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Sh6.4bn climate project to benefit 2.7 million people in Lake Victoria region

Fishermen

Fishing boats loaded with sardines (omena) dock at Litare Beach in Mbita, Hom Bay County on May 7, 2022.

Photo credit: File I Nation Media Group

By  Linet Owoko

Correspondent

What you need to know:

  • The project will focus on key value chains by promoting climate-resilient and low-carbon agricultural practices.
  • The initiative is a collaboration of the Government of Kenya, Agriterra, and the Government of Denmark.

More than 2.7 million people in the Lake Victoria region economic bloc are set to benefit from a Sh6.47 billion ($50 million) climate resilience project funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

The GCF is a fund for climate finance and was established within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.  

The Lake basin initiative, led by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), aims to support smallholder farmers and producer co-operatives, who are among the most vulnerable to climate change.

Related

Read: How fishermen are contributing to plastic pollution in Lake Victoria

The project will focus on six key value chains - dairy, poultry, coffee, tea, fruit trees, and African leafy vegetables - by promoting climate-resilient and low-carbon agricultural practices.

"This project will support smallholder farmers in Kenya to protect their livelihoods against climate risks. GCF's investment will strengthen agricultural value chains and increase community resilience," said Henry Gonzalez, Chief Investment Officer of the Green Climate Fund.

The initiative, implemented in partnership with the Government of Kenya, Agriterra, and the Government of Denmark, aims to train and support more than 143,000 farmers to adopt climate-smart technologies and practices. This will increase their resilience to climate change and boost household incomes.

Read: Explained: The bacteria turning Lake Victoria green

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said that the agriculture sector is highly vulnerable to climate change and stressed that while smallholder farmers, women, youth, and producer cooperatives are among the most affected, they also have a critical role to play in driving climate solutions. 

He reaffirmed the Government of Kenya's commitment to fully support FAO's Green Climate Fund programme to strengthen climate resilience in the Lake Region Economic Bloc.

"The Government of Kenya is strongly committed to addressing the impacts of climate change by implementing ambitious policies and measures to achieve its Nationally Determined Contribution targets as outlined in the Botton-Up-Economic Agenda (BETA). The Government of Kenya greatly appreciates FAO Kenya's critical support in building climate resilience in the agricultural sector through this GCF programme and pledges its full support and commitment in its implementation," said Mr Mbadi.

lowoko@ke.nationmedia.com