Bomet: Members of the Kipsigis community, who are historically defined by their deep-rooted traditions in livestock rearing, are boldly breaking new ground in matters of food security and subsistence, exploring other avenues such as aquaculture. Through the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) program, a County Government programme funded by the World Bank and the government of Kenya, a section of residents of Bomet County are diversifying their livelihoods by embracing aquaculture, signaling a move towards a more resilient and food-secure future, while deliberately embracing practices aimed at checking climate extremes.
According to Kenya News Agency, the shift is not just about trying a new strategy; it’s about survival. As erratic weather patterns and extended droughts diminish traditional grazing lands and vegetable yields, residents are left without an option but to adjust accordingly with the vagaries of the weather and varying climatic conditions, if only to eke out a living besides managing mother nature for posterity’s sake. Welcome to Rongena Ward in Sotik Sub-county of Bomet County, where a group of elders under the banner ‘the Rongena Elders Self-Help Group’, have emerged as a beacon of adventure in farming.
Being one of 24 fishpond projects implemented in the first cycle of FLLoCA investments in the area, the group is utilizing optimized land-use strategies to turn climate-challenged plots into productive aquatic hubs. By employing organic farming methods and focusing on local markets, the initiative ensures that high-quality protein reaches the community while maintaining a minimal ecological footprint. The project is built on a foundation of self-reliance. According to group Secretary, Charles Koros, and Chairman, Joel Rop, the goal is to move beyond external aid.
The proceeds from the inaugural Tilapia fish harvest are being ‘ploughed back’ into the project to purchase more fingerlings and feed. Indeed, FLLoCA is a five-year initiative by the Government of Kenya and the World Bank to support climate resilience, providing over Sh 7.2 Billion in funding to counties for community-identified projects. Just like with the Rongena group, the programme is out to empower local communities, particularly at the ward level, to prioritize investments in agriculture, water, and natural resources utility.
And the Rongena group has taken up the task, creatively utilizing the available water resources and periodic flooding due to climate change as a source of water to rear fish, an unusual venture for area people due to cultural aspects, for food and subsistence while also helping conserve the now rare natural water resource for posterity. ‘We, the Rongena Village Elders Self-Help Group, have harvested our first batch of fish. We plan to reinvest the sales proceeds to expand the project by purchasing more fingerlings and feeds, and constructing additional ponds. We urge everyone to embrace fish farming as a sustainable alternative source of livelihood,’ Rop pointed out.
The self-funding project model is paired with a ‘pass-it-on’ strategy, where the current pond serves as a learning centre, open to benefit interested members of the local community and others from far in welcome benchmarking visits. Members are trained in professional pond management by the county’s Fisheries Unit, empowering them to establish private ponds on their own farms, besides being equipped with the capacity to accordingly train other people for greater impact and sustainability of targeted locally led climate action activity.
Consequently, the Rongena group members are upbeat and ready to share the knowledge they have gained with others, so as to expand and sustain their venture. ‘I urge residents living near the fishpond catchment area to apply the fish farming training we received by setting up ponds on their own farms. This will provide our community with an alternative source of nutrition. We also call upon FLLoCA to bring more projects to this region, as we have already seen the first fruits of their support,’ Koros said.
Treasurer Lina Talam noted that the introduction of fish farming provides a vital safety net providing an alternative source of food and income, which also serves as an avenue for rainwater management. ‘Due to erratic climate patterns and extended droughts, vegetable production in our region has declined, impacting the nutritional health of women and children most significantly. The introduction of fish farming now provides us with a reliable alternative food source,’ Talam noted.
Group member Julius Rotich echoes this sentiment, urging the wider community to embrace fish farming as a sustainable livelihood. Through collective action and FLLoCA’s Strategic Investment, the Rongena Elders are proving that while traditions are cherished, adaptation is the key to thriving in an ever-changing world.
Source: Kenya News Agency
