Kenyan Catholic Diocese, Caritas Finland Partner on Climate-Smart Farming to Boost Food Security

Lodwar, 29 September, 2025 / 3:44 PM

The Catholic Diocese of Lodwar in Kenya has joined hands with Caritas Finland to tackle food insecurity with climate-smart farming.

In a September 25 post on its Facebook page, the Kenyan Diocese indicated that the Livelihood and Agriculture–Caritas Finland Climate Change project “seeks to empower local communities” within the vast ecclesial jurisdiction with climate-smart farming techniques.

"The project's cornerstone is the establishment of school environment and climate change clubs," the project's climate change coordinator, Daniel Edaan, is quoted as saying.

Mr. Edaam explains that the strategy to engage learners at their formative age is aimed at nurturing “a new generation of leaders equipped with the knowledge and tools to combat climate change and advocate for sustainable living within their communities.”

He says the environment and climate change clubs in selected schools are expected to provide hands-on environmental education, including tree planting, water conservation, and waste management.

The Kenyan Diocese is optimistic that focusing on improved livelihoods and climate-smart agriculture “is critical to the long-term well-being” of the people of God in a region where food security is further undermined by insufficient rainfall and recurring insecurity.

“The initiative is introducing climate-smart farming techniques suitable for the harsh Turkana environment, such as drip irrigation and the cultivation of drought-resistant crops,” reads the September 25 post by the Lodwar Diocese.

It adds, “The project is supporting livelihood diversification activities, helping families establish small-scale businesses and other income-generating ventures.”

This diversification is expected to create a more stable economic foundation for the community and address the overreliance on farming as a single source of food.

On September 19, Bishop John Mbinda, the Local Ordinary of the Kenyan Diocese, told ACI Africa in an interview that his Episcopal See “faces very serious challenges, as it remains underdeveloped, with urgent needs that stretch from the most basic necessities.”

The Kenyan member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans/Holy Ghost Fathers/CSSp.) expressed concern about the adverse effects of climate change in his Episcopal See, including prolonged drought and the rising waters in Lake Turkana.

“You know we are living in a desert, and livelihoods are not easy. The Turkana keep livestock, but their herds continue to diminish because of famine and recurrent droughts. There is therefore a need to address livelihoods and explore what can be done,” he said.

He added, “We are also affected by the phenomenon impacting all the lakes within the Rift Valley; the rising waters of Lake Turkana, formerly called Lake Rudolf, have swallowed villages. As a result, we have displaced people who are now seeking support: food, clothing, and anything that can help them live a decent life.”