Posted on April, 16, 2025 at 05:18 pm
Farmers in Nakuru County are set to reap significant environmental, social, and economic benefits through a pioneering Cropland Carbon Farming project.
This collaborative initiative brings together the Nakuru County Government, the Cereal Growers Association – Farm to Market Alliance (CGA-FtMA), and Boomitra, a leading agricultural technology company.
The County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives Leonard Bor said today the ambitious project is centered on empowering farmers to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices that not only enhance soil health and boost productivity but also generate income through the sale of high-integrity carbon credits. He added that this initiative comes at a crucial time, highlighting the growing importance of climate agriculture in mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change on food security and livelihoods.
He said climate agriculture, which encompasses farming practices that sustainably increase productivity, enhance resilience, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and sequester carbon, is increasingly recognized as a vital strategy for ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability. By focusing on improving soil health through practices like reduced tillage, cover cropping, and crop rotation, the Nakuru project aims to create more resilient farming systems capable of withstanding the growing challenges posed by erratic weather patterns and changing climate.
Additionally, the officer said the potential for Nakuru County to save itself from the negative effects of climate change through such initiatives is immense.
Agriculture is a cornerstone of the county’s economy, and the increasing frequency of droughts, floods, and other climate-related shocks poses a significant threat to crop yields and farmer incomes.
Bor noted that by embracing climate agriculture and participating in carbon markets, Nakuru farmers can: Enhance soil health through improved soil structure and fertility leading to better water retention, reduced erosion, and increased nutrient availability, ultimately boosting crop yields and reducing the need for costly synthetic fertilizers.
Also, he said healthy soils and diverse cropping systems make farms more resilient to extreme weather events, ensuring more stable food production even under challenging conditions. And, the sale of carbon credits provides farmers with a new revenue stream, incentivizing the adoption of sustainable practices and contributing to economic diversification.
He noted that by sequestering carbon in their soils, farmers play a crucial role in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to global efforts to combat climate change.
The project’s implementation is guided by the recently enacted Climate Change (Carbon Markets) Regulations, 2024, ensuring transparency and accountability in the generation and trading of carbon credits.
The collaboration between the Nakuru County Government, CGA-FtMA, and Boomitra signifies a strong commitment to fostering sustainable agricultural development and leveraging the potential of carbon markets to benefit local communities.
The Cropland Carbon Farming project serves as a promising model for how other agricultural regions in Kenya and beyond can adopt climate agriculture to build resilience, improve livelihoods, and contribute to a greener future, plus food security for the entire country.
Source: KNA