The government of Kenya has issued a Sh 950,000 grant for construction of a water storage tank in West Pokot set to benefit Ketik Somok Dairy Farmers Self-Help Group in Siyoi Ward.
The group received the grant from from the Kenya Climate-Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP) which is a government of Kenya project jointly supported by the World Bank. It will be invested in 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).
Access to safe drinking water
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.
Upon completion, the project will improve dairy farming, boost food security, create employment and access to safe drinking water. Benson Kenyatta, a 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.
