Kisumu is among Ten Counties set to benefit from a $250 Million (Ksh 40 billion) Integrated Natural Resource Management program that seeks to improve livelihoods through environmental conservation and food security.
The International Fund for Agriculture (IFAD) is funding the 8-year program to the tune of $ 110 m (Ksh 17 billion) while a consortium of other donors is providing the rest of the funding.
Today, Kisumu Deputy Governor, Dr Mathew Owili met a delegation from IFAD, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Ministry of Water, Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, and the National Treasury over the project.
Other Counties in the program are Kakamega, Nandi,West Pokot, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Migori, Kericho and Homa bay.
Speaking at the County Headquarters where he met the delegation on behalf of the Governor, Prof Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, Dr Owili said Kisumu was ready to implement the program.
He said the program would not only improve the livelihoods of the people but will help increase agricultural production, food value addition, and environmental conservation as an intervention against the vagaries of climate change.
“We thank IFAD and other development partners for including Kisumu in this program. We will effectively play our role to make it a success,” said Dr Owili.
Speaking during the meeting. IFAD’s Kenya Country Director, Mariatu Kamara said the program will prioritize food security, irrigation, conservation of forests as water towers, and milk production.
The program is meant to scale up the results of previous IFAD interventions, especially on the conservation of water towers that neighbours Kisumu and other Counties.
By Collins Owuor