Save The Pastoralist Initiative has been formed with a mission of Empowering the Pastoral communities through an integration of Arid Agriculture and nomadic way of life; Empowering Farmers in Northern Kenya. Save The Pastoralist Initiative (STPI) envisions a northern Kenya where the nomadic communities can produce their own food, use their resources sustainably and curb hunger, promoting food se
curity and engaging in the fight towards climate change. At Save The Pastoralist Initiative, we believe in the investment on Dry Land agricultural techniques to solve the hunger issues in northern Kenya, a more sustainable solution not comparable to relief food aid.This includes engaging the communities in activities that integrate the nomadic way of life with Agriculture; mainly, agriculture of the arid and semi-arid regions.Through this page, discussions can be held pertaining the main object ; Agriculture, food, water and the pastoral communities.We are open to any discussions pertaining the issue and any help is kindly welcome as we are in the process of idea exchanges in order to achieve the same goal. This is through the sharing of the Agricultural knowledge these students earn as from studying at the University, which is one of their mission and is optimistic that a change can be enhanced. The formation of Save The Pastoralist Initiative is totally community centred. STPI was formed due to a necessity, living conditions, experiencing the situations and the urgency of change. This is a communal project aimed at solving the problems facing the nomadic communities in Kenya, principally hunger and starvation, following the drought and famine that strikes the regions.As by 2011, at least 85% of the Turkana county population living in arid and semi-arid drylands were threatened with deaths due to starvation especially women and children below the age of 5 years. Sadly, at the moment, the devastating state of the drought has taken us back to a situation worser than 2011. As per now, there are so many lives being lost to droughts and famine and we have to change the status quo. We convey our information on dry land management through writings of blogs and agricultural articles in local Kenyan newsletters and also sharing our views on Agriculture through our page, all this is with an with an aim of educating the Turkana community on agriculture and helping them realise their potential on the same. At the moment, establishing an agricultural demonstration farm in Lodwar, Turkana Kenya where the community members especially women will come to learn directly and participate in the agricultural practices. It is at the same farm we shall grow various types of crops under irrigation. The farm products will be sold to the community at low prices. Of concern is that we shall also use the same farm as an educational resource for the neighbouring schools as a way of instilling agriculture in the future generation. This will, therefore, be a good opportunity to showcase the importance of agriculture in the life of a nomadic community. This will also serve to deal away with the agricultural negativity that most nomadic people already have. Future:
STPI has the vision of achieving the following in the future:
• The demonstration farm will serve as an experimental site for the locals so as to instil knowledge on farming and use of farm tools. It will be an opportunity for them to learn and involve themselves directly with farming.
• Upon food production on the farm, most of these products will be sold to the workers and locals on subsidised fee.
• Since not all schools in Turkana teach agriculture as a course, this farm will be used for learning purposes. The students will be visiting the farm at a small fee or at zero payment for the primary school children. This visit will enhance agricultural knowledge and also instil positivity. The locals will greatly benefit from this since it is way far from the normal relief food which always keeps them alert waiting for food to be brought to them without working for it.
• Source of employment to many people around. It will reduce dependency levels and also, the free youths involved in drug abuse and other naughty activities will also get something to do and not waste time.
• Economic empowerment of especially women in the nomadic communities. Upon learning about farming, most of them will use the knowledge to start up their own farms, sell their products, get some money and educate their children too. Hunger will reduce as portrayed.
• Natural resource management; we cannot talk about agriculture without talking about the use of the resources. Our demonstration farm will mostly use recycled materials, and it will also be an opportunity to address the climate change issue.
• Learning Resource; this farm will be used as an agricultural learning facility for the local schools ranging from primary to high school students. It is where they will learn different skills on farming and also awaken their interest in agriculture and its importance especially to a life of a pastoralist. This will help improve the negative attitude most people have on agriculture.
