NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 3 – Kenya has been hailed as a continental leader in climate-smart agriculture by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), which spotlights the country’s regenerative farming efforts in its 2024 Annual Report.
The report attributes Kenya’s success to a strong multi-stakeholder approach that is transforming dryland agriculture and strengthening food security for smallholder farmers. Through the Sustainable Transitioning of Agriculture for Resilient and Adaptable Kenya (STRAK) project, Kenya has made significant strides in climate-smart agriculture.
Implemented in partnership with the IKEA Foundation, Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture, the Cereal Growers Association, Farm Africa, and CIFOR World Agroforestry, the STRAK project is active across Embu, Makueni, Tharaka Nithi, and Kitui counties.
“More than 90% of surveyed farmers in the region are now practicing regenerative methods,” the report notes, citing adoption of practices such as mulching, microdosing, and use of organic manure.
In Tharaka Nithi, these practices nearly tripled sorghum yields compared to traditional techniques, while in Kitui, returns on investment reached Sh5.27 for every KES 1 spent.
Kenya’s progress is also attributed to enabling policies at both national and county levels. In 2024, the government integrated regenerative agriculture into broader climate action and development strategies and took steps to address double taxation and trade barriers, boosting market efficiency.
AGRA President Alice Ruhweza, who assumed the role in 2024, praised the country’s progress and affirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting government-led solutions.
“In Kenya, AGRA advanced its country change narrative of driving resilience through climate-smart sustainable practices by supporting smallholder farmers to adopt regenerative agricultural practices that restore soil health, improve productivity, and build long-term resilience,” she said.
AGRA’s 2024 report further emphasized the importance of aligning private and public investments with national priorities to transform agriculture from subsistence into a thriving business.
Kenya, home to AGRA’s headquarters and a priority country for its programming, continues to lead the way in agricultural transformation across Africa.
