Huge water find in Kenya means sustainable lifestyles for citizens
In fall of 2013, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced the discovery of almost 200 billion cubic meters of freshwater beneath the dry, desert ground—enough to supply the entire country of 41.6 million people enough water for 70 years, including the 17 million Kenyans that currently lack access to safe water.
For decades northern Kenya has been a drought-stricken desert with little access to water.
Farmers in Turkana, Kenya have found it difficult to herd livestock and keep them alive. Each day has presented a new challenge of meeting basic survival needs. Cattle die frequently because there is no water for them to drink or pasture for them to graze.
Ranchers also worry about others stealing cattle to make up for the deaths caused by yearly droughts.
Although this water can drastically alter the well-being of Kenyans for the best, there are
concerns that this natural resource will not be managed in a way to improve sustainability.
“The government needs to help the community understand that beyond drinking the discovered water, money can also come out of this resource by, for instance, using the water to grow cash crops,” economist Arthur Kimani said.
This is exactly what Feed the World is seeking to do. Feed the World is trying to implement sustainable practices around the world that will help people meet their own basic needs.
“This water find in Kenya means great things for the citizens there, but there are still years of work to be done to ensure it is used effectively–that makes Feed the World as important as ever,” said Feed the World’s Bob Hanson.
With this discovery of water, Feed the World can help more farm families provide for the future through sustainable farming. More families will be able to grow greener pastures and provide water for themselves and their cattle. They will see fewer deaths among their livestock and produce more goods and food.
Feed the World is giving families a brighter future, it is helping to solve global hunger, and it is finding a way to maintain a solution.
