The project aims to improve food security for 200 farmwomen and their families in the drought-risk communities of Marega and Kiirua, Kenya with a total population of 30,000. The project works with two local women’s self-help groups to improve agricultural production on their own farms and to empower them to educate their communities in better agricultural practices. The project is designed to: (1) increase the production and availability of quality food in these communities by providing crop inputs and advisory services on drought tolerant crops and successful farming techniques; (2) enhance the capacity and sustainability of a local agricultural centre to provide ongoing agricultural services and supplies to these communities; and (3) support local farm families to produce and market high value crops to improve local livelihoods and access to quality food. The local partners in the project are the Muchui Women’s Self-Help Group and the Ruuju Women’s Self-Help Group.
Results acheived as of the end of the project (May 2014) : (1) Provide crop inputs to women’s groups; (2) Provide technical advice on sustainable cropping techniques; (3) Develop fact sheets on farming practices; (4) Construct on-farm grain storages; (5) Provide tractor and tillage equipment; (6) Provide 25 greenhouses; (7) Provide technical advice to greenhouse operators; (8) Establish and operate demonstration gardens at 5 schools; and (9) Establish lunch feeding programs at local schools.
