Sustainable agricultural production is key to food and nutrition security (FNS), addressing challenges like climate change and resource scarcity. CoAlive, jointly with the community, champions:
Climate-smart farming techniques, such as Zai pits and deep bed farming, double dug beds, moist gardens and soil and water
conservation to enhance community resilience, agricultural productivity, natural resources conservation, and community livelihoods.
Water harvesting and management: CoAlive believes water is life and everyone has a right to access it. We promote different water harvesting and storage techniques to enhance water availability for both domestic use, livestock, and agricultural production. For example, through different in situ water techniques, on farm ponds, and roof water harvesting, we improve and enhance water availability and accessibility for agricultural production throughout the year.
Organic farming and Indigenous seeds and crops sovereignty for
healthier soils and people; CoAlive promotes different organic farming practices such as compositing and use of biopesticides and integrated pest management using the push and pull technology to enhance soil health and fertility, safe and nutritious food production, and biodiversity conservation. We support seed banking initiatives, the growing of Indigenous crop varieties, and farmer-led conservation practices to enhance seed genetic diversity and climate resilience/adaptability.
Drought-resistant crops and resilient Livestock breeds: With the current climate change impacts, CoAlive promotes drought-resistant and resilient crops and livestock breeds to safeguard and maintain food security, economic stability, livelihoods and climate adaptation of the smallholder farmers in Eastern Kenya.
Sustainable livestock systems balance animal welfare, reduce environmental impact, and promote food security. CoAlive advocates for sustainable livestock farming by ensuring proper and resilient grazing management systems, Indigenous fodder production, improved animal welfare and climate-resilient-adaptive livestock-keeping practices to minimize negative environmental impacts and enhance their productivity.
Integrating Indigenous knowledge, modern innovation, and technology, we aim to empower communities to grow and utilize food sustainably, protect the natural resources they have, and enhance their climate resilience and adaptability for the current and future generations.
