Laikipia: Learning institutions in ASAL areas urged to embrace water harvesting

Learning institutions in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas of Laikipia County have been encouraged to devise innovative ways of water harvesting to cushion them from unpredicted weather patterns.

Speaking in UasoNyiro Primary school in Segera ward, Laikipia North Subcounty, National Drought Management Authority CEO Lt Col (Rtd) Hared Adan said they had partnered with learning institutions to address challenges of unprecedented issues of climate change.

The NDMA CEO provided 81 water tanks to schools in Laikipia to support farming activities in a bid to enhance food production and bolster education in the county.

“We have supported 48 schools with water tanks and some 69 others where we have planted 5000 fruit trees aimed at addressing the issues of climate change,” said Ltd Col(Rtd) Adan.

NDMA technical committee Chairman Koome Kiragu pointed out that they had also launched a fruit trees growing initiative in schools in dry parts of Laikipia in partnership with learning institutions.

“This area is very dry(Laikipia North) but I’m happy to see the survival rate of fruits we planted is over 97 percent and in four months learners will be having fruits in schools,” said Kiragu.

On his part, Segera ward Member of County Assembly Salim Edum urged residents to embrace donor funded projects aimed at uplifting their lives.