Narok County is celebrating a major leap in agricultural development following the successful conclusion of the Integrated & Climate Smart Innovations for Agro-Pastoralists Economies and Landscapes (ICSIAPL) project. Launched in 2021, the project aimed at strengthening agro-pastoralist livelihoods through climate-smart agriculture, sustainable landscape management, and the promotion of innovative agricultural technologies.
The high-level close-out meeting, hosted by the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Irrigation in Narok, brought together key stakeholders including representatives from SNV Netherlands Development Organization, development partners, farmers, and officials from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO).
Funded by the European Union through its first delegated cooperation with the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS), ICSIAPL was implemented in Narok, Kajiado, and Taita Taveta counties, focusing on arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs).
Narok CECM for Agriculture, Joyce Keshe, hailed the project for its transformative impact. “We are truly grateful for the role SNV has played in empowering our farmers and pastoralists. The project has significantly improved forage production and livestock husbandry, while promoting sustainability,” she said.
SNV’s team lead, Julius Rono, highlighted the collaborative nature of the initiative, noting achievements in technology dissemination, business innovation, gender equity, and social inclusion. “We have seen real progress in integrated landscape management and are confident that the structures built will continue to thrive beyond SNV’s involvement,” he said.
Key accomplishments of the project included the dissemination of climate-smart agricultural technologies, successful forage-based trials, business support for agro-enterprises, and the integration of gender and social inclusion in project design.
Looking ahead, stakeholders agreed on transitioning all supported groups into the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), ensuring the continuity and scaling of successful interventions.
As the ICSIAPL project concludes, its legacy remains firmly rooted in empowering communities, enhancing food security, and advancing climate resilience across Narok and other ASAL counties in Kenya.
