Learning institutions in semi-arid areas of Laikipia County have been encouraged to devise innovative ways of water harvesting to cushion them from unpredicted weather patterns.The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) CEO Lt Col (Rtd) Hared Adan speaking in Uaso Nyiro Primary school in Segera ward, Laikipia North Sub County said that they had partnered with learning institutions to address challenges of unprecedented issues of climate change.The NDMA CEO underscored the importance of water harvesting noting they had provided about 81 water tanks to schools in Laikipia aimed at supporting them practice farming and ensure learners had food to bolster education in the county.'We have supported 48 schools with water tanks and some 69 others where we have planted 5000 fruit trees aimed at addressing the issues of climate change,' said Ltd Col (Rtd) Adan.NMDA technical committee Chairman Koome Kiragu pointed out that they had also launched a fruit trees' growing initiative in schools in dry parts of Laikipia in partnership with learning institutions, a strategy which he revealed was successful.'This area is very dry (Laikipia North) but I'm happy to see the survival rate of fruits we planted is over 97 percent and in four months' learners will be having fruits in schools,' said Kiragu.On his part, Segera ward Member of County Assembly Salim Edum urged residents to embrace donor funded projects aimed at uplifting their lives.Source: Kenya News Agency