Introduction

Agriculture contributes about half of the global emissions and these are the two of the most potent non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases: nitrous oxide and methane (World Bank, 2008). This therefore places agriculture responsible for 15% of the total greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.

Several social, Environmental and economic constraints that threaten the resource base that agriculture depends on and the marginalization of smallholder farmers’ rights, production practices and knowledge are highly hindering sustainable food production systems thereby widening vulnerability levels amongst local communities.

Moreover, agricultural systems have a stronger potential to enhance food security and nutrition among small holder farming communities. A shift towards having Ecological Organic Farming techniques has therefore been seen as a system that could enable food sustainability and provide a set of farmer friendly productive solutions.

With the existence of diverse local resources and as a means of mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change, EOA has focused on attaining a balanced food system designed to enhance biological diversity, promotes healthy use of soils, air and water; relying on renewable resource in locally organized agricultural systems.

The practices under Ecological Organic Agriculture has the potential to increase soil biological activity, maintain long-term fertility and sustain the health of soils through bio-diversity processes while minimizing the addition of external inputs like agrochemicals and inorganic fertilizers that may have adverse effects on the ecosystem.

The whole approach of EOA combines modern science, innovative practices and tradition to promote good relationships of the various environmental elements.

Objectives of the project/ intervention/ organization

The main goal of EOA as a project is Scaling up and institutionalizing of agro ecology in Kisumu County for enhanced resilience to climate change.

The project has been directly targeting 20 schools and 20 diverse community farmer groups within Nyando Sub-County in Kisumu County.

The project objectives include:

• To enhance food and nutrition security through promotion of agro-ecology practices among the small holder farmers and participating schools
• To promote adoption agro-ecology through awareness creation and education using social media, and other technologies like bulk SMS’, videos, write ups that are shared through appropriate platforms.
• To promote adoption agro-ecology through awareness creation and education using social media, and other technologies like bulk SMS’, videos, write ups that are shared through appropriate platforms.
• To lobby and advocate for enactment of agro ecology policies or incorporation of agro ecology in existing policies during their review

EOA Project offers a wide range of community farmer groups trainings and direct engagements with other like-minded stakeholders during the implementation processes.

 EOA projects key achievements

• Influencing county government departments of Agriculture and Environment of Kisumu and Homabay to incorporate Agro ecology principle and practices in their CIDP s and ADP plans through partnership and advocacy.
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• Increased adoption of agro ecology practices and principles among the 48 groups that the organization has been working with on the EOA project from the year 2018.
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• Enhanced diversification of farm enterprises amongst 58 farmer groups and 10 schools in Kisumu county and 16 groups in Homa Bay County
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• Enhanced co-creation and knowledge sharing among farmers within the 2 project targeted Counties. This has been enhanced through the use of activity videos and social media sites.
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• Enhanced networking and collaboration with other likeminded stakeholders including the Government line ministries.
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• Enhanced households and learners’ nutritional status amongst the 10 targeted schools and 48 groups.