Maka Kassim with a big bunch of bananas she has grown at Galbet Farm. © CARE / Niki ClarkKenya’s Garissa district looks strikingly similar to the land around Dadaab, site of the world’s largest refugee camp. Dry and barren after months upon months without rain. It seems like an unlikely environment for a farm, one that will thrive, anyway.
But thrive is exactly what Galbet Farm is doing. While the drought is killing the livestock—and livelihoods—of neighbours, this one small patch of land in Garissa is literally an oasis in the desert. This is not by chance. The people of Garissa knew a drought was coming. So with CARE’s help, they prepared.
A CARE project promotes drought resilience in Kenya’s Garissa, Moyale, Wajir and Mandera districts. The project works with more than 85,000 people, mostly nomadic animal herders and those who have settled to farm. In a region where 80 percent of the population is dependent on livestock, the death of animals is devastating. Launching the project in the aftermath of the 2008-09 drought, CARE aimed to help vulnerable rural people gain consistent access to food, becoming more resilient in the face of future crises.
Maka Kassim is one of these people. She and her family followed their livestock wherever pasture and water could be found. After a severe drought five years ago, her whole herd died. She was left with nothing. “I decided I needed to plan so I could provide for my family,” she says.
CARE taught her how to farm
Today Maka is flourishing. CARE taught her how to farm, diversifying to protect against future droughts. As part of the Galbet Farm cooperative, she and the other farmers grow fodder grass, bananas, tomatoes, and mangos. In addition to providing enough food for her family (she has six children), the farm has been so successful that she is able to supplement her income by selling the extra produce at the market.
This success is made possible by CARE’s training in farming techniques and improved water canals, which distribute water more effectively than before. Previously, farmers often had to collect water from a crocodile infested river! Now an abundant supply of water irrigates the community’s land and provides fresh drinking water through tap stands. A generator-powered water pump allows farmers to turn the system on and off with a simple pull, allowing easy water management and reducing wastage and labour.
In addition CARE is teaching participants other useful skills, such as beekeeping and technical training on basic animal health. This allows those who keep animals to diagnose and treat basic diseases that previously would have resulted in death of their livestock. CARE facilitates access to sustainable, quality veterinary drugs and equipment.
“We want to serve as role models,” Maka says. “Because of CARE’s assistance, I am able to feed my family. I am able to educate my children. I am able to plan for my future.”
Please donate to our emergency response fund
Longer term work
In addition to our immediate response in the face of this current food crisis CARE International emphasises the need to tackle the long-term, underlying causes of poverty. We have been present in the region for over 25 years and are helping families to break the cycle of hunger and to adapt to the changing climate and recurring droughts.
Our ongoing work in the region includes:
- Maintenance, protection and development of water points and wells.
- Working with women in Mandera, Kenya to revive traditional food preservation techniques.
- Vaccination of animals to prevent diseases breaking out as they congregate at remaining water points.
- Helping families have more consistent sources of income by supporting them in diversifying their work.
Read more stories from the East Africa Food Crisis:
Staff blog: Sabine Wilke, Emergency Media Officer in Dadaab - 12 August
Video: East Africa Crisis - CARE's response - 12 August
Slideshow: Dadaab refugee camp - 12 August
Somalia to Dadaab: a journey filled with danger - 10 August
Somalia: famine declared in three additional regions of South-Central - 5 August
Ethiopia: in a drought prevention pays - 26 July 2011
Staff Blog: Confusion and waiting in Dadaab, Kenya - 18 July 2011
Staff Blog: "The need for food assistance is increasing at alarming rate" - 16 July 2011
Urgency grows in the Horn of Africa - 15 July 2011
Slideshow: More pictures from the East Africa Food Crisis - 14 July 2011
Staff Blog: Horn of Africa Food Crisis - Dadaab refugee camp - 8 July 2011
Slideshow: East Africa Food Crisis - 8 July 2011
Horn of Africa: The most severe food crisis in the world - 1 July 2011
Reviving traditions to survice drought in Kenya - 3 June 2011
Ethiopia food shortage: The worst is yet to come - 25 May 2011
Press releases from the East Africa food Crisis:
Saving cattle can save lives in drought-stricken Africa - 29 July 2011
DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal reaches £30 million - 25 July 2011
DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal reaches £27 million - 22 July 2011
DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal reaches £20 million - 18 July 2011
DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal reaches £18 million - 18 July 2011
Violence against women doubles in giant East Africa refugee camp - 17 July 2011
DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal reaches £15 million - 14 July 2011
DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal reaches £13 million - 13 July 2011
DEC agencies prepare to scale up work in Somalia - 13 July 2011
Reported cases of sexual violence have quadrupled among refugees - 12 July 2011
Horn of Africa food crisis: CARE launches £16 million appeal - 11 July 2011
UK donations for East Africa Crisis Appeal reach £8 million - 10 July 2011
DEC aims to help prevent East Africa Crisis becoming a catastrophe - 10 July 2011
DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal reaches £6 million - 9 July 2011
Aid delivered in East Africa as DEC Appeals broadcast in UK - 8 July 2011
Africa’s newest country in grip of food crisis - 8 July 2011
DEC announces East Africa Crisis Appeal - 7 July 2011
Drought in Kenya: “Situation of refugees is grave” - 4 July 2011
Horn of Africa: CARE calls for more attention to severe food insecurity - 19 May 2011
