The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, in collaboration with the Cereal Growers Association, has embarked on a project to empower 125,000 smallholder farmers across five counties in Kenya.
The initiative, Promoting Sustainable Farming Practices and Inclusive Markets and Trade for Smallholder Farmers in Kenya, seeks to improve food and nutrition security in Kisumu, Vihiga, Nandi, Machakos, and Kakamega counties over the next three years.
Farmers will be trained on soil fertility management, post-harvest handling, digital tools, business coaching, and enterprise development to help them transition from subsistence to commercial farming.
Dr Abed Kiwia, a Programme Officer at AGRA, emphasised the importance of sustainable food systems for ensuring long-term access to nutritious, safe, and culturally appropriate food.
“This programme supports farmers in adopting climate-smart agricultural practices such as crop-livestock integration, water conservation, and organic farming. These practices are key to ensuring the sustainability of agricultural production in the face of climate change,” Dr. Kiwia said.
He said the initiative will promote diversity by focusing on value chains that align with the crops best suited to each region. This will enhance the farmers' resilience to climate shocks like droughts and floods.
Dr Moses Mwanje from CGA said the roll-out would benefit about 25,000 farmers in selected counties by exposing them to climate-resilient farming techniques and mechanised equipment to bolster sustainable practices.
The farmers will be connected to ready markets where they can sell their produce at fair prices mitigating post-harvest losses.
The initiative brings together key players across the agricultural value chain, from production to marketing. Farmers will benefit from easier access to essential farm inputs such as fertilisers, improved seeds, and pesticides.
In addition, financial institutions will be engaged to provide credit solutions, while the University of Eldoret will oversee knowledge management and monitor the project’s impact.
“We have incorporated off-takers, aggregators, input providers, agro-dealers, and the national and county governments. Farmers are assured to obtain farm inputs like fertiliser, improved seed, and pesticides from input suppliers. They will be able to access money from the financing institutions to boost their farms,” he said.
Mwanje said CGA is implementing the project in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and the selected county governments, which have already identified sustainable agriculture as a priority for intervention.
