Turkana’s ambitious efforts to combat food insecurity have received a major boost with the return of 16 agriculture trainees from Israel, who have vowed to use their newly acquired skills to transform the county’s agricultural sector.
The group, trained at the prestigious Arava International Center for Agricultural Training (AICAT), was hosted by the County Executive for Agriculture, Wangiros James in Lodwar where they outlined their plans to apply modern irrigation techniques, climate-smart agriculture, and agribusiness innovations to enhance food production in Turkana.
“We have seen first-hand how efficient agricultural systems can thrive even in desert conditions.
The knowledge we bring home will be a game-changer if properly implemented,” one of the returnees said.
Turkana’s food security efforts have long been hindered by a shortage of skilled agricultural professionals and the county’s harsh climate, being classified among Kenya’s 23 arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs).
In fact, the media has often highlighted Turkana’s struggle with drought and hunger relief efforts.
Statistics indicate that agricultural ventures—both plant, fishing and livestock-based—directly employs over 45% of residents and contributes 74% of the residents’ household income.
To bridge the skills gap, the county government entered into a partnership with AICAT in 2021, sending an initial cohort of eight trainees to Israel.
This year, 16 more were selected, bringing the total number trained under the program to 24.
During the meeting, the returnees expressed their commitment to driving agricultural innovation, with some already drafting proposals for pilot projects.
According to the County’s Director of Agriculture Aaron Nanok, their training covered areas such as precision farming, greenhouse technology, and sustainable irrigation—key components in boosting food production amid Turkana’s climate challenges.
“This is our opportunity to prove that Turkana can feed itself. We are ready to apply what we have learned to improve farming practices, create agribusiness opportunities, and reduce reliance on relief aid,” another graduate of the program said.
The County Executive for Agriculture welcomed the graduates’ enthusiasm and assured them of government support in integrating their expertise into ongoing agricultural projects.”
These professionals are a great asset to Turkana.
Their skills will play a crucial role in reversing the narrative of food insecurity. As a government, we are ready to support them in implementing innovative agricultural solutions,” CEC Wangiros stated.
The CEC added that the County was keen on integrating the returnees into strategic projects, including irrigation schemes and agribusiness hubs, to ensure maximum impact and position Turkana as a model for agricultural resilience in ASAL regions.
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