. He says that encouraging indigenous farming will not only earn farmers income but will also ensure that citizens do not engage in destructive habits like cutting down forests for charcoal and wood fuel.

The representative of Mariashoni Community Development, an Ogiek organisation that produces honey, John Kipkoech noted that it was quite interesting to see other cultures appreciating and buying the honey from Mau while in Kenya most people do not even know it exists. He says with the land issues that surround the Mau, the production of honey can be used for income generation to prevent wanton destruction of the forest for cultivation.

"I am sure if this venture can get enough government support and marketing, we shall not see anymore people encroaching into the forests since they will be able to earn more money," said Kipkoech.

The conference comes to a close next week.