More than 7,500 farmers in Kwale county under Pamba (cotton) na Viazi (potatoes) cooperative are set to benefit from a multi-million shilling Australian government food security and empowerment project.
The programme is dubbed Mradi wa Kuimarisha Kilimo-Biashara Kwale (MKUKI-Kwale) research for development project.
It is a five-year project supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research in partnership with Business for Development, PAVI Cooperative, KALRO and Pwani University.
PAVI was started in 2015 by an Australian mining firm Base Titanium to empower small-scale farmers with basic agricultural techniques directed toward improving the community's livelihood and standards of living.
The MKUKI project aims at capacity building and equipping the local farmers to develop a sustainable and inclusive change model in Kwale, and the entire country, helping to transition the community from mine dependence post-mine closure.
It is also expected to enable farmers increase production of cotton on a large scale through a strong partnership with various local and international stakeholders.
The Kwale PAVI cooperative has 38 small groups of farmers who grow cotton, soya beans, sunflower, maize and potatoes.
The MKUKI project was officially launched on Wednesday by the Australian High Commissioner to Kenya Luke Williams and Cooperative PS Patrick Kilemi.
Speaking during the launch, Williams said some of the scientific trials will be conducted on the rehabilitated mined lands where farmers can learn and apply the skills to contribute to increasing the Kenyan food basket and economy.
Williams said he is certain the project will assist small-scale farmers to increase and intensify agricultural sustainable systems productivity, food security, enhanced value chain addition and living standards.
"The ACIAR project model is focused on the market-driven, elevation of the value chain and incorporating collective farming systems and intensive agricultural principles to create sustainable and ethical agricultural production systems," he said.
Williams said the programme will help to unlock many economic opportunities not only for Kwale residents but the entire African continent.
He said Kenya has a strong potential for crop production, including increased use of irrigated agriculture, storage and mechanisation to improve returns.
Williams said by empowering smallholder farmers to maximise production, value addition is one way of improving food security and market access across a variety of agriculture options including crops, livestock and poultry.
He said the project comes as a result of a good working relationship between the Kenyan and Australian governments and will continue to support the Kenya Kwanza government in its commitment to improving food security and nutrition for all Kenyans.
Williams urged the local farmers to take advantage of the project to change their lives.
"I look forward to returning here in the future and find harbour food production linking to international markets and empowering the local community to improve their living standards," he said.
Kilemi said the government is focused on agriculture to reboot its economic structures and systems.
The PS said he is happy that the PAVI cooperative through the ACIAR project, has embraced research and innovation technology to change the country's economy.
He said the project is in line with the Kenya Kwanza bottom-up economic model which plays a major role in empowering small-scale farmers in promoting food production and revitalising the cotton industry.
Kilemi said the government has identified nine key value chain opportunities though the textile industry remains a priority.
The PS said they are looking forward to replicating the PAVI project in other parts of the country to ensure cotton farmers get a true value for the product and efforts.
"We are working on how we can bring our farmers to form cooperatives to attain market power," he said.
He said the government gives emphasis on cooperatives and Small and Medium sized enterprises as vehicles to support broad-based economic growth and recovery in the agricultural centre.
Kilemi termed the MKUKI project as a milestone and springboard in spurring rural development within Kwale.
He said the project will boost food production on a large scale and mechanised farming methods.
Deputy Governor Chirema Kombo said the Kwale government will offer full support to the farmers and the cooperative in general.
Kombo said the county has not only invested in farming methods and production but also provided a ready market for the farm produce through the construction of Kombani Wholesale Market at Kombani and Diani Retail Market at Mvindeni.
"We assure our farmers of a ready market of their products because we have market projects in place," he said.
Kombo said the project will not only help farmers get monetary value but also tackle food insecurity challenges faced in the region.
He said the county has set sustainable agricultural practices and measures like the distribution of certified seeds and offering free ploughing services to farmers as well as constructing dams across the county to promote agriculture.
Base Titanium External Affairs manager Simon Wall said they started PAVI to uplift the lives of the mining-affected communities.
Wall said he is thrilled that institutional organisation like ACIAR has come on board to support the company's course of improving lives through sustainable agriculture.
The manager said the Australian firm is looking forward to working with more partners in transforming the lives of the Kwale people.
-Edited by SKanyara