Mara Region Farmer's Initiative Project

The main objectives of the project were to increase food security and reduce poverty in the Mara region.

There are three geographical zones in the Mara region. The lakeshore zone comprises a strip of land along Lake Victoria, the midlands is a transition area stretching between the lakeshore and the Tarime highlands, and the highlands is an area with great agricultural potential at an altitude of 1,500 to 1,800 meters above sea level.

The project’s target group included smallholders with less than 1.62 ha of land in the lakeshore zone and with less than 4.05 ha in the midlands and highlands.

The project's goals included:

• improving production of staple foods such as cassava, sweet potatoes and beans
• diversifying income sources by introducing cash crops such as cotton, coffee, chickpeas and sunflower
• linking farmers to markets by building roads
• reducing water scarcity through improved water management
• introducing integrated pest management to reduce environmental degradation

Source: IFAD