For Mary Khasoa, agriculture has always been a passion, but managing the seven-acre farm left to her by her late father was a whole different challenge.
Like many Kenyan smallholder farmers, she struggled for years to rely on her farm for income, resorting to subsistence farming to feed her family due to unpromising yields, erratic weather caused by climate change, costly farm inputs, and a lack of knowledge.
Cutting back on the area under cultivation seemed like the only option until recently when a project funded by the European Union promoting agro-ecological practices transformed her farm into a productive venture.
“I never imagined that I could comfortably live off farming, let alone educate my children up to university, save and invest in other economic activities,” she says shyly.
Surrounded by banana plants, coffee, indigenous vegetables, arrowroots and trees, her farm now reflects her unwavering commitment to overcoming poverty.
Agro-ecology involves a range of practices that promote organic agriculture by reducing reliance on external inputs, supporting biodiversity, improving soil health, and mitigating the effects of climate change.
Through practices such as diversified crop farming, recycling and agroforestry, she has enhanced the productivity of her farm, improved soil health and, in turn, gained greater financial independence and value-added opportunities.
“I am food secure and financially stable,” she says. “Thanks to the training I received and the practical experience I gained, I have been able to transform my life and that of my immediate family.”
Khasoa is one of 40,000 small-scale farmers across Bungoma, Nandi, Kakamega, Homa Bay, and Migori counties who are benefiting from the European Union-funded Boosting Sustainable Food Production Action in Kenya (BSFPK) Action, also referred to as BOOST.
This initiative is enhancing productivity through the use of organic, low-cost farm inputs and the adoption of improved agro-ecological practices.
Last year, the EU injected an additional 10 million euros (approximately Ksh 1.37 billion) into the KCEP-CRAL Programme, aiming to cushion smallholder farmers from the adverse impacts of the global crisis exacerbated by the Russian-Ukraine conflict.
The programme also aligns with the European Green Deal, advocating for the use of sustainable, environmentally friendly practices.
Through the initiative, 15,000 farmers have received subsidised organic farm inputs through the e-voucher system, while another 25,000 have benefited from capacity-building initiatives.
“The Boosting Sustainable Food Production in Kenya (BSFPK) Action aims at boosting sustainable food production through the promotion of agro-ecological practices and enhanced access to subsidized agricultural inputs, technologies, and services for targeted beneficiary farmers,” explains Jimmy Mweri, an agronomist with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
FAO, in collaboration with county governments, has utilized demonstration farms donated by local farmers to equip them with comprehensive knowledge of 13 agro-ecological principles through a cascaded training and mentorship programme.
The project, which espouses the government’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and Vision 2030, has further created employment opportunities for 500 trained Agroecology Service Providers (ASPs), mostly youth, who have set up registered hubs offering extension services to farmers.
Additionally, FAO has supported 10 ASP hubs that have prepared sites for nurseries and are collecting seeds of local agroforestry tree species.
BOOST has not only enhanced food security but also provided inputs for demo farms, including seeds, bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, and post-harvest equipment.
“These efforts have created jobs and provided much-needed support to the local agricultural economy besides supporting increased food and nutrition security and higher incomes for everyone involved in specific agricultural value chains, contributing significantly to more inclusive economic development” adds Mweri.
With increasing restrictions on chemical residues in European markets, Mweri sees agro-ecology as a solution that enables farmers to produce high-quality, organic crops that meet international standards.
The shift toward sustainable food systems, which foster interactions between plants, animals, humans, and the environment, has already impacted the lives of 3,780 farmers in Maeni and Kamasielo in Kimilili Sub-county, Bungoma County.
Mary Nakhumicha, a member of one of the farmer groups in Maeni, takes pride in the increased yields and her ability to invest and save.
“Previously, I could only manage a few bags from my farm. But things are different now. My farm has a variety of crops, better soil health, and higher incomes.” she says proudly.
Dr. Stella Wabwoba, the Bungoma BOOST project desk officer, affirms that, alongside productivity gains, diverse agroecological systems deliver better environmental, socio-economic, and nutritional outcomes.
“Farmers are excited about these positive results, and I urge them to focus on preserving seeds. It’s time for every farmer to embrace these practices to protect our environment,” she advises.
