The drought being experienced in parts of the arid and semi-arid counties has forced pastoralists in Garissa County to abandon livestock and start irrigation farming.
The Dololomide Farm Group in Sankuri, Garissa County is now practicing sorghum farming in order to provide food to its members and the county.
The group Chairman, Hassan Mohamed said climate change, unreliable and poor rains being experienced has led to the country’s food security being under threat.
Mohamed said the group comprising of 60 members started the project, which is being funded by various stakeholders with an aim at transforming farming and enhancing food security in Garissa.
“We decided that instead of waiting for handouts from the government, we try our hand in irrigation farming. And with the support of relevant agencies we are slowly but surely succeeding,” he said.
Garissa county National Drought Management Authority coordinator Abdinoor Dubow said the sorghum planted three months ago in one acre is ready for harvesting.
According to Dubow, the county is classified as food insecure because it receives 280mm of rain in two seasons combined.
He said the residents will benefit from the project by a boost in food production as the county always depends on relief food.
“This region cannot support the generation of the preferred maize. As the lead agencies involved in food security, we put our heads together and agreed that the only way we can engage the farmers is by urging them to venture into sorghum because it is drought tolerant.”
“This project will demonstrate to the farming community and other stakeholders that we need to move away from relief dependency syndrome and become food secure,” Mr Dubow said.
The coordinator added that the project is a partnership between the NDMA, the department of agriculture, irrigation and fisheries and the farming community.