Government Promotes Circular Farming to Boost Food Security and Create Jobs

The government is promoting an integrated farming model that combines poultry, fish and vegetable production to improve food security, increase farmers’ incomes and encourage efficient use of agricultural resources.

Through the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) and the Wezesha Agribusiness Programme, the initiative is supporting farmers to adopt climate-smart practices that minimise waste while creating multiple sources of income.

In Busia County, farmers Miriam Ojakol and Rebecca Odalo have embraced modern poultry housing and improved biosecurity measures to reduce losses and expand their farming businesses.

Their experiences highlight the role of targeted training and improved farming techniques in strengthening small-scale agribusinesses.

How the Circular Farming Model Works

The integrated farming approach allows farmers to use waste from one production activity as a resource for another.

Poultry manure is used to enrich fish ponds, while nutrient-rich water from the ponds is recycled to irrigate vegetable gardens. The approach reduces waste, conserves resources and enables farmers to run several agricultural enterprises even on limited land.

The model is also intended to improve productivity while lowering the cost of farming through better utilisation of available resources.

5,000 Young People Trained in Climate-Smart Farming

Through the Wezesha Agribusiness Programme, at least 5,000 young people have received training in climate-smart farming practices over the past two years.

The programme is also working to improve farmers’ access to financing and markets, helping them turn agricultural activities into sustainable businesses.

LBDA Managing Director Wycliffe Ochiaga said the authority was promoting modern poultry farming and supporting the development of locally produced animal feeds to reduce production costs.

The government has also established a poultry technology transfer centre in Kisumu, which produces 300 trays of eggs daily for the local market.

The initiatives are part of broader efforts to strengthen agricultural production, expand economic opportunities and improve food security through modern and resource-efficient farming methods.