The County Government of Turkana has initiated a community engagement process to seek the views of residents of Lopur Ward on acquiring arable land for crop and pasture production.
The meeting, which was held in Lopur Tuesday was attended by the County Executive for Agriculture David Erukudi and his Lands counterpart Peter Akono as well as the area MCA Gilbert Eweet.
The County Government has identified Lopur Ward as one of the areas with potential for crop production and is seeking to acquire at least one million hectares of land in a bid to achieve its food security agenda.
The community engagement process will include sensitization on land rights and the need for residents to embrace livelihood diversification in light of climate impacts that have affected pastoralist households in the region.
In his remarks, Erukudi said the County Government was committed to securing enough land, including the one requested by the National Government to ensure that surplus food is produced for commercial purposes.
He reiterated the County Government’s commitment to collaborate with the private sector to reclaim all arable land for pasture and crop production, adding that the process would bring all community stakeholders together for successful engagements.
On his part, Akono emphasised that land was a valuable resource that should be protected and invested with returns.
He assured residents that the County Government would register and protect community land and ensure that it benefits the owners.
Eweet, on the other hand, lauded the County Government for the initiative, noting that land was an emotive issue that needed to be handled with sobriety.
County Chief Officer for Agriculture and Land Reclamation Janerose Tioko echoed Erukudi’s sentiments on partnership, saying the department would devise better ways of improving crop production.
Others present at the meeting included the County Director of Irrigation, Chammah Lotome and a host of Turkana West leaders led by Sub-County Administrator Christine Nalemsekon.
By Peter Gitonga
