UMR, Caritas Nairobi, Missio Münche, and KZE Partner to Revolutionize Urban Agriculture
Nairobi, Kenya – UMR, Caritas Nairobi, Missio Münche, and KZE are proud to announce a partnership to revolutionize food production in urban and peri-urban areas. This innovative project proposes a much-needed shift in how we produce food, aiming to create a new breed of farmers who embrace and replicate the integration of technology into agriculture for sustainability and profitability.
With one-quarter of the world’s population unable to access nutrient-rich and sufficient food, these food systems urgently need to undergo a transformation process. The agricultural industry offers the most viable platform for food security, economic growth, employment, and income generation, which can be leveraged to alleviate poverty by increasing productivity, adding value, and growing interconnections to other sectors such as health, trade, science, and innovation.
The project’s centerpiece is Smart Hydroponics farming, which provides a viable solution to the main barriers to agriculture amidst the effects of climate change. Smart farming requires minimal labor and substantially less water and inputs than conventional farming, owing to its ability to recycle water and nutrients. Therefore, we propose disseminating hydroponics farming technology as the future of food production, accessible to people with limited resources.
The project seeks to empower and support the most vulnerable family beneficiaries in Limuru by setting up 29 hydroponics greenhouses, with each greenhouse managed by two beneficiaries. In Bahati and Mukuru informal settlements, we will support and empower the most vulnerable by setting up four greenhouses, allocating them to vulnerable groups, and installing 45 vertical wall gardens in households. The project will also train 20 artisans to fabricate and install hydroponics greenhouses and household vertical wall gardens.
Smart Hydroponics farming is a resilient and sustainable food production option that solves food insecurity and chronic malnutrition while providing sustainable job opportunities for the youth and vulnerable women. The trained beneficiaries will be supported in registering and establishing agribusiness ventures to run hydroponics greenhouses or vertical wall gardens. In addition, they will be linked to markets for seamless produce off-take.
This project is a step towards creating a sustainable food system in Kenya, and we are excited to work with our partners to make it a reality. With innovation and collaboration, we can make a difference and ensure everyone has access to sufficient and nutritious food.
