Rongo University has teamed up with Canada's Wilfrid Laurier University to launch a seven-year initiative aimed at modernizing food production techniques. The project will use local media to share essential information and address gaps in the food production chain, focusing on food systems and the value chain.
Vice Chancellor of Rongo University, Prof. Samuel Gudu, stressed the importance of community involvement in the project. He noted that the initiative would also incorporate agroecology, leveraging indigenous knowledge of food cultivation. This approach promises to mitigate issues like climate change and poverty while reducing the contamination of aquatic life caused by commercial fertilizers.
Furthermore, the project will provide training for graduate fellows in Information Communication and Media studies, agricultural extension, and basic agricultural production. These fellows will then share their knowledge with local communities.
Dr. Andrew Spring from Wilfred Laurier University emphasized the project's alignment with Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to food safety and malnutrition. He added that the initiative would be participatory, aiming to address poverty, food insecurity, and climate change.
The project will involve farmers from the Migori sub-counties of Nyatike and Suna West, which are particularly affected by climate change. The collaboration seeks to empower local communities, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and contribute to broader development goals.
Source: kenyanews.go.ke