More than 300,000 farmers in horticulture and dairy value chains in Kenya are among the beneficiaries of a five-year-long training programme by USAID that seeks to increase crop yields.
The Kenya Crops and Dairy Market Systems (KCDMS) project aims to boost agricultural output, reduce poverty, and address malnutrition by promoting competitive, inclusive, and resilient market systems within the horticulture and dairy sectors.
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Robert Mwadime, the Chief Party of the initiative, highlighted that the project, which commenced in 2017 and concluded in 2022, has successfully created a “conducive environment for businesses to thrive.”
“The initiative has laid the foundation for sustainable growth and development in the agricultural sector,” he said.
The agency’s interventions are currently being implemented in 12 counties, including in the high-rainfall regions of Western Kenya and the semi-arid counties in the Eastern part of the country.
The interventions encompass a range of activities, such as providing training to communities on agribusiness to enhance their incomes and livelihoods.
The initiative also involves collaborating with national and county governments to facilitate the production and accessibility of drought-tolerant seeds for semi-arid regions.
Additionally, promoting conservation agriculture techniques is another aspect of the project aimed at improving productivity among smallholder farmers.
During the course of the project, Mwadime highlighted that the initiative successfully provided nutrition interventions to nearly 150,000 children under the age of two and their carers.
This achievement was made possible through partnerships with key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, as well as civil society organizations.
“We identified agricultural growth challenges by co-investing in proven solutions to build resilience and sustain growth,” he said.
Nevertheless, he urged private and other stakeholders to intensify their collaborative efforts and pool resources together to uplift the livelihoods of farmers in the country.
He stressed that the goal is to collectively work towards improving the overall conditions and well-being of farmers.
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“The agricultural sector is the backbone of the country’s economy but unfortunately the producers continue to face constraints that limit the growth and perpetuate food insecurity,” he said.
Nathan, a farmer from Kitui who specialises in cultivating cowpeas and green grammes, expressed gratitude for the involvement of KCDMS, as it has significantly boosted his crop yields.
“With KCDMS, I’m now experiencing substantial improvements in my farming practices, leading to increased productivity and better outcomes for my crops,” he said.
