Kenyan women break tradition and thrive in poultry farming despite harsh droughts caused by climate change.
Women in Isiolo County have taken up poultry farming as a means of economic empowerment amidst harsh drought conditions occasioned by climate change
Traditionally, the people of Northern Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) in Kenya have relied on livestock keeping, which has been severely affected by climate change.
Women in ASALs are vulnerable to climate change due to social norms, economic status, and cultural practices that limit their control over resources and decision-making power.
The project, funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, supports women-led groups to build their resilience to the effects of climate change.
Through training and knowledge-sharing sessions, women can easily adopt climate-smart agricultural techniques that integrate Water-Energy-Food management approaches for socio-economic growth.
One such group is the Malka Bisanadi Women’s Group in Kinna Ward, Isiolo County.
The group consists of eighteen women and seven men, with women in leadership positions.
In 2019, the group started poultry farming but lost all eighty chickens. The group chair, Malkai Ntalo, approached the County Government Department of Agriculture for support to improve their management practices.
The group was traditionally pastoralists, but weather patterns have changed.
The Women Group in Isiolo County is a testament to the power of women’s economic empowerment and their ability to adapt to the effects of climate change.
They have been able to diversify their income streams, increase their agricultural productivity, and build their resilience to the changing climatic conditions.
Such initiatives need to be replicated and scaled up across the country to support more women-led groups and communities. By investing in women’s economic empowerment and providing them with the necessary skills and resources, to build a more sustainable and equitable future for all.
