At least 1,000 households affected by drought in Makueni County will benefit from a Sh12 million grant under livelihood support to vulnerable communities in Kenya to create resilience among the farmers.
The project, implemented by the Candle of Hope Foundation (CHF), will benefit 500 households whose crops were affected, and a similar number of livestock farmers will also receive Sh 12,000 each to cushion them from the effects of the drought.
Beneficiaries hail from Kibwezi East and Kibwezi West for crop intervention, whereas in the livestock sector, the recipients are in Kibwezi East, Kibwezi West, and Kilome Sub-counties, respectively.
“In crop intervention, we have a total of 500 households from Kibwezi East and Kibwezi West subcounties who will receive each Sh12, 000 and a similar number of livestock farmers drawn from Kibwezi East, Kibwezi West, and Kilome subcounties,” said Jonathan Mwaniki Candle of Hope Foundation Programme Director during a County Steering Group (CSG) meeting chaired by Makueni Deputy Governor (DG) Lucy Mulili on Tuesday in Makueni County Commissioner’s Boardroom.
“The monies will be disbursed before Christmas through the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which is spearheading the project funded by the Government of Norway. Each beneficiary has been issued with Unconditional Cash Transfer Card (UTC),” noted the programme director.
Further, he observed that already they have started distributing 2,500 bags of range cubes to 500 households, whereby each will get 5 bags of 50 kg, besides adding that they have dewormed a total of 25,500 animals belonging to the targeted farmers.
“Five hundred beneficiaries will each receive 5 bags of range cubes, each of 50 kg. A total of 2,500 bags. The exercise began on December 18, 2023, and it is anticipated to end by December 30, 2023,” said Mwaniki.
He also disclosed that another 500 households will receive agricultural inputs through the e-voucher system, where they will be linked to agro-dealers who have been contracted by FAO to supply the farm inputs.
“The 500 farmers have been issued with e-vouchers of Sh10,200 each to enable them to access farm inputs from agro-dealers accredited by FAO. They will get fertiliser for cereals and foliar, besides other farm inputs,” Mwaniki revealed.
The project period was to start on September 8, 2023, and end in December 2023; however, it is poised to be scaled up after the pilot phase of the e-voucher project. The project is also being implemented in Kitui County.
The project is carried out in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, and Cooperative Development and the National Drought and Management Authority in the county.
On her part, Deputy Governor Mulili lauded the Candle of Hope Foundation for the good work they are doing, hoping that the needy people whose crops and animals were affected would benefit from the programme.
By Patrick Nyakundi
