Defying the Odds: How Irrigation Farming is Transforming Lives in Kongor Village

Lokolinyang Lorus, a farmer from Kongor village in Baringo County, Kenya, never thought growing crops would be possible in his drought-stricken community. For generations, the people of Kongor had relied solely on livestock rearing as their main source of income and sustenance.

"I never imagined that growing our own crops was possible," says Lokolinyang. "Since we were born, we were used to rearing livestock and buying farm produce from other areas."

Kongor village is one of the driest regions in Kenya, and the majority of households depended on livestock to get by. Attempts to grow crops had long been futile due to the harsh, arid climate.

The situation was further heightened by the effects of climate change in the country, leaving many families to not only creatively think of how to source for food, but also grapple with the negative impacts of climate change on the health and well-being of families.

In light of the 2024 International Day of Families that aims to raise awareness of how climate change impacts families and the role families can play in climate action, World Vision and other partners are working to empower children and families to tackle climate change.

We spotlight  Lokolinyang and his family, who through the World Vision, Kenya Big Dream program, were introduced to small-scale irrigation farming which changes their lives for the better.

"The church at Kongor has a small well that provides water for the school and the community," Lokolinyang explains. "World Vision's team came and introduced crop farming to us. This was a foreign thing, but I chose to be one of the pioneers."

Leah Musyoka, World Vision's Livelihoods and Household Resilience Program Officer in Baringo, explains that the initiative was a response to the community's nutritional needs. "We had a Community Change class in Kongor for six months, and one of the problems identified was lack of proper nutrition, especially for children," she says. "Since there is a source of water, we decided to introduce small-scale farming to the community members, and Lokolinyang was one of those who volunteered to learn."

Six community members, including Lokolinyang, were taken for training on crop cultivation techniques, from land preparation to planting and maintenance. "We were taken for training where we learned how to prepare land, plant, and take care of crops," Lokolinyang recalls. "We left there equipped with skills to start crop farming back home."

After the training, the participants were tasked with identifying and preparing land for planting. "I identified a piece of land near the water source, which I tilled and fenced in preparation for planting," says Lokolinyang.

World Vision then provided the community members with pipes to connect water to their plots and seeds for planting. The initial skepticism soon gave way to amazement as the crops began to sprout and thrive.

Lokolinyang has already reaped the benefits of his newfound agricultural endeavour. "I started harvesting my crops two months ago, and that brought joy to my family," he says. "We are now eating fresh vegetables at home, and I also get to sell the surplus to my neighbours, which increases my household income."

Growing food crops in such a dry environment requires immense effort and commitment, but Lokolinyang and his family have been up to the task. "I worked on the farm together with my family to ensure that we tended to the crops well," he says.

Apart from providing ENOUGH food for his household, Lokolinyang is also committed to protecting his children from harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and child marriage. "I am taking all my school-going-age children to school," he says. "I want to ensure that my daughters are protected from harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation and that they attain their full potential in life."

Lokolinyang's story is a testament to the transformative power of innovation and community-driven development, and the impact it has in helping families and communities thrive in the wake of climate change. By embracing small-scale irrigation farming, the people of Kongor village are not only ensuring their own food security but also paving the way for a brighter, more sustainable future for their children.

By David Nderitu and Ivy Muigai, Communications Specialists, World Vision Kenya.