The Project in One Minute
True Development Turkana Campus is a proposed pilot site near Lodwar where food production, land restoration, solar energy, local training and simple farm technology are developed together — on up to five hectares, starting with one. The goal is not just a good first harvest, but a farm, a trained local team and a way of working that still function years later and can be copied elsewhere.
What it is
A planned demonstration and training site: a farm built around careful water use and soil restoration, a hands-on academy for local farmers and workers, and a small lab that measures what actually works.
Where it happens
Near Lodwar, Turkana County, Kenya — a region highly exposed to climate change, but with one of the world's best solar resources, mapped freshwater aquifers that must be managed carefully, and deep local land knowledge.
Why it matters
Past local agricultural schemes often failed due to governance and maintenance gaps. This project builds durability in from the start.
How to help
We are seeking research partners, NGOs, universities, technical experts, and pilot-stage funders to bring this model to life.
The Pillars of True Development
Everything rests on water and soil. On that foundation sit three working parts: a demonstration farm, a training academy and a monitoring lab. Hover over each ring to explore.
Hover over any ring or segment to explore the pillars of True Development.
Why This Project is Different
Many agricultural schemes in Turkana have failed within three years of launch. We design directly against these historical failure modes.
Designed for Durability ( Lodwar Region Context )
Conventional Schemes (Historical Failures)
- Weak Local Capacity Systems collapse when external organisations leave and local operators lack technical maintenance skills.
- Maintenance Gaps Borehole pumps or drip systems break and are never repaired because there is no reserve budget or supply chain.
- Input-Dependent Monocultures Growing standard vegetable monocultures makes the farm highly vulnerable to pests, heat stress, and water depletion.
- Ownership & Trust Disputes Top-down projects implemented without clear benefit-sharing or community representation often face disputes.
True Development Turkana Campus
- The Academy Integration Trainees learn to operate, fix, and replicate systems, embedding technical expertise inside the community.
- Dedicated Maintenance Reserve Equipment upkeep and spare parts are explicitly budgeted and cross-subsidised by earned training revenues.
- Proven Species First, Trials Clearly Labelled The backbone is drought-proven native trees and dryland crops that build soil, retain water and shade the ground; syntropic layering and agrivoltaics run as small, measured trials that never put the whole farm at risk.
- Phased Local Governance A local advisory council and a transparent hybrid nonprofit model build community trust and local alignment.
Target Pilot Indicators
We measure success based on ecological health, local training, job creation, and long-term durability metrics.