Tag: Climate Change

From Local Gardens to Global Stages – My 2024 Christmas Edition

As the year draws to a close and the holiday season wraps its warmth around us, I find myself reflecting on a whirlwind 2024—a year filled with immense growth, high highs, low lows and the kind of moments that shape a lifetime; a year that whisked me from local gardens to global stages. I began #My2024Purview on LinkedIn as I synthesize and share the learnings from the amazing months that made 2024 what it is to date. This year has been one rollercoaster ride of a journey, and just like a good Christmas story, it’s one of coming full circle. This Christmas feels extra special, not only for the joy the festive season brings, but also for the pain, loss, healing, adventure and lessons gained thus far. The Journey Begins: A snowy start I crossed into 2024 from the United States of America, where I ushered in the New Year from Missouri, Columbia. I enjoyed the beautiful snow-capped scenery and the darkness that came alive with all the Christmas lights. I have been to the U.S. before, but mostly to New York and on official assignment. Therefore, being in a “quiet town” during the holidays was a welcome change – it was very cutesy and very demure. Missouri is a key agricultural state in the Midwest region of the U.S. and is known for its farming activities across both its rural and central regions. The state is home to many farms, and farming is a key part of the culture and economy. Inasmuch as I was on vacation, being in a “farming state” couldn’t help but make me think of the farmers and how they contribute greatly to the state’s economy – much like in my home country, Kenya. My father is a farmer, so it goes without saying that farmers hold a special place in my heart. <3 Even while on holiday, I took time to appreciate the intricacies of food systems, and our shared responsibility to make those systems sustainable. I came across flavoured corn kernels for the first time and it had me thinking of what more we could do to add value to maize back home. It planted a seed of thought – pun intended- that would bloom as the year unfolded. April: From Kenya to Ghana – Bridging Borders April began on a high note with the Kenya-Ghana Business Forum that was held in Accra, Ghana on April 2nd 2024. The forum provided a platform for fostering bilateral trade and investment opportunities between the two nations. Graced by the Heads of State of both Ghana and Kenya, it was inspiring to witness the commitment of leaders and entrepreneurs in leveraging collaboration for economic growth. The exhibition booths at the summit comprised mostly of youth agripreneurs and I was excited to see a few favourites have their stalls there. May: Empowering Youth – Building Decent Jobs for the Future By May, I was in the vibrant city of Kigali, Rwanda, for the Decent Jobs for Youth Convening organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The theme was Young, Green and Digital: Global Conference of Decent Jobs for Youth. The event underscored the importance of empowering young people with opportunities that not only secure livelihoods but also align with sustainable development. The discussions ranged from entrepreneurship to policy advocacy, each reinforcing the power of collaboration in addressing youth unemployment. June: Better is the end of a thing than its Beginning – Embracing Change in the Wake of Loss The subtitle aptly alludes to what this month brought to my lap – loss. The unexpected. The unimagined. The loss was so hard and so unceremonious that it took me more than four months to merely allude to it, but could not talk about it in depth. Oh my word! It was painful. However, I grieved not as one without hope, as the Bible says. God sent me His army to comfort me, to strengthen me, to encourage me, and to lift my chin up. God’s army was made up of the sweetest, high-achieving, funny agripreneurs. Yes, I work within the food systems arena, but this is also my life. These “stakeholders” are my people – my family, my friends, my clients, my vendors, my neighbors, my advisors, my mentors, my confidantes, my churchmates, my teachers, my classmates, my mentees, my soon-to-be employees…. most of whom are in the ag. space. In essence, I never “clock out” from food systems. My all-day, day-to-day is comprised of a living, breathing multistakeholder ecosystem. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Exodus 17: 11 – 13 NKJV These amazing, God-sent individuals anecdotally held my hands up when they were heavy, and they put the stone upon which I sat. Their prayers, calls, gifts, food, hugs, flowers, money, shopping, words of encouragement, nominations and recommendations to opportunities, and so much more; left an indelible mark in my heart. A simple thank you may never be enough but I told God to bless them each in a very special way. <3 Home for the Holidays: A Full Circle Moment As the year winds down, I’m back in Mombasa, reflecting on everything that has unfolded. Time fails me to mention about the months between June and now, but that’s what sequels are for. 😉 I will write about it before the year ends. 🙂 The fruits from my father’s orchard—bananas, mangoes, custard apple, avocados—serve as a sweet reminder of the simple yet profound connections we have to the land. The same land that nourishes us, feeds us, and sustains us, just like the

When we Change, the Climate Changes

Knock! Knock!Who’s there? Climate.Climate who? Climate Change. Global warming a reality dear reader. The effects of climate change are glaring in our faces.It’s all fun and games until the rains become inconsistent and the droughts and famines become increasingly grave. The level of deforestation is at an all time high and the rate of desertification is extremely alarming but still, we remain complacent in taking action. Let’s look at the ripple effects of climate change: Lack of rains also mean that the water levels in the hydro-electric power turbines are diminishing by the day and high chances are that power rationing may be the next stop gap measure in managing the limited resources. You know what that means? The electricity bills will be astronomically high – Kenyans are already feeling the pinch as it is. Yes, climate change affects more than just the weather; it affects our day to day lives in all aspects; food, health, finances, industry and every other paradigm. It is high time that farmers shift their focus from rain fed agriculture to more climate resilient farm practices. Gone are the days when the weather man’s report would be what dictates the onset of the planting season. It’s high time that the Kenyan farmer becomes proactive in employing climate smart agricultural practices. Climate change threatens to diminish crop yields, harming food security. Developing the potential to increase the productivity and incomes from smallholder crop, livestock, fish and forest production systems will be the key to achieving global food security and hopefully, achieve vision 2030 in the little time we have left. The proof is in: climate-smart agriculture can help farmers adapt to climate change and lift them out of poverty while at the same time mitigating the impact of human activities on climate change. Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is an approach to help the people who manage agricultural systems respond effectively to climate change.  The CSA approach pursues the triple objectives of: (a) sustainably increasing productivity and incomes –food security– (b) adapting to climate change –adaptation– and (c) reducing greenhouse gas emissions where possible –mitigation-. Climate-smart agriculture includes techniques such as agroforestry, intercropping, conservation agriculture, crop rotation, integrated crop-livestock management and improved water management. CSA relates to actions both on-farm and beyond the farm, and incorporates technologies, policies, institutions and investment. I wonder if many of us right now, across a multitude of cross cutting persuasions, see ourselves taking action in the fragility of our political, social, financial and environmental hopes. Climate action is up to you and me. What can YOU do to curb or mitigate climate change in your own way? In the words of Greta Thunberg, “…I want you to act as you would in a crisis. I want you to act as if the house was on fire—because it is“. Amanda Namayi

Reflections on World Food Day

World Food Day, observed on October 16th every year, serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for food security and sustainability in a world threatened by climate change. For a young African climate advocate like me, this day is not just a mere observance but a call to action, an opportunity to amplify the voices of millions who face the brunt of food insecurity due to the impacts of a changing climate.