Mandera County, classified as semi-arid, receives less than 250mm of rainfall annually. The region is highly vulnerable to drought, causing moisture stress that significantly affects crop production, storage, and marketing. In addition, recurring flash floods disrupt crop growth and limit market access. The Dawa River frequently overflows during the long rainy season, flooding farms and wiping out entire harvests, further compounding the challenges faced by farmers. To address these harsh climatic conditions, farmers are adopting modern coping strategies such as cultivating drought-tolerant crops, harvesting rainwater on a small scale, producing fodder, implementing small-scale irrigation systems, and practicing agroforestry to build resilience.
One of the farmers facing these challenges was mama Hawa. A farmer in Burabor village, Mandera County. As part of an intervention implemented by Nomadic Assistance for Peace and Development (NAPAD), in partnership with Medico International (MI) and supported by by Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ), in the SEWOH project, Mama Hawa is adopting to the impacts of climate change through sustainable agricultural practices together with 50 other farmers from her community.
One of the key initiatives introduced was the farmer’s field days, designed to provide local farmers with expert knowledge and practical tools to address agricultural challenges. These sessions brought together 120 farmers from Bur Abor and neighbouring villages of Fiqo and Bulla Haji, for hands-on training in climate-smart farming techniques. The training covered a wide range of topics, including cultivating drought-tolerant crops, water conservation methods, sustainable solar-powered irrigation, pest prevention and control, agroforestry, and the production of natural fertilizers as an alternative to chemical-based options.
Facilitated by NAPAD’s agronomists in collaboration with officials from Mandera County’s Ministry of Agriculture, the sessions offered farmers actionable solutions tailored to their local context. Additionally, the sessions served as a platform for farmers to exchange experiences, share challenges, and collaboratively develop community-driven strategies to enhance their agricultural productivity.
“The training gave us the chance to engage directly with experts, ask all the questions we had about farming, and gain practical solutions. It really helped us understand how to manage our crops better for greater harvests, even in these unpredictable weather conditions.” Mama Hawa shared
Mama Hawa is improving her farming practices by growing drought-tolerant crops like sorghum, which are well-suited to the harsh climatic conditions of Mandera and are in high demand in local and border markets. Unlike her earlier attempts to grow water-intensive crops like tomatoes where she often faced failed harvests, sorghum does well even in minimal rainfall, ensuring consistent yields.
This diversification has significantly improved Mama Hawa’s household income and food security. The shift to growing drought-resilient crops has also empowered her to plan for the future with greater confidence, as she no longer fears losing her entire harvest to unpredictable weather patterns. Mama Hawa, along with the rest of the farmers, harvested 600 bales of fodder and 160 kg of sorghum. With each bale valued at 150 KSH (1.2 USD) and each kilogram of sorghum at 1 USD, the farmers achieved a double income selling both the grains and the stalks as fodder creating an additional income stream.
“We are very happy that we harvested a lot of sorghum. It’s the training that gave us the ideas to make this happen,” Mama Hawa proudly said.
Beyond addressing immediate needs, this initiative is focused on long-term resilience. With continued support and follow-up training, NAPAD and MI are ensuring that these farmers are not only recovering from ongoing challenges but also preparing for future climate shocks, hence laying a foundation for sustainable farming practices.