The County Executive for Agriculture, David Erukudi today held a discussion with officials from ChildFund, Frontier Children Development Programme, Samburu Children Programme, and SAPCONE to deliberate on the progress of the Orange Fleshed Sweet Potatoes (OFSP) Project.

The Lead Partner for the Project in Turkana is the Samburu Children Programme funded by The Federal Government of Germany (BMZ).

Chief Executive Officer for Frontier Children Development Programme, Maurice Lokwaliwa, said that the project, which started in 2020, is being implemented in Turkana Central and Loima Sub-Counties

The areas include Nangolekuruk, Nadoto, Nangitong, Naipa, Naotin Naoros, Kangalita, Natutun, Kalemunyang, Naurienpuu, Nadapal, Loya, Tiya, Lorengkipi, Kaitese, Nanyee and Napak.

CECM Erukudi expressed the County Government’s readiness to collaborate with private actors to invest in alternative crops, specifically sweet potatoes, in a concerted effort to combat food and nutrition insecurity.

He emphasized that the introduction of such programs to pastoralists would not only mitigate malnutrition but also provide an alternative source of livelihood, reducing dependence on nomadic practices.

CECM highlighted the government’s commitment to revitalizing farming infrastructures to bolster food production.

He pointed out that water scarcity is one of the major challenges affecting productivity in existing irrigation schemes.

CEO Lokwaliwa highlighted the project objectives including value addition and the empowerment of women groups.

He stated that the choice of orange sweet potatoes was due to their richness in vitamin A and their potential to benefit malnourished children and lactating mothers.

Also present were ChildFund Manager Cyprian Muriuki, Samburu Children’s OFSP Coordinator George Ocholla, SAPCONE Project Coordinator McDonald Losike, and a host of Frontier Children Development Organization’s staff.