The Heavy Lifters: Addressing the Challenge of Climate Change

The challenge of climate change has been recognized as a major threat to life on planet Earth. While many nations are looking at different ways to address the problem, the same level of urgency is only beginning to be seen in Africa.

In Kenya, the last four years (2019 -2023) have presented the people with a painful demonstration of climate change. Due to the lack of rainfall, food production has fallen drastically, leaving over 4 million Kenyans facing hunger.

The government has had to import 200 billion shillings worth of food – money that could have gone to other critical needs.

Over 2 million livestock died in 2022 alone.

The incidence of conflict between communities has increased, mostly as they fight over scarce resources like water and pasture.

The reality of climate change. Lake O’lbolosat in Nyandarua County is dying.

What is CAPYEI doing about this?

We have now started creating training programs that give youth the skills to play a role in climate change efforts even as they earn a living.

As described in our Green skills policy. CAPYEI recognizes that the heavy lifting for Climate change mitigation in Africa will have to be done by Farmers.

But there is a problem.

Farmers are a rapidly disappearing population. The average age of a farmer in Africa is 60. They will soon be gone. The only solution is to encourage as many youths as possible to engage in farming.

CAPYEI does this by training and supporting youth to secure livelihoods in this important sector.

In addition, CAPYEI has now started creating training programs that give youth the skills to play a role in climate change efforts even as they earn a living.

This begins with Climate-smart agriculture.

As an example, if you come to our Demo Farm in Oljororok you will see us practicing some of the following climate-friendly agriculture methods:

• Reduced inorganic fertilizer application: Chemical-based fertilizer has become very scarce and expensive. Overuse of these inputs reduces the the capacity of soils to hold carbon and can be wasteful when applied in excess. Organic fertilizer helps to cure soil that has been destroyed by overuse of chemical fertilizers. It is also cheap and easy to make.

Organic fertilizer. This is cheaper alternative to chemical fertilizer, that is also climate friendly.

• Reduced tillage: Frequent and heavy tilling increases the rate of carbon dioxide released from the soil. It also breaks up soil structure which can lead to erosion. Regenerative tillage, or no tillage at all, preserves water and soil quality. It also increases crop yield.

Mulching paper reduces the amount of tillage needed by controlling weeds. It also conserves water.

• Dual cropping: Dual planting increases plant diversity by growing 2 or more crops close together to benefit not just the crops but also the soil. Dual cropping can also be used to help with organic pest control.

Dual cropping. The sunflower provides nectar for bees and the seeds distract birds from eating the strawberry.

• Where land and water are scarce: as in urban areas, it is possible to use different technologies for crop growing in a sustainable climate friendly. The examples we demonstrate at the Demo farm include hydroponics, grow pipes, multi-story gardens, grow bags, and many others.

Hydroponics: horizonal grow pipes on an A-frame. This helps you to increase your growing area and conserve water.

For one to start productive farming, the size of land is no longer the key challenge. Using some of the many methods we demonstrate, you can use very small space; a veranda, alongside a walking path, banks of a river… or other small space. Many young farmers started in this way and are now successful agri-entrepreneurs.

What about markets?

That is not a big issue either. As discussed in this clip, the fact that Kenya important food worth over 200 billion shillings a year, or that 4 million Kenyans are facing hunger, means we have a big shortage of food. Kenya needs someone to grow this food.

On the other hand, we have millions of youth lacking a job.

Put the two challenges together and, what we have for Kenyan young people, is a major opportunity just waiting for YOU to seize it.

At CAPYEI we are ready to show you how. It starts with training.

Multi story garden. Especially useful in urban areas where is space is limited.

• Social and Green enterprise training: this is one of the many courses we offer in Agribusiness and climate change. This course is offered in partnership with Youth Business International. It is meant to help youth to convert their ideas for agriculture and climate change into a growing business that will earn them a living even as they play an important role in saving the planet.

Social and Green Enterprise training at the Demo Farm

• Immersion: In CAPYEI we believe that the best way to teach is by showing. We do this by organizing field visits to Farmers, including our own farm, and by arranging mentorship sessions where the youth and farmers receive critical advice from specialists.

Where do you start?

You can register for one of our many training courses. You can book a visit to our Demo farm.

Or can you contact us for more information.