In the heart of Laikipia’s semi-arid landscape, a green oasis is emerging, bringing hope for food security in Kenya’s drylands. Thome Village, located 20 kilometers from Rumuruti town, has become a model for agricultural transformation through conservation farming and climate-smart techniques.
Traditionally a pastoralist community, residents are now embracing drought-resistant crops and agroforestry practices. The introduction of fodder trees, fruit trees, and resilient crops like pigeon peas, sorghum, cassava, and groundnuts is not only improving the area’s aesthetics but also strengthening environmental sustainability and resilience against climate change.
The transformation began in 2019 when new settlers arrived with innovative farming techniques. A notable example is Lemako Lengawa, a pastoralist who has diversified into crop farming while maintaining a flock of 300 sheep. On his five-acre farm, he grows sunflowers and beans using agroforestry techniques. He expects to harvest about 75 bags of beans, worth approximately Sh600,000, in just three months a return equivalent to selling 75 sheep. His sunflower crop further provides cooking oil and animal feed byproducts.
Farmers in the area are adapting their methods to suit the arid environment. While some use borehole water for horticulture, most rely on drought-resistant crops intercropped with resilient trees. Alfred Ngunjiri has developed a diverse farming system by planting fruit trees that require minimal water. These trees provide shade, protecting horticultural crops from excessive sun exposure and reducing evaporation.
Walking through Thome Village, one sees flourishing farms with mature pawpaws, orange trees, apples, red capsicum, and pumpkins growing alongside sorghum and pigeon peas. The air is filled with sweet aromas from mixed agroforestry, while orchards bloom with flowers. This success is inspiring more residents to adopt similar techniques, taking advantage of the region’s fertile land and using livestock manure to enhance soil productivity.
Johnstone Macharia, a settler from Kiambu County, has brought new innovations to the village, pioneering pig farming as an alternative source of income and security. Pigs, he explains, serve multiple roles alerting him to intruders while remaining safe from theft, as bandits have no interest in them. Additionally, he has embraced livestock herbalism, growing fodder trees with medicinal properties such as sesbania, dombeya torrida, and lucern to ensure his animals remain well-fed even during drought.
The shift towards agroforestry and sustainable farming is being recognized as a potential solution to Kenya’s food security challenges. Integrating indigenous trees, fruit crops, and fodder species supports environmental conservation, provides animal feed, and strengthens climate resilience. Planting more trees would help pastoralists reduce livestock losses during drought, extend pasture life, and create additional sources of animal feed.
To maximize this transformation, more support is needed. Residents are calling for expanded irrigation infrastructure, access to drought-resistant crop varieties, and tree seedlings. With proper irrigation, the region could significantly increase food production for both local consumption and wider markets.
This agricultural revolution in Laikipia demonstrates how communities can adapt to harsh climates through innovation and collaboration. By blending traditional knowledge with modern farming practices, farmers in Thome Village are not just surviving but thriving, setting an example for arid and semi-arid regions across Kenya.
