Nelly Bassily | June 1, 2009
Kenyan farmers experienced very different fortunes this year. In western regions, rains were good, and so were harvests. But in the southeast and coastal regions, the short rains failed and yields were poor.
Now, the World Food Programme, or WFP, has purchased food from small-scale farmers in western Kenya to distribute in areas hit by drought. This is the first time that the WFP has purchased food from small-scale farmers in Kenya. About 550 farmers from Kisumu District contributed to a shipment of rice destined for food aid.
Burkand Oberle is Country Director for the WFP. He says it’s a win-win situation. The rice from Kisumu will provide immediate relief for those hit by drought. The Kisumu farmers receive income that they can re-invest for longer-term food security.