Narok: Battered by erratic weather patterns coupled with decreasing and delayed rainfall, hundreds of women farmers in Narok are switching to beekeeping and poultry farming as alternative sources of livelihood that are less vulnerable to climate change. As the unpredictable rain cycle slashes harvest in the wake of climate change, the smallholder farmers who are members of Paran, an umbrella of 64 women groups from Maasai and Ogiek communities, are also embracing indigenous knowledge, agroecology, and climate-smart agriculture to stabilize their food systems.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Director and founder of Paran, Ms. Nayian Kiplagat, states that with most parts of the devolved unit under immense threat due to frequent droughts that threaten pastoralism, local communities are slowly embracing alternative sources of livelihood. Ms. Nayian points out that among the hardest hit by climate change are women who have to walk longer distances in search of water for domestic and livestock use while also taking care of animals, which exposes them to the risk of being attacked in the grazing fields.
Following continued sensitisation on climate-friendly interventions to climate change, beekeeping, which has traditionally been a preserve of men, and poultry farming, which was frowned upon in the two communities, are turning out to be profitable ventures for pastoralist women in Narok County. Ms. Nayian highlights that historically, keeping or eating small birds like chickens was associated with a lack of livestock among the Maasai, implying poverty for a traditional Maasai man.
In recent decades, dwindling rainfall levels have depleted pastures and reduced harvests, compelling community members to travel long distances for sustenance, prompting the creation of Paran in 2005. The organisation focuses on empowering women through agroecology, collective action, and commercial opportunities. Ms. Nayian emphasizes the importance of women’s indigenous knowledge in restoring biodiversity and promoting sustainable farming practices like crop rotation, intercropping, and agroforestry.
Paran’s efforts include promoting kitchen gardens for food security, establishing indigenous tree nurseries for environmental restoration, and building organisational capacity with support from entities like VI Agroforestry and Farm Africa. These initiatives aim to improve food security, empower women, and ensure sustainable agricultural practices in the face of climate challenges.
