Shot in the arm for small-holder farmers

ALIN Project Officer Esther Lungahi during the interview.

Experts in Laikipia are tapping into small scale farmers’ vast but unexploited potential to address food insecurity. They want to boost the local small-holders’ capacity amid fears the county is facing hunger due to crop failure.

County Crops Officer Samuel Wagura raised the red flag last week when he revealed the situation was grim and that farmer education was necessary, given that over-reliance on rain-fed agriculture had proved counterproductive over the years. “Laikipia is food insecure, with 95 per cent of people living in the south depending on the market to buy food this year. In the west, 50 per cent entirely depend on the market while in the remaining regions, up to 70 per cent are vulnerable,” Mr Wagura said.