Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Implementation Framework.

This Climate Smart Agriculture Implementation Framework (KCSAIF) is a nationwide sectoral document aiming at providing guidance in mainstreaming Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) together with providing options for implementing the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Strategy 2017-2026, launched in March 2017. The Framework envisions a climate resilient and low carbon growth sustainable agriculture that ensures food security and contributes to national development goals in line with Kenya Vision 2030. Focal points of the document are (i) exploration of climate smart practices relating to sustainable intensification of crop, agro-forestry, livestock and fisheries production; (ii) adaptation and mitigation practices in livestock production systems; (iii) efficient management of agricultural commodity value chains; (iv) opportunities to leverage climate finance for CSA; (v) knowledge sharing and effective learning; (vi) strengthening key institutions and systems; and (vi) mainstreaming CSA elements into national policies and development planning process.
To achieve the main goal, the Framework sets 4 strategic objectives, which are (i) develop a sustainable system for achieving a coordinated, coherent and cooperative governance of climate resilience and low carbon growth in the agricultural sector; (ii) mainstream CSA to support the transformation of Kenya’s agricultural sector into an innovative, commercially oriented, competitive and modern industry that contributes to poverty reduction and improved food security in Kenya; (iii) reduce vulnerability of agriculture systems by cushioning them against the impacts of climate change and reduce GHG emissions where possible; and (iv) strengthen communication systems on CSA extension and agro-weather issues.
To help eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition, the Framework aims at encouraging growing on-farm food security crops that can be harvested regularly (e.g. cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas, yams, arrow roots, etc.).
In order to make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable, main proposes interventions regard (i) introduction of diversified and improved crop varieties, including indigenous varieties; (ii) improvement of agricultural mechanization; (iii) increasing area under efficient irrigation; (iv) enhancement of waste water management for agriculture; (v) establishment of mechanisms that promote compliance of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs); (vi) use of integrated soil fertility management practices; (vii) introduction of improved exotic livestock breeds and improved indigenous/local adapted breeds;(viii) promotion of integrated farming systems comprising crops, livestock, aquaculture and farm forestry; (ix) establishment of gene banks for crops, livestock and fish; (x) improvement of nutrition through supplementation, forage and fodder conservation and irrigated pastures and fodder; (xi) management of veterinary drug residues, carcasses and agrochemicals; (xii) promotion of bee keeping and other non-wood forest products that contribute to forest conservation; (xiii) promotion of sustainable fish harvesting regime in fresh waters; and (xiv) identification and conservation of fish breeding areas and nursery grounds together with the rehabilitation of fish breeding sites.
More inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems will be enabled through (i) the establishment and strengthening of cooperatives and producer organizations; (ii) building the capacity of workers and farmers on participatory irrigation management and water users associations in agricultural water management; (iii) linking producers with input suppliers, output markets and service providers along the value chains; (iv) establishment of structured trading systems at county levels; (v) promotion of capacity building of farmers on demand and market driven production; (vi) a market promotion program for locally produced commodities; (vii) sustainable programs to support the certification of smallholders and producers for export markets; (viii) development of grading and standardization systems for agricultural commodities to comply with regional and global requirements; (ix) the establishment of marketing centers in rural areas with the appropriate infrastructure; (x) increasing community managed drug stores through provision of livestock drugs within reach of pastoralists; and (xi) creating awareness and capacity build women, youth and venerable groups (WY&VG) on CSA.
To increase the resilience of livelihoods to disasters, the Framework suggests to (i) enhance use of low greenhouse gas emitting crop production technologies and practices; (ii) adopt low emission technologies from the livestock value chain; (iii) upscale climate smart fish culture technologies through the use of low greenhouse gas emitting fish production technologies and practices; (iv) promote development of flood control infrastructure; (v) support regular epidemiological studies on livestock diseases based on climate change trends; (vi) adopt climate smart soil management technologies and practices; (vii) promote incentives for ecosystem management e.g. payment for ecosystem services; (viii) raise awareness within the insurance industry on climate risks and communicate opportunities in the agricultural sector; (ix) promote adaptation actions that have mitigation co-benefits; (x) promote climate smart practices that contribute to reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation; (xi) increase agro-climate information services and timely-use of agro-weather products; and (xii) enhance and upscale early warning systems and contingency plans for climate change adaptation.