Africa is leading the world in cell phone finance. In Kenya in 2007, Vodaphone started M-Pesa for the mobile network operator, Safaricom. M-Pesa, (from “M” for mobile, and “pesa,” the Kiswahili word for money) offers simple financial services on the phone. Customers go to a small shop to exchange cash...

Farm inputs such as improved seeds, fertilizers, and herbicides are conventionally packaged in large bag sizes that are beyond the financial means of small farmers. The technology demonstrates ways of mobilizing the private sector to make small quantities of appropriate inputs available in mini-packs. It also demonstrates novel ways of...

Malnourished children are as such because in most cases, their families are not able to feed them properly. Poor families lack the financial means to buy adequate foods in proper quantity, quality and diversity. They consequently adopt diets that lack protein, vitamins and other micro-nutrients in particular. The most affected...

The problems related to the lack of land and financial capacity to buy agricultural inputs, especially in slums can be solved by using sack gardens. Earth-filled sacks are placed on doorsteps and used to grow vegetables in. Sack gardens do not require much agricultural land nor much water. They are...

A cause d’une baisse de fertilité des sols, les petites exploitations agricoles en Afrique orientale souffrent d’insécurité alimentaire, d’une chute de rendements de cultures, et d’une pauvreté accrue. Une technique abordable est de produire de soi un compost de bonne qualité, à partir des déchets provenant de d’exploitations et de...

This report describes: (i) policy measures enacted by the Government of Kenya to contain the spread of the virus; (ii) policies and measures to stabilize the functioning of agri-food systems; (iii) potential effects of policies on agri-food systems and vulnerable groups. Finally, the profile also assesses longer-term options for agri-food...

The form of conservation agriculture described in this technology involves the use of ox-drawn ploughs, modified to rip the soil. The aim of ripping is to increase water infiltration and reduce runoff. In contrast to conventional tillage, the soil is not inverted, minimising water loss and improving soil productivity, as...

This video, produced by the Alliance for Food Sovereignty (AFSA) shows the important role of women in saving seeds. As governments across Africa develop laws to deny farmers’ rights to exchange and sell local seeds, women are leading the fight to protect Africa’s sacred biodiversity. The Seed Savers Network Kenya educates, encourages and...

Cette pratique met en évidence certaines considérations relatives à la conversion à l'agriculture biologique en fonction de l'emplacement de la ferme et du climat. Il explique en détail comment entreprendre une analyse de localisation, ainsi que les problèmes de conversion liés aux exploitations (utilisation externe élevée, faible et mixte des...

In Kenya, the COVID-19 youth engagement initiative promoted by FAO was launched through an online survey distributed to various groups of youth in agribusiness, particularly in Kiambu, Siaya and Kakamega Counties, where FAO is currently operating for instance with the Rural youth migration, social protection and sustainable value chains programme. A total of 55...

A seed source is a group of trees growing together from which one can collect seed for multiplication. This may be an identified number of trees in a landscape-farmland/natural forest or a group of trees from which you obtain seeds. A good seed source for trees should provide fast-growing healthy,...

The Laikipia district, in the Rift Valley of Kenya, is located on the plateau north west of Mount Kenya. Due to its leeward position, the district is significantly dry, with aridity increasing from the slopes of the mountain to the dry lowlands. Inadequate rainfall and periods of drought have caused...

Widespread deforestation, natural disasters and human-wildlife conflict are among factors that have diminished Kenya’s forests. The country’s ‘Greening Kenya’ initiative, launched last year, aims to achieve more than 10% forest cover by 2022. The past has seen Kenya put in spirited efforts to protect its forest lands from further degradation. Nonetheless, the...

The Haller Foundation is a UK based charity that was set up in order to educate rural farmers in East Africa on sustainable pioneering farming techniques to maximise their food production and to help build self-sustaining communities. Since our launch back in 2004, we have worked with over 25,000 people...

Every sheep grazing on pasture is infested with one type of worm or the other. Failure to control clinical worm infestation in sheep can result in blood loss, underweight animals, and death. In the case of hydatid disease, which is a disease related to infestation with tapeworm, failure to control...

Throughout Eastern Africa, pressure on land is increasing. Average farm size is decreasing as plots are sub-divided and farmers struggle to find space on their farms to grow subsistence and cash crops as well as to keep livestock. Many farmers would like to keep dairy cows but do not have...

Sand dams are a simple and cost-effective rainwater-harvesting technique which can provide a lifetime supply of clean water within 30 minutes of people’s homes. They can save up to 11.5 hours each day (otherwise spent on collecting water) in periods of drought. A sand dam is a reinforced stone masonry...

At present the need to plant trees on farms is on the increase. It is difficult, however, for smallholders to access – at the right time, in the right quantities and of high quality – the trees that they want to plant. In order to meet present and future demand...

This technology describes the various stages in the vegetative propagation of trees (from tree nursery management to cuttings, grafting, and layering). It is targeted at helping field technicians and nursery managers active in tree propagation research or development. The concept of vegetative propagation is that an exact copy of the...

Indigenous chickens play an important role in the livelihoods of most rural families in Eastern Africa. Despite increased use of commercial breeds by large-scale producers, around three quarters of chickens in the region are indigenous breeds. This manual gives information on improved management practices of rearing indigenous chickens. The following...