ROLE OF RANGELANDS IN SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Dr. Oscar Koech from the University of Nairobi (UoN), Department of Land Resource Management and Agricultural Technology (LARMAT) provided a lecture on Rangeland Ecosystems the Wake of Climate Change. The Webinar was organized by Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Kenya and Farmers Association of Community Self Help Investment Groups (FACHIG) Trust from Zimbabwe.

They have partnered to implement a 1 Year Project August 2021 to August 2022 in Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture and Marketing through Youth Involvement (PSAMY) digitally.  The Project is supported by Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (NOREC).  PSAMY project aims at increasing youths’ participation in sustainable agriculture and agricultural and market value chains through knowledge and cultural exchanges between Kenyan and Zimbabwean youth. The focus will be on sustainable agriculture and marketing. The Project will involve increasing youths’ participation in sustainable agriculture and agricultural market value chains. Recognizing the presence of COVID 19 pandemic in Kenya and Zimbabwe, the participants and partners will leverage on technology.

In Kenya, the participants will acquire knowledge and skills on sustainable agriculture practices ranging from soil health, agroforestry, pasture management, integrated pest management, water conservation, seed saving etc. While for FACHIG participants will get insights on agricultural produce value addition, entrepreneurial strategies, marketing and marketing dynamics, financial management, existing opportunity in different agricultural value chains and sales. All participants will also be trained on leadership and partnership building. Recognizing the role of rangeland in the economy and the agricultural value chain. 

Dr. Koech had the opportunity to give a lecture on the role of rangelands in supporting sustainable production systems and the contribution of rangelands to the world economies.