In Embu, Kenya, there used to be regular rainfall patterns and fertile soil, allowing farmers to grow staple crops such as maize, bananas and beans in abundance. Farmers could produce enough food to supply many communities and earn a reliable living.
Today, things are looking very different. Extreme weather and a growing population have led to soil degradation, making it difficult for farmers to grow enough to feed their own families, let alone enough to sell. The ‘food basket’ that thousands rely on to survive is almost empty, and malnutrition is becoming a serious problem in many parts of Kenya.
Through training, Farm Africa is helping farmers in Embu develop the agricultural and business skills they need to adapt to these challenging times and replenish the food basket.
A network of Village-Based Advisors receive in-depth training in regenerative agriculture practices from Farm Africa, focused on boosting soil health to give crops the best chance of thriving, even in drought conditions. The VBAs share their skills with hundreds more farmers, creating a chain reaction of change.
As a trained VBA, Juliet is a farmer who’s been able to turn around fortunes not just on her own farm, but on the farms of hundreds of her neighbours, mainly other women.
Juliet told us: “Before I joined the project, my yields were low. I was not getting any profit from farming.
“Since joining with Farm Africa, we have learnt about regenerative agriculture. Due to climate change, sometimes it rains when it is not supposed to be raining. When it is supposed to be dry, it is raining and when we are expecting rain, it comes a little and then it moves. After using the regenerative agriculture practices, using mulching materials, using manure, the crop will be strong as it resists all that sunshine and at least you will get a little yield. We learnt all these techniques from Farm Africa.
“After using the regenerative agriculture practices, you increase your yields, so you are able to sustain yourself. You get enough food for your family and then the rest you sell. You pay for school fees and your other family needs.”
Now Juliet has finished her training, she’s relishing having moved from being a student to a teacher.
She said: “Farm Africa usually come to our farm, the field officers, we do everything with them. Since we started in 2021, now we are expert. Now we can do without them. I enjoy training farmers on regenerative agriculture practices and also on starting at small businesses to sustain themselves and not to rely on their husbands. I enjoy this so much, so much. I’m very happy when my farmers become successful.
“In this area, regenerative agriculture has really helped women because before they were planting, they were harvesting, but the harvest was not enough. Due to climate change, the rains are less, so after adopting the regenerative agriculture practices (that is use of manure, minimum tillage, use of mulching materials and micro-dosing) their yields are much more than they were before. Women usually use their money for their families.”
One of her enthusiastic, and grateful, students is nearby neighbour Grace (pictured above (l) with Juliet (r)), who told us: “Before I joined the project, when my yields were low, sometimes you find that you do not have enough food to eat. So you find the budget is not going well.
“I have been involved with the Farm Africa project since 2021, through Juliet. She has been teaching me through groups how to use regenerative agriculture, how to farm, good farming: preparing manure, planting, crop rotation. It has been very productive. I have realised when you have used these methods from Farm Africa, even if the rains fail, you will get something. This place, there’s a lack of rainfall. If you can use manure and fertiliser, you will get good yields, even if the rainfall is little, you will get something.
“Before the project I was about to quit farming, but I now have plenty of food to eat and some I can sell so that I can pay for school fees for my children and there is enough food in the store so I don’t lack. I don’t need to buy food. I have enough for me and my family and even a neighbour. When a neighbour passes by, I can give her some. It has made my life less stressful, very much.
“We are very happy, and we pray you continue supporting us so that we can be able to use this method and help others. Now the climate is changing, it is of great help so that we can increase our yield.”
All-female team aim to raise £75k to support female farming in Kenya
A team of women from the UK food and farming industry are now set to cycle 75km across Kenya to raise funds and awareness for Farm Africa.
The GROW for Good Challenge, which stands for Growing Resilience and Opportunities for Women, is hoping to raise £75k. This will go towards supporting Farm Africa’s work, helping small-scale farmers in eastern Africa to grow and sell more, while adapting to climate change and protecting the environment.
This challenge will begin on 20 October. In the lead up, Farm Africa is inviting both corporate and individual sponsors to support the challenge. These partnerships not only help team GROW to reach their fundraising goals, but also provide businesses with a platform to showcase their commitment to sustainability and women’s empowerment.
Details on corporate sponsorship can be found here, and the GROW team can be sponsored via their online team fundraising page here.
For more information on the challenge please contact Anissa Msallem on foodforgood@farmafrica.org
