Bachuki’s family had faced years of hardship. Two of his five children have disabilities, his wife became bedridden after illness, and their house had been destroyed in a powerful windstorm. The sole caregiver for his family, Bachuki was unable to work and struggled to support his family, “I think every day about how to save my family.”
But a small plot of land behind their new home provided fresh hope, when Bachuki learned about an IOCC program in his village.
The program showed Bachuki and his family how to sow seeds for rare crops during the winter and early spring. He learned how to transplant the seedlings and received training in irrigation and general plot maintenance.
IOCC supplied seeds, fertilizers, and a drip irrigation system, including pipes and reservoirs with all necessary joints and taps. Pumps, electrical cables, and pipes were installed to connect the drip irrigation system to the main water source in the house, and cassettes were provided for the seedling production.
“IOCC helped me keep going,” Bachuki said. He continued, “they showed me how to use my small piece of land in winter to grow crops we can sell. This is not just training, it’s hope. If this small plot succeeds, I will use a larger one next year for cash crops, which will help me handle this tough life.”
Bachuki’s experience is also shared by others in his community. A total of 30 families in the region will benefit from this IOCC program.
One of Bachuki’s sons has learned to sow winter and early spring seedlings. Photo courtesy of IOCC
