Most smallholder farmers depend entirely on rain fed agriculture for survival and their food security. With adverse changes in climatic patterns the outcome has been devastating with most rural communities in Kenya's arid and semi arid areas facing starvation and death. Over 60% of livestock has died due to drought. HDI is supporting these smallholder farmers survive through the provision of smallholder irrigation kits. With this they can plant on and off dry seasons and be food sufficient
Rural Smallholder farmers in Eastern Kenya (primarily arid and semi arid) constantly are in a threat of starvation and have been receiving food aid from the government year after year. This is because they entirely depend on rain for their smallholder farming and only experience two rain seasons in a year and sometimes the rain seasons fail. In the last 2 years they have primarily had 1 short rain season. There is 80-90% crop failure year after year making them food aid dependent
HDI intends to train and supply them with affordable and sustainable drip irrigation kits. Teach them how to plant short term horticulture crops that are of high yields, like tomatoes, onions, Kales and Spinach. These crops grow fast and sell well in the market and creating immediate wealth for them. With this each farmers is able to buy other foods to supplement their diets, pay school fees, pay for good health care and have better quality lives.
HDI is advance food security, increased incomes and quality lifestyles by supporting smallholder farmers with the resources and information they need to increase crop productivity and conserve resources. The kits are provided through a unique microcredit system where farmers will pay back upon harvesting. This then will create a revolving fund that will support as many people as possible
