The Coast Development Authority (CDA) is set to replant more trees to replace the ones that were cut down from among the 1.3 million Casuarina trees planted in Phase One of the project.
About five years ago, President Uhuru Kenyatta and his entourage toured the second phase of the Chakama Irrigation Scheme Project where CDA had planted 1.3 million Casuarina trees a project that has significantly uplifted the quality of life of local communities here.
The president was impressed because the project came at a time when the global narrative centered on climate change and its adverse impact in the world.
The visit by the president to the little-known village in Malindi County caused such a stir that to this day visitors still tour the area to see for themselves these now-famous trees planted by the Head-of-State. CDA intends to brand them so as to preserve them as ‘hands-off-these-ones’ to prevent them from being cut down. They mean so much to CDA!
The impact of the trees in the area is broad, including changes in the weather pattern. Previously Chakama was a very dry area with very minimal rainfall because of no tree cover however that has now changed tremendously and today the area receive adequate rainfall.
Ms. Jane Mabosha, a farmer in the area claims that since the projects started in 2012 her standard of living has subsequently improved.
She learnt new farming methods through classes facilitated by CDA in the first phase of the project. Ms. Mabosha began a small-scale farmer but through the income she received working for the Chakama project she was able to start irrigation farming which eventually led to an increase in her harvest.
“My family now enjoys stability” she quips.
Mr. Peter Malia is also full of appreciation for CDA because he has a decent home. Mr. Malia said that he purchased casuarina logs from the Authority at a good price which he used to build homes with. “We got a good bargain from the sale of trees that were uprooted and we built decent homes” where previously most of us had grass-thatched houses. He also said that he was happy that CDA was undertaking Phase Two of the project.
He said that by replanting Casuarinas more people will continuously benefit from the project.
The youth in the area are thankful to CDA because once the projects commence they will get jobs. The Authority also sells them the logs at a fair price
Chakama Smallholder Irrigation Project is one of the three projects that are undertaken by the Authority in the region to improve food security.
The project is located in Kilifi County, Malindi sub-county, Chakama Location, Makongeni Sub-location.
In the second phase of the project, CDA intends to increase water and food security through the promotion of irrigation farming among smallholder farmers in Chakama thereby fortifying their resilience to climate change leading to improved living standards.
