A total of 50 women from Nadupoi women group in Olooloitokoshi, Kajiado East have benefitted from a three months training on chicken rearing, bee keeping and kitchen garden training.
The three months training was sponsored by Faraja Elatia Foundation in collaboration with the Kajiado County Government under the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.
Speaking during the training, the County Chief Executive Member for Agriculture, Jackline Koin said that her department has seen it best to train the women on alternative sources of livelihood due to climate change.
“We saw it best to train the women on alternative sources of livelihood since cattle and sheep rearing which have been predominant in the area are greatly affected by drought especially now when we are experiencing climate change,” said Koin
Koin revealed that as a department, they will soon train the women on fish farming and provide them with a fish pond in a bid to introduce fish farming within the Maasai community.
In a bid to ensure that the women put into practice what they have learnt, Elatia Foundation gave them 180 chickens for them to start rearing.
The group also has an operating bee hive and Koin notes that her department will help them in getting buyers for the honey.
In matters of kitchen garden, Koin said that the proximity of Olooloitikoshi to Kitengela town is an advantage to the women farmers as they will be able to sell their vegetable produce with ease to the town dwellers.
The group’s chairlady Irene Makui, was elated on receiving the training and the chicken and thanked the agricultural department for empowering them economically.
Another farmer Joyce Sunte, noted that in Maasai culture, women are not allowed to sell cattle or sheep but now that they are rearing chicken, they can sell the chicken and eggs and have their own money.
“We are now financially empowered thanks to Elatia and the Department of agriculture as we can now earn from chicken and vegetable selling,” said Sunte.
Another Member Immaculate Ntalalai, noted that the kitchen garden training is very helpful to them as they have learnt that it is possible for them to plant their own vegetables for consumption and selling with the use of little water.
By Diana Meneto
