BUILDING CLIMATE-RESILIENT LIVELIHOODS THROUGH EQUIPPING COMMUNITIES!

At Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority, we believe that sustainable development begins with empowering communities—equipping people with the right skills to enhance productivity, restore ecosystems and build resilience to climate change.

Our Tana Basin Regional Team visited Kirianri, Manyatta (Embu North), where a dynamic youth group is driving change through fish farming, agroforestry and climate-smart agriculture. Notable achievements by the group are:a thriving aquaculture project creating jobs and food security: hands-on training – TARDA has provided technical expertise in fish farming, agroforestry, and sustainable agriculture: Community tree nursery – A green initiative fostering environmental conservation and economic resilience.

TARDA; s Athi Basin Regional Office in Partnership with Kenya Forest Service Machakos Branch and other key stakeholders also held a high impact training session at Masii Sub-location where 229 farmers were engaged in agroforestry, grafting/budding technique and on modern beekeeping practices. Farmers learned innovative techniques for sustainable land use, including tree integration in farming systems to enhance soil fertility, water retention, and carbon sequestration: importance of bee-keeping not just for honey but also in crop pollination, biodiversity conservation, and climate adaptation. By maintaining strong bee colonies, farmers contribute to food security and ecosystem restoration. They also learnt the need for sustainable beekeeping which offers a viable economic alternative, reducing dependence on unsustainable land practices like deforestation while providing an additional income stream. The training session culminated in a tree-planting exercise, where TARDA donated 300 assorted fruit trees as a testament of our commitment to reinforcing reforestation efforts and promoting climate resilience in arid and semi-arid lands.

TARDA remains committed to fostering climate-smart solutions that not only protect the environment but also enhance rural livelihoods.