Greening Horticulture in Naivasha

The European Union funded SWITCH Africa Green Programme Phase II that aims at supporting African countries to transit to inclusive green economy through promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) practices was officially launched in the month of June in Nairobi.
 
WWF-Kenya is the lead implementer of the Green Horticulture at Lake Naivasha (GOALAN) project. The project runs between 2018-2021.
 
During his speech WWF-Kenya CEO, Mohamed Awer thanked the European Union for their support. He added that, “The support by the European Union (EU) is apt and timely as it will provide economic opportunities through job creation especially among the youth and women who form the majority of the unemployed, whilst promoting environmental sustainability.”
 
The project will be implemented in Lake Naivasha Basin in the three counties of Nakuru, Nyandarua and Narok. These areas produce 70% of the country’s floriculture; a sector that overall contributes to almost 1.3% of the country’s GDP and a lifeline to the local communities.
 
Mrs. Magdalene Mbutu a beneficiary of the project was elated at the future prospects, “Access to finance for women will come in handy and will especially address lack of security/collateral in a widely patriarchal society for youth and woman to venture into agribusiness.”
 
“Through the project, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) will increase their net income and access to agri-business loans, selling certified products to untapped high-end markets while reducing impact on the environment coupled with increase in resilience to climate change. We will also ensure that the youth form 30% of the project beneficiaries so as to address issues of poverty and increase their income base while also taking care of the future of green horticulture in the basin” said Dr. William Ojwang, WWF-Kenya’s Africa Rift Lakes Programme Manager.
 
The project builds on WWF-Kenya’s experiences in Lake Naivasha, greening the horticulture sector, sustainable water management and building sustainable livelihoods, as well as on our recent and growing involvement in the worldwide 10-Year Framework Programme (10YFP) on Sustainable Consumption and Production.