Crop farming help restore peace in banditry prone Kerio Valley

The war on banditry in Kerio Valley has received a major boost after pastoralists turned to farming as an alternative means of survival and food security.

The pastoralists-turned farmers are now engaging in crop farming to fight hunger through irrigation. They are now able to get income to improve their economy.

A spot-check by AVDelta News revealed that pastoralists have turned on a new leaf.

Some who were rustlers can concentrate on tilling their lands and waiting to reap harvests from the once barren lands that were banditry and cattle rustling fields.

The field have turned into flourishing crop fields.

The new small-scale farmers at Kadungdung area in Masol ward, West Pokot County are now reaping big from farming, getting income through smart agriculture.

The farmers have received a boost after 70 households, each with three(3) acres of land benefiting from solarized pump generators for irrigation with water from River Muruny courtesy of Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA).

Mr Kokoto Lobaita, a reformed warrior at Kadungdung, a beneficiary who plants crops like maize, bananas and beans on a three-acre piece of land says he is now a changed man.

He notes that with erratic rainfall and shrinking sizes of grazing fields caused by land-use changes, most men are pushed to become warriors to access new grazing fields or risk losing all their livestock.

“I was a cattle rustler, but I stopped after getting injured in the leg. I sold my two(2) cows and started farming,” Mr Lobaita confessed.

His valuable possessions are now pangas and jembes, not spears, arrows or illegal guns, as was the case in the past.

Another farmer Samuel Lotulia from Dung Dung area who was a cattle keeper before venturing into farming, says he made up his mind after losing his herds of cattle to bandits.

“To be safe and be able to provide for our families, we have to embrace farming as relief food is unreliable. I started with half an acre but now I have three acres,” said Mr Lotulia.

He cited the main challenge as lack of rainfall in the area adding that embracing farming because a reliable source of water enables him to easily fend for his family as he doesn't have many livestock to force him to migrate to Uganda anymore.

He lauded KVDA for donating the pumps to them, calling on his neighbours to shun cattle theft and instead engage in farming.

KVDA Managing Director Sammy Naporos who launched the distribution of solarized generator pumps worth Sh9 million said they are looking for 200 more acres of land for irrigation.

“We have irrigation schemes of Weiwei phase 1, 11 and now 111 which are almost complete and Lomut which is about to start,” said Mr Naporos.

He says smart agriculture will help in tackling the effects of climate change.

According to Mr Naporos, each household will be able to get Sh300,000 per season, especially from the sale of vegetables.

“Majority of those who used to engage in the vices have embraced farming. This is a peace initiative among border residents,” said the official.

Sigor MP Peter Lochakapong lauded KVDA for boosting farmers with the pumps.

He said the project will boost food security and avert hunger in the region.

“Farmers will be able to get more food. They have been using fuel in generators but now they will use solarized pumps to reduce the cost of farming,” said Mr Lochakapong .

He said the project will help reduce banditry.

“People have no reason to go and steal livestock. They will be in farms from January to December and plant crops for three seasons which will boost their economic livelihoods,” said the legislator.

KVDA Chairman Mark Chesergon on his part said the Government is committed to conserving water in the entire Kerio Valley region.

“This is an area affected by drought but we are looking forward to ensuring residents produce food and get value for their crops. We want to make sure that every resident produces food and improve their wellbeing,” said Mr Chesergon.

He said the new technology will improve yields and livelihoods of residents.

Masol Ward member of County assembly Wilson Chekeruk said many residents have changed from pastoralism to farming, noting that this will improve the area's economy.

“Many stay in grass thatched houses and now things will change to iron sheets and their health will improve,” said Mr Chekeruk.

He called on other donors to chip in and support the initiative.