The County Government of Turkana on Tuesday initiated a community engagement process to seek the views of residents of Lopur Ward on acquiring arable land for crop and pasture production.

The meeting, which was held in Lopur, was attended by County Executives for Agriculture David Erukudi and Lands Peter Akono, as well as Area MCA Gilbert Eweet.

The County Government has identified Lopur Ward as one of the areas with potential for crop production, and is seeking to acquire at least one million hectares of land in a bid to achieve its food security agenda.

The community engagement process will include sensitization on land rights and the need for residents to embrace livelihoods diversification in light of the climate impacts that have affected pastoralist households in Turkana.

In his remarks, CECM Erukudi said the County Government was committed to securing enough land, including the one requested by the National Government, to ensure that surplus food is produced for commercial purposes.

He reiterated the County Government’s commitment to collaborate with the private sector to reclaim all arable land for pasture and crop production, and said that the process would bring all community stakeholders together for successful engagements.

CECM Akono emphasized that land is a valuable resource that should be protected and invested with returns. He assured residents that the County Government would register and protect community land and ensure that it benefits the owners.

MCA Eweet lauded the County Government for the initiative and stated that land is an emotive issue that needs to be handled with sobriety.

County Chief Officer for Agriculture and Land Reclamation Janerose Tioko echoed CECM Erukudi’s sentiments on partnership, and said that the department would devise better ways of improving crop production.

Others present at the meeting included County Director for Irrigation Chammah Lotome and a host of Turkana West staff led by Sub-County Administrator Christine Nalemsekon.