Ketik Somok Dairy Farmers Self-Help Group in Siyoi Ward within West Pokot have benefited from Sh950,000 government grant for construction of a water storage tank that will help improve their dairy farming, boost food security, create employment and access safe drinking water.
The Ketik Somok Dairy Farmers’ Self-Help Group project received a grant of Sh950, 000 from the Kenya Climate-Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP) which is a government of Kenya project jointly supported by the World Bank.
The group prioritised to invest in the construction of a 50,000-water storage tank that will help mitigate the water shortage challenge they have experienced for many years in the region affecting their agriculture production.
Climate-smart project aims at increasing productivity and build resilience to climate change risks in the targeted smallholder farming and pastoral community in Kenya and is under the framework of agriculture sector development (ASDA) and National climate change response strategy (NCCRS).
The dairy farmers group in the Siyoi Ward within West Pokot County consists of thirty dairy farming members who had the challenge of getting safe drinking water for their domestic use and for their dairy animals due to water scarcity in the region.
Mr Philip Tingáa who is the Kenya Climate-Smart Agriculture Project Coordinator in West Pokot County said the project will mitigate the challenges posed by climate change.
The coordinator noted that West Pokot County residents lacked meaningful development projects due to conflicts attributed to water scarcity, cattle rustling, pasture problem.
Sarah Kipkeiyo a beneficiary of the project said the water project will boost residents with safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, and hygiene facilities at home and schools.
Benson Kenyatta another beneficiary of the project said access to water will help residents contain the spread of covid-19 since there will be sufficient water for the residents to use for washing their hands and many other infectious diseases that are due to poor hygiene, poor sanitation.
By Anthony Melly
