A new multi-million research initiative designed to tackle the challenges of climate change in Marsabit County is poised to transform the region’s dairy sector under the ADAPTiVE Project being spearheaded by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in partnership with the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), KALRO, University of Nairobi, and the Karare Women Dairy Cooperative in Marsabit County.
Funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (DANIDA), the initiative aims to promote the dairy industry as a sustainable and reliable source of income for the Marsabit community. By introducing innovative strategies tailored to the county’s unique conditions, the program seeks to foster long-term resilience and economic growth.
Located in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL), Marsabit County faces recurring droughts that threaten the livelihoods of its predominantly pastoralist population. The ADAPTiVE Project will work directly with the Karare Women Dairy Cooperative, a women-owned organization providing market access for female dairy farmers. By promoting sustainable dairy practices and empowering women, the project seeks to strengthen community resilience against climate change impacts.
A stakeholders engagement forum organized by JKUAT, Thursday, December 5, 2024 at Movenpick Hotel marked the official launch of the project and brought together partners, researchers, and community leaders to outline strategies for implementation. The project will focus on innovative livestock management and sustainable production to ensure food safety and improved market access to support the region’s dairy farmers, particularly women, who play a critical role in the local economy.
JKUAT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi, expressed optimism that the ADAPTiVE Project will strengthen Kenya’s heavy reliance on agriculture as a vital pillar of its economy.
In a speech delivered by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Production and Extension, Prof. Jackson Kwanza, the Vice Chancellor emphasized the project’s role in advancing Kenya’s Vision 2030, the national food safety policy, and global frameworks anchored on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, that includes eradicating poverty, ending hunger, ensuring health and well-being, achieving gender equality, and addressing climate change.
Director of Trade and Industry in Marsabit County, Mr. Kasa Hussein expressed his gratitude to the stakeholders of the project for pooling together to address the adverse effects of climate change on pastoral communities.
“Climate-resilient interventions like the ADAPTiVE project are essential in safeguarding our economic and social structures. By integrating sustainable practices and innovative solutions, we can mitigate these challenges and unlock new opportunities for growth,” said Mr. Hussein.
Mr. Hussein pledged his support to the project emphasizing his commitment to initiatives that strengthen community resilience by improving market access, advancing infrastructure development, promoting value addition, enhancing capacity building, and advocating for effective policies.
The Project Principal Investigator, Prof. Jørgen Dejgård Jensen from the University of Copenhagen, shared that several strategies have been put in place to ensure the project’s success. These strategies, he revealed, include publishing scientific papers, gaining citations, and sharing the project’s progress through public media, among other efforts.
The Co-Principal Investigator, Dr. John Kinyuru from JKUAT’s Food Science and Technology Department, echoed Prof. Jensen’s comments, emphasizing that sustainability was a key focus from the outset of the project.
“We have integrated ideas into the project to ensure its solutions are sustainable and scalable to continue benefiting Marsabit and the larger ASAL Counties even after the project ends. This includes engaging with local stakeholders and leveraging collaborations,” said Dr. John Kinyuru.
Other project members from JKUAT are: Dr. Samuel Imathiu (Food Science and Technology Department) and Dr. Eucabeth Majiwa (Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics).
