The County Environment Committee convened a sensitization workshop today at the Acacia Premier Hotel on Sustainable Resilient Agriculture Landscape, which forms Component Two of the Transforming Livelihoods through Climate Resilient Low Carbon, Sustainable Agriculture Value Chain ( TUNZA GCF) Project.
The overall objective of Component Two is to restore degraded agricultural landscapes. This involves developing a County Agricultural Landscape Management strategy and implementing a climate resilient and low carbon landscape management plan.
The workshop aimed to sensitize the Committee on the TUNZA GCF project and its activities, with the expected outcome being the development of a roadmap for the identification and mapping of degraded agricultural lands.
Participants included County committee members and representatives from key government agencies: NEMA, KEFRI, Kenya Forestry, the Department of mining, and the Water Resources Authority.
In his opening address, County Commissioner Mr. Benson Leparmorijo noted the workshop’s timely nature, given the severe challenges facing the County, including Lake Victoria contamination, poor solid waste management, deforestation, sand excavation , frequent floods and droughts.
He cited evacuation centers in Kadibo Sub County (Ogenya, Nduru, and Ombaka camps) due to these hazards, which directly impact public health, livelihoods, and infrastructure. Mr. Leparmorijo urged participants to develop lasting solutions, stating, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.”
The Committee was sensitized on the status of the environment in Kisumu, the TUNZA GCF project overview, and the methodology for mapping and monitoring degraded agricultural lands.
While closing the workshop, the CECM for Water, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Madam Judith Oluoch, thanked the participants for their insightful discussion that would also be recommended for other similar projects.
She noted that the project aims to transform three value chains—African leafy vegetables, dairy, and fruit trees/coffee though with an environment component in it that calls for her departments’ attention.
She therefore urged the environment committee members to offer their full support to meet the project’s objectives and spur growth.
