The County Government has distributed 9350kg seeds to 240,000 farmers across the three Sub Counties of Ndhiwa, Suba South and Suba North in partnership with the First Bridge Foundation, FAO, and the German Corporation.
The initiative aims to alleviate the impact of drought in eleven wards that were severely affected, including Ruma-Kaksingri, Kaksingri West, Gwassi North, Gwassi South, Lambwe, Gembe, Kosewe, South Kabuoch, Kanyikela, Kanyadoto, and Kwabwai.
Speaking during the flagging-off ceremony, Governor Gladys Wanga said that the initiative was part of the county government's efforts to build resilience to climate change and ensure food security for its residents.
"Climate change is a major threat to food security in Homa Bay County," said Governor Wanga. "We are committed to working with our partners to support farmers to adapt to climate change and produce enough food to feed their families and communities."
The county boss flagged off climate-resilient sorghum seeds and other supplies to assist families and farmers in drought-stricken areas of Ndhiwa, Suba South, and Suba North.
The sorghum seeds are drought-tolerant and high-yielding, making them ideal for cultivation in arid and semi-arid regions. The other supplies include fertilizers, pesticides, and tools.
The Governor also thanked the First Bridge Foundation, FAO, and the German Corporation for their support for the initiative.
"We are grateful to our partners for their support in making this initiative possible," said Governor Wanga. "This assistance will go a long way in helping families and farmers in drought-stricken areas to recover from the drought and build resilience to future climate shocks."
The flagging-off ceremony was attended by representatives of the First Bridge Foundation, FAO, the German Corporation, and the County Government of Homa Bay.
Having successfully profiled and mapped approximately 240,000 farmers for registration, the department of agriculture additionally trained farmers on new farming technology innovations to enhance productivity.
This was followed by the swift deployment of the Project Implementation Team (PIT) to distribute the seeds to beneficiaries in the designated wards.
"We are grateful for this initiative by the County Government. These seeds will help us grow more food for our families and improve our incomes," said one of the beneficiaries.
