Across West Pokot County, hope is being stored in the most unexpected of places, carefully dug farm ponds. From Sebit in Pokot South to Masol in Pokot Central, and Asilong in Pokot North, communities are uniting under the Food Security and Climate Change Adaptation (FOSECCA) project to secure water and build resilience.
Turning Water into Security
Farm ponds are deceptively simple yet life-changing. By capturing rainwater during the wet season, they provide farmers with a reliable source of water long after the rains have stopped. This water sustains crops, nourishes livestock, and even supports household use, reducing dependence on erratic weather patterns.
The importance of farm ponds stretches far beyond their size:
Boosting food security by ensuring irrigation for crops.
Supporting livelihoods through water for livestock and small-scale horticulture.
Increasing resilience to climate change by buffering communities against drought.
Sustainable impact by encouraging efficient and innovative water use.
Communities at Work
At each site,Sebit, Masol, and Asilong, the story is the same: people coming together with determination. Farmers, organized into Common Interest Groups (CIGs), contribute their energy, knowledge, and cooperation to make the ponds a reality.
These ponds are more than infrastructure. They are symbols of community-driven resilience, proof that when people unite for a common purpose, they can overcome the challenges of climate change.
A Countywide Transformation
The expansion of farm ponds across multiple sub-counties shows a shift in mindset: from waiting for rains to proactively securing water for the future. Each pond dug is not just a structure in the soil, but a promise of greener harvests, healthier families, and thriving communities.
For ADS North Rift and its partners in the FOSECCA project, this is only the beginning. The lessons learned in Sebit, Masol and Asilong will guide more communities in adopting water-smart solutions.
Building a Future Together
As climate change continues to affect rainfall and food production, the resilience of West Pokot communities will depend on sustainable solutions like farm ponds. These efforts demonstrate that resilience is not an abstract concept, it is dug, shaped, and filled drop by drop.
Where farm ponds are built, hope is harvested. And where water is secured, life flourishes.
