Mr. Onyango, County Executive Committee Member Agriculture – Kisumu and Mildred -USAID/Kenya holding the CANIS. Photo Credit: Lorraine Opondo

On May 11, 2023, a team from USAID Advancing Nutrition handed over the first-ever Kisumu County Agri-Nutrition Implementation Strategy (CANIS) 2023–2027 to the County Executive Member for Agriculture, Mr. Onyango. The development of the CANIS was a collaborative effort between the multi-sectoral nutrition coordination team and the County Agri-Nutrition Unit in the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Irrigation, with financial and technical support from USAID Advancing Nutrition.

This major milestone provides strategic guidance for decision makers at the county and community levels, as well as the public and private sectors, to implement interventions that promote accelerated benefits for all. Emphasizing increased productivity, irrigation, and expanded markets, the strategy aims to enhance access to and availability of nutritious food for families and communities.

Despite Kisumu County’s potential to produce enough food for its population, the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey revealed that 9 percent of children between 5 and 59 months in the county suffer from stunting, 3.5 percent are underweight, and 3 percent wasting.

An integrated food system is a key sustainable approach to ensuring food and nutrition security. To achieve this, the CANIS underscores the importance of building and sustaining linkages, reducing malnutrition levels through coordination between state and non-state actors, and empowering communities to produce and consume nutritious and safe foods. This multi-sectoral approach aims to contribute to reducing food insecurity by ensuring access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food at all times and by helping to feed children with the right frequency and dietary diversity needed to grow and develop to their full potential.

The strategy aligns with Kenya's Fourth Medium Term Plan (2023–2027) of Vision 2030, with a specific focus on food security and irrigation, as well as Sustainable Development Goals 2, 3, and 12, which address zero hunger, good health, and responsible consumption and production.

The strategy will be implemented by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, Livestock, and Irrigation in collaboration with other state actors that include the Departments of Health, Water, Education and Social Services. The non-state actors involved include the Food and Agriculture Organization and local civil society organizations.

During the launch event, Madam Mildred Irungu, Agriculture and Nutrition Specialist from the Office of Economic Growth and Integration USAID/Kenya, expressed appreciation for Kisumu County's active involvement and ownership of USAID-funded projects in the region.

Read more on Kisumu County’s webpage