Govt moves to end reliance on food aid in arid areas

The national government in collaboration with the counties is putting in place mechanisms and practices that will help people living in arid and semi arid areas reduce reliance on relief food.

Speaking in Kiritiri, Mbeere Sub County during the launch of the common programme framework for ending drought emergencies, National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) coordinator Tarsillah Mbirauka said all stakeholders ought to come together and propose a permanent solution to the problem of famine.

Mbirauka said NDMA is trying to implement projects that will end the cycle of drought within the region, adding that providing relief food to the residents is not a lasting solution.

She noted that the authority has been monitoring rain patterns in arid areas such as Mbeere to come up with mechanisms such as digging boreholes to provide water, rearing of milk goats as an alternative to crop farming and tree growing to combat famine.

On her part, Deputy Governor Dorothy Nditi who was the chief guest pledged to work with NDMA to realise its policies.

At the same time Ms Nditi challenged the government to implement proposed projects and not just put them on paper and files in offices while projects stall, adding that the projects should reach all Kenyans.

The deputy governor noted that Embu County has two regions with one being semi arid and the other rich and fertile, thus the need for collaboration with NDMA.