From Training to Action: Climate-Smart Farming Takes Root in Gella

Turning knowledge into action is critical for lasting impact. Following intensive training on climate-smart agricultural practices, Alimat Care Foundation, with support from UNDP GEF-SGP, officially launched farming activities on the Gella climate-smart demonstration farm through the distribution of improved seeds and renewable-energy-powered farm inputs.

The one-day activity marked a major milestone in operationalising the project Indigenous Erosion Control Through Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices. The demonstration farm serves as a living classroom where farmers can see, practice, and replicate climate-resilient solutions within their own farms.

Improved seed varieties, solar panels, and solar-powered generators were deployed as shared community resources to support sustainable irrigation and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Two hundred (200) trained farmers were mobilised and organised into 10 farm clusters, each responsible for a demonstration plot.

Leadership was intentionally structured to promote inclusion — women occupied 60% of cluster leadership roles, reinforcing their role in agricultural decision-making and climate action. In addition, 20 girls aged 15–25 were supported with seeds and inputs for sack farming at household level, while 30 older women received plots for soya bean cultivation to strengthen livelihoods and food security.

Traditional leaders, including the Hakimi and Ardo of Gella, officially opened the activity, underscoring strong community ownership. They commended the intervention as the first of its kind in the community and encouraged accountability and collective responsibility in managing project resources.

By bridging training with practical implementation, the demonstration farm is already fostering innovation, leadership, and climate resilience, ensuring that sustainable agriculture in Gella is not just learned, but lived.