Our goal for teaching the best modern farming practices
It often doesn’t rain for a long time, sometimes months in Laikipia, Kenya. The unforgiving sun has baked the ground. There then may be little or no vegetables in the local markets and hunger can become a way of life.
Our plan is to determine the best planting and farming methods that will bring a bountiful harvest of a variety of vegetables on the farm: onions, cabbages, potatoes, and more. Already we have bought enough land, dug borehole wells, and planted enough crops to feed and provide for at least 1500 people in our community. We also are planning to sell the surplus of food to the community to raise money to pay for scholarships.
Laikipia is an arid, high desert area near the base of Mount Kenya. The weather, which can be destructive to local agriculture, can explain why there are such high levels of malnutrition. Here, 35% of all children under the age of five are malnourished. The other reason? A lack of educational resources on how to maintain a healthy diet.
Of course, education alone is not enough – people need access to healthy foods. That’s where we can help play a role – by helping to improve farming practice and to raise enough money to buy new farmlands, equipment and more.
Helping to Strengthen Immunity
Feeding our children properly with nutrient-rich vegetables can help to significantly reduce the number of visits to the local hospital for malnutrition and other illnesses. A well-nourished child has a more robust immune system and is less likely to fall sick. This is especially important now that COVID continues to be such a threat.
There is a need for better health and nutrition education as well as good COVID prevention practices. We are working to provide this education so that the community is better able to protect themselves.