Food trees contribute substantially to the food and nutrition security of millions of rural households in Africa. Farming communities prioritize tree and shrub species on farms based on a combination of factors, including their knowledge of potential uses the species' economic potential and a range of constraints and opportunities that...

Smallholder farmers' use of solar-powered water pumps and other equipment creates opportunities to increase productivity and income. However, they generally struggle to get access to financing, quality farm inputs, advisory support and connections to markets. These challenges are felt more acutely by women and other marginalised farmers who typically do...

In the semi-arid lands of southern Kenya, a dynamic process of farmer-led irrigation has developed over the past two decades. It is characterised by short-term agreements to access land and water. Resident and migrant farmers, capital providers and local landowners have engaged in diverse partnerships to benefit from water and...

Partnerships between producer organizations (POs) and enterprises are promoted as a model for structuring value chains to integrate small producers more equitably and sustainably. They offer attractive opportunities, especially for smallholder producers and their organizations. However, they also pose risks, and failures still occur frequently. The lessons learned from capitalizing on four recent experiences...

"The Organic Farmer" (TOF) is the English version of the magazine for small-scale Kenyan farmers who previously had only very limited access to information on ecological farming. It is the only magazine for ecological farming in East Africa. Similarly unique is "Mkulima Mbunifu" (The Smart Farmer), the edition of TOF in Swahili....

This paper provides an early assessment of the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and of subsequent response measures on milk production, collection, processing, marketing and consumption in Africa. We focus on the period surrounding the first wave of the outbreak (from February to June 2020), during which the number of...

In Africa, agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP) accounts for more than 20 percent of the total GDP. The farmers’ income is mainly from the farming industry, and it accounts for more than 80 percent of total household income. However, despite Africa’s plentiful agricultural resources, the continent still faces serious food...

Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) Approach is an extension and advisory approach, aiming to help farmers to access and benefit from markets by changing their mindset from “Grow and Sell” to “Grow to Sell”.   It was developed through the technical cooperation project in Kenya and managed to double the...

Farmers in Kenya’s arid Tharaka Nithi county are growing fresh vegetables thanks to the use of an organic fertilizer known as bokashi. Made from a mix of farmyard waste, bokashi adds both nutrients and microorganisms to the soil, unlike chemical fertilizers that add only nutrients that are quickly consumed or washed...

For better nutrition outcomes, national fisheries and food policies in Kenya should include aquaculture in developing positive attitudes towards consumption of value-added fish products. Fish has become an important component of food systems in the global agenda for nutrition and food security, with the fisheries and aquaculture sector providing essential protein...

The impact of COVID 19 on food security in Africa has been among the most widely discussed subjects since the first cases of COVID-19 in Africa broke in February 2020. Most of the narratives were alarming. The headlines put Africa at the brink of an unprecedented humanitarian crisis caused by...

The Kenyan topbar hive is having great success in African and is gaining popularity in other continents. This hive model allows the transition from a traditional beekeeping with fixed comb hives, to a more sophisticated, but still easy to practice beekeeping. In fact, the advantage of this hive model is...

The following is an inspiring story from Kenya. "I don't use pesticides and inorganic fertilizers at all because my goal is to ensure that I farm sustainably," Kuria, who is among a rising number of farmers in the east African nation adopting the methods, told Xinhua in a recent interview.This...

“If we don't support retailers, wholesalers, logistics in the organic value chain: we compromise organic produce being available to more people on the African continent.” Sylvia Kuria gives her call to action for policymakers on #IGrowYourFood 🇰🇪

La récupération des eaux de pluie est le captage et la concentration de l’eau de ruissellement à la surface du sol avant qu’elle ne s’écoule dans un ruisseau ou une rivière. L’eau de pluie ainsi collectée sert pour des travaux agricoles, des besoins ménagers ou autres. Cette technologie décrit des...

Crossbred milking goats have proved to be a popular source of cash income, household daily milk requirements, and manure for smallholder farmers in medium to high potential zones of Kenya. The three-quarter Toggenburg crossbred appears to be the most suitable in terms of both milk production and growth rates. This...

The following provides features of improved stores facilities for grains. It also details the advantages and disadvantages of this practice? which include labour saving, livelihood resilience strengthening, livelihood diversification, skills, equipment, cost, and risk.

Half of the 1.5 billion people globally who rely on forest landscapes for subsistence and cash income are women. Many see the benefits of participating in various forest and farm producer organisations (FFPOs). These include both general community, smallholder farmer and indigenous people’s organisations and more specific women-only groups –...

Small-holder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa are experiencing the negative impacts of climate change. The vulnerable exposure to frequent extreme weather conditions, increased risk of pests, water deficiency among others has a direct negative effect on food production. The women face higher risks and greater burdens from the impacts of climate...

The following technology provides features about the use of improved seeds and less labour-intensive crops. It also details the advantages and disadvantages of their use. The advantages include labour-saving, livelihood resilience strengthening, livelihood diversification, inputs, skills, cost and infrastructure. Disadvantages include inputs, costs, infrastructure and risk.  Description Plant seeds are saved from...