HOW BENGA HORTICULTURE PARK IS A BEACON OF FOOD SECURITY, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE.
By Euphresia Okwakori
Benga Village, at the heart of Bukhayo North Ward in Nambale Sub-county, a climate-smart horticulture park is breathing new life into a once-struggling rural community, an initiative that is turning water-logged land into a beacon of food security, economic empowerment, and climate resilience.
This transformative project, implemented by the Directorate of Climate Change and funded by the World Bank through the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) program, is part of a broader effort to help Busia County adapt to the increasingly unpredictable effects of climate change. At Benga, the results are nothing short of inspiring.
With a vision rooted in resilience, the 30-acre horticulture park is a model of climate adaptation. Eight acres are under drip irrigation, which is ideal for conserving water while ensuring crops receive optimal moisture and the remaining 22 acres are irrigated using sprinkler systems.
The source of this efficient water delivery system is an intake weir that channels water from Musokoto stream to a raised steel storage tank, from where it is distributed through solar powered pumps. This clean energy setup also supports vegetable drying and cooling facilities, ensuring harvested produce stays fresh longer, preserving both quality and income.
“Climate change has changed the rains patterns. When we need rain it’s not there and when we don’t need it comes in plenty even causing damage to our crops. But with this irrigation system, we will no longer depend on the unpredictable rainfall. We can now farm all year round,” says Charles Musungu, a member of the Walatsi Self-Help Group, the community organization behind the project.
Once a small informal group, Walatsi has since grown into a registered cooperative society boasting over 100 members. This is a testament to the strength of collective action.
The model is slowly transitioning the farmers from subsistence to sustainability. The range of crops being cultivated is as diverse as it is nutritious: African leafy vegetables, cabbages, butter nuts, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, spinach, and melons, among others. These climate-resilient crops are specially chosen for their ability to thrive under changing weather conditions.
The impact on farmers’ livelihoods has been immediate and profound. Margaret Etayi is a mother of two university students. “Every week, I earn around Kshs. 3000 from the sales of Kales and Capsicum within the local markets. We contribute 15% back to the group for maintenance and future investments. The rest goes to us. It’s helping pay school fees and put food on the table.” she proudly testifies.
This model of shared prosperity ensures that while individual farmers benefit directly, the group as a whole continues to grow stronger.
The vegetable drying unit extends shelf life of the produce and opens up new income opportunities even as the cooperative explores new markets and value addition strategies in support of the County Government of Busia.
At a time when many rural communities across Kenya are grappling with erratic weather, failed harvests, and shrinking incomes, the Benga Horticulture Park offers a hopeful alternative of climate adaptation in building community resilience. With a total investment of 21.8 million shillings, the project is a shining example of how targeted, community-driven climate action can yield tangible, lasting benefits.
“Since the start of the FLLoCA project our lives have changed greatly, economically and health wise,” says Beatrice Odhiambo, smiling as she stands beside a thriving row of Capsicum and Kales. “We used to struggle with food shortages, but now we are feeding our families and earning money.”
As the sun sets over the flourishing fields of Benga, the vision for growing a greener future is clear. With continued support, training, and investment, the Walatsi Cooperative hopes to expand its operations, introduce new crop varieties, and even venture into agri-processing.
What began as a local solution to a global problem is fast becoming a model for other communities to follow. And as the leaves grow under the sun, so too do the hopes of a community determined not just to survive but to thrive.