WATDEV Project Promotes Agroforestry and the other BMPs in Tana River County Kenya

By Genevieve Apio

Tana River County, Kenya – The Follow Up Training and Innovation Roadshow and Exhibition convened participants at the Hola Irrigation Farmers’ Cooperative Society Ground on 24th and 25th March. The event, labelled as a Field day, aimed at showcasing technologies, innovations, and best practices to enhance the implementation of agroforestry and water management Best Management Practices (BMPs).

The project is funded by the European Union through the DeSIRA initiative, with AICS as the executing body and CIHEAM Bari as the technical and scientific lead partner. The event was facilitated by ASARECA in collaboration with KALRO and the Tana River County Government and attracted over 700 participants, including women, youth, farmers, agripreneurs, startups, researchers, and policymakers for training and exhibition.

The activity aimed to promote technologies, innovations, and best practices linked to agroforestry and sustainable water management systems to enhance agricultural productivity and resilience to climate change.

Promoting Agroforestry and Water Management BMPs

Agroforestry was a central theme for the event, with officials from ASARECA, KALRO, CIHEAM Bari, and the Tana River County Government leading a tree-planting campaign to improve soil health, conserve water, and promote sustainable farming practices. As part of this initiative, a total of 1,000 tree seedlings were distributed to farmers for planting in demonstration gardens, which will function as platforms for training and knowledge exchange on agroforestry. Women and Youth participation was highlighted during the event, as they are essential contributors to agriculture in Tana River County. Empowering them with knowledge of agroforestry, BMPs, and irrigation systems was identified as a critical step towards building resilient farming communities capable of adapting to the impacts of climate change. 

Key Speeches and Highlights:

Madam Mwanajuma Hiribae, Tana River County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, led a tree-planting exercise alongside officials from ASARECA, CIHEAM- Bari, and KALRO. In her opening speech, she emphasized the importance of agroforestry and sustainable irrigation practices: 

She noted that “Agroforestry is not just about planting trees; it’s about securing our future. Integrating trees into our farming systems improves soil health, conserves water, and builds resilience against climate change. Today, as we plant these trees in Tana River County during the ongoing #WATDEV Roadshow, we reaffirm our commitment to sustainable agriculture, ensuring that future generations inherit a land that is fertile, productive, and thriving.”

Opening Remarks from CIHEAM -Bari

The International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies-Institute of Bari (CIHEAM- Bari) was represented by the Project Manager, Dr. Gaetano Ladisa. Speaking on behalf of the Director of CIHEAM Bari, Dr. Maurizio Raeli, during the opening session, Dr. Gaetano emphasized the collaborative nature of the WATDEV Project: 

“On behalf of the Director of CIHEAM Bari, Dr. Maurizio Raeli, the Vice-Director, Dr. Biagio Di Terlizzi, the DeSIRA Programme Coordinator at CIHEAM, Dr. Claudio Bogliotti, and the entire WATDEV team, it is my pleasure to welcome all of you to this Follow-up Training and Roadshow under the WATDEV DeSIRA Project. 

“Your presence here today adds immense value to this joint initiative, reinforcing our connection with partners in Uganda, Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Europe. By fostering research, technology, and innovation, we contribute to the growth and development of the agricultural sector.” 

Dr. Gaetano Ladisa further acknowledged the efforts of ASARECA and KALRO in organizing the event and expressed appreciation to all stakeholders for their dedication towards making the event a success.

Opening Remarks from ASARECA

Ms. Blaise Amony also delivered remarks on behalf of the WATDEV Coordinator, Mr. Moses Odeke. She reiterated the project's dedication to training farmers, extension agents, and researchers as a means of catalyzing uptake and utilization of the BMPs. She noted that the event was part of WATDEV project Activity 2.4 (A2.4) – “Training and Participatory Evaluation of BMPs/Innovations Implementation and Up-Out Scaling Assessment” led by ASARECA

"The training workshop aims at imparting knowledge and skills to the farmers, extension agents, local researchers, and community members within the Hola area. We are committed to working with KALRO to ensure the project achieves its intended outcomes. Furthermore, the event also aims at outscaling the BMPs selected for Kenya, mainly Agroforestry and Water Management (Water Users Association), she noted.

On behalf of ASARECA, I would like to pledge our commitment to work together with KALRO to ensure that the project is successfully implemented to deliver the intended outputs and outcomes.” 

Training and Knowledge Sharing

Farmers in Tana River County continue to face critical water challenges, including prolonged droughts and limited access to reliable water sources. The introduction of the BMPs has provided a viable solution for addressing these challenges, while enhancing agricultural productivity and improving resilience to climate change in the region.

The WATDEV Project continues to support communities in Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt to adopt innovative practices for a more resilient agricultural future. The Project is promoting Sustainable Water Management, Composting, Agroforestry Crop Rotation as BMPs to boost resilience to effects of climate change in the target countries while fostering sustainable soil and land management.

The event provided a valuable platform for farmers to share experiences, learn from each other, network with start-ups or innovators, and engage with other stakeholders in the agricultural value chain.

The success of the WATDEV Project Innovation Roadshow Event in Tana River County demonstrated the power of collaboration and innovation in building resilient agricultural systems for the future.

For more information about the WATDEV Project, visit their official website: [www.watdev.eu] (https://www.watdev.eu/).

Flickr Album: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC6YRk

Pictures by Genevieve Apio ASARECA

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