The IOM office in Kenya is to help some 5,000 vulnerable farmers
who were affected by post election violence in the Rift Valley
Province with vouchers to purchase vegetable and fruit seedlings,
agro-chemicals and fertilizers.

The Japanese-funded initiative, which begins today in the
district of Uasin Gishu, aims to kick-start agricultural production
in an effort to alleviate the food crisis that is affecting the
Rift Valley, which until recently was Kenya's food
basket. 

"Giving farmers better access to seedlings is crucial to help
them resume sustainable agricultural activities," says IOM's
Regional Representative for East and Central Africa Ashraf El Nour.
"Vouchers will be handed over to the beneficiaries who will in turn
exchange them for various farming inputs."

Many farmers from the Rift Valley were displaced after the
December 2007 elections. As result, 20 per cent of all land in the
Rift Valley remains unfarmed and 230,000 people, mostly internally
displaced persons, are receiving food aid.

Kenya is experiencing widespread food insecurity with 1.2
million people in dire need of food assistance and an estimated 70
per cent of the overall population affected by rising food
prices.

Earlier this year, IOM signed with the government of Japan a USD
7 million agreement to carry out a Shelter and Livelihoods for
Peace and Reconciliation project in the Rift Valley.

The project also aims to fund the construction of 8,000 low cost
semi-permanent shelters, provide livelihood options for 10,000
households and promote an overall culture of peace through the
creation of four Peace Centres and other related activities.

For more information, please contact:

Ashraf El Nour

Tel: +254 728 608 323

E-mail:  "mailto:aelnour@iom.int">aelnour@iom.int

or

Jerotich Seii Houlding

Tel +254 72 86 08 282

E-mail: "mailto:jseiihoulding@iom.int">jseiihoulding@iom.int