In a bid to help tackle the global climate change crisis, a school of forest farmers has been launched in Bungoma County.
The school will offer an opportunity for the farmers from the region to learn new farming techniques and new models of climate change mitigation measures.
Elizabeth Juma, the executive director for Wema Community Based Organization, stated that her organisation deals with three thematic areas; environment, education, and community empowerment.
Juma spoke to the media on Saturday after the launch of the Forest Farmers at Wema Community Based Organization in Bukembe.
“We have several projects in the community on empowerment; under education, we have a school that we run that hosts 600 children,” she said, noting that schoolchildren play a pivotal role in cascading climate change information down to the communities.
Under education programmes, she reveals that her organisation is supporting football teams across the 45 wards, adding that they also support the community with a water project that supplies residents with clean water.
“Among the issues that will be taught at the farm are new farming techniques that will help in fighting the climate change crisis and reforestation,” she added.
She further said that the school of farmers will also train farmers on the importance of agroforestry to plant crops and fruit trees.
“We are doing this for farmers to be economically sustainable by planting fruit trees and selling them, and it is also good for their health,” she said.
She emphasized the need to use organic farming, affirming that it conserves soil and the environment rather than using excessive pesticides on the farm.
Dr Venkatesh Thuppil, founder of Quality India, applauded the Wema Organisation for coming up with the school of farmers, stating that it will be crucial in sharing information on the global crisis, climate change.
However, Thuppil called on farmers to go organic, stating that using excessive chemicals on the farms is a threat to soil and human health.
Bungoma climate change director, Jane Mukonambi, reported that the county allocated Sh80 million towards climate change actions in the communities.
The expert further noted that Bungoma is partnering with CBM Global Disability Inclusion and the Kenya Red Cross Society in implementing a three-year project that seeks to fight climate change and support persons living with disabilities.
Mukonambi also announced that the county has also received funding from the German government and the World Bank to help fight climate change.
“The German government gave Bungoma Sh112 million while the World Bank contributed Sh208 million towards fighting climate change in the community, we are at the level of doing a visibility study to disburse resources for climate change fight,” she said.
