Locals: Curfew has helped us do farming

Lamu, Kenya: Farmers in Basuba village have said the dusk to dawn curfew has enabled them to grow crops without fear.

This, however, contrasts sharply with other areas in Lamu where residents say the curfew imposed in July after mass killings in June, had crippled the tourism and fishing industries.

Many pastoralists in the area also say the heavy presence of police and military officers in the area had restricted their movement.

But the farmers, mostly from the Awer community also known as Boni, said before the curfew, unknown people used to destroy their crops which is now a thing of the past.

"We see as good the current curfew in this place because for once, we will harvest our crops that previously used to be destroyed by poachers," said their secretary Sadi Juma in Lamu yesterday.

Mr Juma said the community now grows maize, cassavas and bee keeping.

Mr Misuo Ware, who is the co-ordinator of a beekeeping project funded by World Wide Fund, said previously residents used to stay indoors for fear of attacks, but they are now able to carry out various economic activities.

"We have enough security and right now we only hear of Al-Shabaab in other regions," noted he.

Beekeeping venture

He said that over 20 members of the community that has an approximated population of 7,000 people in Lamu West and 4,000 in Lamu East constituencies have acquired modern beehives to start beekeeping.

"Farmers can now harvest up to 10 litres of honey compared to three they used to harvest when they were using traditional beekeeping methods. We hope that come January will have a marvelous harvest," added Mr Ware.

He, however, decried lack of a market for the produce which he said had farmers to the commodity at a throw-away price.

Nickson Orwa who is the WWF Project officer for Boni Dodoni said they decided to launch the project to keep residents off the forest.

"We just came in as a conservancy but with also a livelihood option," explains Orwa. He said that because of the improved security, residents are able to ward off wild animals that used to destroy their crops.

MARKET PRODUCE

"They can invest and stay in one area," he said. Orwa said they had contracted a consultant to assist farmers’ source for a market for their produce.

Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo recently said the curfew in Lamu will not be lifted despite protests from locals.