Kerry Group, the world’s leading taste, and nutrition company, and Irish humanitarian organization Concern Worldwide today announced a four-year partnership that aims to improve the lives of 46,000 Kenyans by providing access to climate-smart agricultural practices.
They will collaborate to improve food security, boost household income and reduce malnutrition levels in the Tana River region by training farmers, as well as providing access to climate-resilient seeds and opening new areas for agricultural production and irrigation.
Many of the Tana River farmers are reliant on livestock farming, but climate change has led to water insecurity and pasture deterioration, causing death and declines in livestock productivity, thereby wiping out household income and food security.
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Concern has identified an opportunity to tackle these challenges in the Tana River, which has 200,000 mango trees growing along its banks. With financial support from Kerry, and using river water for irrigation, the Agricultural Livelihoods Improving Value Chains and the Environment (ALIVE) project will create a regional value chain for mango production to benefit female growers, creating a new income stream for their families.
Participants will receive training on post-harvest handling, support for mango processing at the community level, and the introduction of post-harvest processing machines. Importantly, mango production is more resilient to the impact of climate change and harnesses the resources of the Tana River, which is susceptible to flooding.
Welcoming the ALIVE partnership with Concern, Ajay Sharma, Kerry’s East Africa General Manager explained why the company chose Tana River for this climate-smart agriculture project: “ In Tana River County in Kenya, where this new ALIVE project with Concern is underway, 62% of the population live below the poverty line and most rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. On one hand, Tana River is vulnerable to flooding – only those farms that are situated beside irrigation canals have been able to sustainably engage in agricultural production. On the other hand, areas further away from the river are facing extreme drought. The area is crying out for assistance in the form of long-term value creation.
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The ALIVE project with Concern will create long-term value for smallholder farmers, by farming the land once again to support themselves, their families, and the community. I’m delighted that Kerry is investing in creating long-term value in Kenya.”
Commenting on the partnership, Concern’s Director of International Programmes, Carol Morgan said: “Climate change is having a devastating impact on the region, with the loss of pasturelands and the reduction in water supplies. Many households in Tana River depend on this traditional way of livestock rearing, but we are seeing that the full potential of the mango crop is untapped. This is an opportunity to further positively impact the lives of farming communities at the sharp end of climate change – incorporating factors such as skills training, access to capital, markets, employment, and improving health and nutrition levels.”
Catherine Keogh, Chief Corporate Affairs and Brand Officer of Kerry added: “By removing barriers to progress, we aim to improve the lives of local farmers and their families. The focus on climate-smart solutions and health and nutrition support will create long term value and support some of those most affected by hunger and malnutrition. This World Food Day (October 16), we were reminded of our responsibility to deliver sustainable nutrition across the globe and we are extremely proud to partner with Concern once again to devise innovative solutions to help make Zero Hunger a reality.”
In addition, farmers will be empowered to interact with markets, with an aim to improve household incomes by 20% annually, forming farmer-producer cooperatives and establishing relationships with regional processors and traders. Many farmers are not organized in any form of cooperative and they rely on local traders and handling agents – as a result, they get low farm gate prices for their produce.
The project also targets malnutrition among children aged under five and mothers in the community, which will see the scaling up of health and malnutrition screening and improving health and nutrition knowledge and care practices.
The ALIVE project builds on a partnership between Concern and the Kerry Group which spans over 12 years and has positively impacted the lives of thousands of people in Niger, Zambia, and Kenya.
