Editorial
NAIVASHA, Kenya: AGRA has renewed its commitment to working closely with the government to advance farmer-centered agricultural transformation, aligning new investments with the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and county development priorities.
Through its current five-year strategy, AGRA is investing USD 29 million (approximately Ksh 3.8 billion) in Kenya to improve soil health, expand access to markets and finance, and strengthen support systems for smallholder farmers. This work is being implemented in collaboration with national ministries, county governments, the private sector, and farmer organizations.
AGRA President Alice Ruhweza, speaking during a high-level panel at the Intergovernmental Forum for Agriculture (IGFA) 2025 in Naivasha, said Kenya can unlock the full potential of small farms by addressing soils, markets, and financing collectively.
She noted that AGRA’s approach focuses on delivery in the field and highlighted the organization’s network of 506 Village Based Advisors, 60 percent of whom are women. These advisors serve as trusted local partners who support farmers consistently throughout planting seasons.
AGRA emphasized that all its work in Kenya is delivered through existing government systems. In 2024, the organization signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development to ensure coordinated investments at both national and county levels, supporting key policies on fertilizer, soil health, extension services, and seed systems.
Restoring soil fertility remains a major priority and is described by AGRA as the “hidden engine” of Kenya’s food security and agricultural competitiveness. Many highly productive regions are now struggling with acidic and nutrient-depleted soils, reducing the effectiveness of subsidized fertilizers. Ms. Ruhweza noted that AGRA supported Kenya in hosting the 2024 Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit and is now helping counties adopt the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan.
AGRA’s Kenya Acting Country Director, Davis Muthini, said that strong partnerships across government and agricultural actors are essential to solving today’s challenges. He added that improving smallholder yields and linking farmers to structured markets will directly contribute to better livelihoods and stronger national food security.
The partnership also addresses post-harvest losses, which account for up to one third of production in some value chains. Supported by the Green Climate Fund, AGRA is investing about USD 7 million (nearly Ksh 900 million) in climate-smart post-harvest solutions. These include financing enterprises that supply dryers, shellers, hermetic storage options, and warehouse receipt systems. Such innovations allow farmers to store their produce safely and sell when prices are more favorable.
In Makueni County, improved storage facilities for pulses and fruit have helped farmers cut spoilage, secure better prices, and plan for essential expenses such as school fees or farm investments, instead of selling hurriedly at low prices.
Access to finance and youth employment form another important area of collaboration. Although agriculture remains central to Kenya’s economy, it receives only a small proportion of formal bank lending, estimated at about five percent. AGRA, together with the National Treasury and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), is supporting banks, SACCOs, and microfinance institutions to design financial products that respond to the needs of farmers and agribusinesses.
Looking ahead, AGRA has outlined clear priorities for the next three to five years. The organization plans to support at least 2.5 million farmers to adopt climate-smart practices such as improved seed, balanced fertilizer use, and resilient agronomy. It also aims to help at least 2 million farmers access climate-smart post-harvest technologies that reduce losses and increase incomes, especially for women and youth. Additional goals include strengthening structured markets for at least 100,000 farmers and improving the extension worker to farmer ratio by combining frontline staff with digital advisory platforms.
