Friday, March 25, 2011

Sh800m to boost Turkana food security

Prime Minister Raila Odinga (left) and US ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger (right) at Central YMCA in Nairobi March 25, 2011 during the United States African Development Foundation Turkana Food Security Program Launch. The USADF has committed Sh800 million to provide economic development assistance to marginalized populations in Turkana. SULEIMAN MBATIAH
Prime Minister Raila Odinga (left) and US ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger (right) at Central YMCA in Nairobi March 25, 2011 during the United States African Development Foundation Turkana Food Security Program Launch. The USADF has committed Sh800 million to provide economic development assistance to marginalized populations in Turkana. SULEIMAN MBATIAH
By DAVE OPIYO, dopiyo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Friday, March 25 2011 at 11:43

The vast Turkana region could be set for better days ahead after it received Sh800 million from a US development agency to boost its food security and generate income for the unemployed.
The money will be ploughed to fund projects on the development of new approaches to small-scale agriculture, specifically irrigation, livestock management and fisheries in the region in Northern Kenya known for arid temperatures and high levels of food insecurity.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga, US ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger and the US African Development Foundation Chairman Jack Leslie signed an agreement to officially launch the programme dubbed the ‘Turkana Food Security Programme.’
USADF, an independent foreign assistance arm of the US government, will invest Sh160 million annually over the next five years to support the income generation projects in the arid regions around lake Turkana, which has both has high unemployment and food insecurity.
Nearly 75 percent of the population in the region relies on food aid for their livelihood.
Mr Odinga, while welcoming the project said: “Nothing pains us more than the idea that virtually every year we must distribute relief food to areas like Turkana when we know that we can easily turn Kenya to a food secure country.”
He said the new Constitution, which recognised access to adequate and balanced food to all, has exerted pressure on the government to ensure that none of its citizens perish for lack of something to eat.
“We must therefore ensure that programmes of this type do not die upon the retreat by the donor or development partner,” added the PM.
Similar remarks were made by Mr Ranneberger, who said by focusing on water and irrigation projects, USADF, was directly addressing the needs of the people in the region.
“According to a government report ranking parliamentary constituencies according to their well being, more than 86 percent of citizens there live below the poverty line. This is unacceptable,” he said.
“The lack of economic opportunities is a direct cause of these conflicts and insecurity. I strongly believe that these projects will reach some of the most vulnerable individuals in Northern Kenya,” he said.
The ambassador said the Turkana Food Security Programme is in line with US President Obama’s priority of feed the future initiative, a multi country strategy to address food security and hunger in countries around the world, Kenya included.
Mr Leslie said: “I am looking forward to begin working with the people of Turkana. I look forward to seeing the wonderful results that will come out of these projects,” he said.
Present were Cabinet ministers: Mohammed Elmi (Northern Kenya) and Joe Nyagah (Cooperatives Development) and assistant ministers Joseph Nanok (Forestry and Wildlife), Alfred Khangati (PM's office).

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