Residents of Loima sub-county are set to benefit from a new food security programme funded and implemented by the Child Fund.Deputy Governor Peter Lotethiro received a briefing from a delegation from implementing partner Frontiers Children Development Organization (FCDO), a local subsidiary of Child Fund.
The team led by Project Coordinator Peter Kamais informed the DG that the three-year project will invest in orange-fleshed sweet potato and targets over 12000 beneficiaries.
The crop will be planted in irrigation schemes along the River Turkwel.Five acres from each irrigation scheme will be utilised with support to children in ECDE centres.
The coordinator said the organization will rehabilitate existing structures after the success of a pilot project conducted in Kolioro irrigation scheme.
Deputy Governor urged the team to collaborate with the County Government departments to ensure integration of the programme into County Government priorities.
He said joint implementation of feeding programme with the Ministry of Education will support efforts to improve retention of pupils in school and boost their nutrition levels.
He said the County Government was appealing for partners support in development of ECDE sector after initial investment in basic infrastructure including schools.
To ensure continued funding, the DG encouraged the organisation set achievable targets suited to donor funds to avoid spreading thin available resources.
He advised the FCDO to come up with additional proposals for additional grants to implement similar projects in other parts of Turkana.
The delegation included Project Officer Joseph Etabo and Field Officer Patrick Lokwayen.