This forward-looking Project has been drawn up by Caritas Kenya jointly with the Maasai community in Morijo Loita, Kenya, as a means of enabling climate resilience, combatting the environmental problems in the area, and providing sustainably produced food.
The Morijo Loita community
The Morijo Loita community live in Loita Ward, Narok South Sub-County in Narok County, Kenya.
The people there are predominantly pastoralists (keeping livestock) and agro-pastoralists (keeping livestock and also growing crops).*1
Environmental Problems
Food insecurity is now common. The area is vulnerable to climate change, which has contributed to unreliable rainfall hence the area is prone to water shortages and frequent droughts leading to lack of pasture, death of livestock and young people migrating.
Rivers are drying up and streams have less water.
The loss of vegetative cover during the dry season results in flash floods during heavy downpours with strong winds. This erodes fertile lands, destroys farm structures and displaces people.*1 The county’s reliance on rain-fed agriculture leads to crop failure, food shortages and starvation. lncreasing climate variability (changes in duration, seasonality and increase in temperature) and extreme events (drought and floods) affect livestock and agricultural production, incomes and food security.*2 Because of climate change it has therefore become extremely difficult for the Loita Maasai to rely on pastoralism or agro-pastoralism.
Other Problems
This area has other problems.
A third of the population lives in absolute poverty (less than USD 2.15).*1
A third of the population is illiterate*3
78% of Maasai women living in Narok County have undergone Female Genital Mutilation involving the cutting and removal of flesh from female reproductive organs.*4 There is a high rate of teen pregnancies*5 which contributes to child and early marriages.
The Permaculture Project
This initiative will include not just the residents and farmers of the area, but will also reach out to schools in the surrounding areas.
The Project will be directed by a Project Officer and Projects Manager.
The Community will be involved in all stages and will be represented by a Community Committee.
The Project will be continually monitored and evaluated by the local Diocese, through Caritas Ngong.
Goals and Objectives
A steady Increase in healthy and sustainable food production using permaculture and agroecological farming practices is anticipated.
There will be training in permaculture and agroecological farming practices and skills.
Crops will be cultivated using these methods.
There will be teaching of modern agricultural practices and income-generating activities.
There will be education programmes on climate change and water management.
There will be demonstrations including at schools.
Seeds and agricultural services will be provided.
Diocese of Ngong
Daniel Wangombe, head of Caritas Ngong: caritasdirector@ngongdiocese.org
Further information: Virginia Bell, Laudato Si’ Animator, parish of St. Barnabas, Northampton Diocese, UK
Email: vrbell18@yahoo.co.uk
To Donate
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PHBUAW982KQH2
References:
*1 Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperatives, 2021
*2 County Government of Narok, 2018
*3 Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 2019
*4 Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 2014
*5 Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 2022 Virginia Bell
