NATURE+ and communities transform farming landscapes in Western Kenya

Communities at three NATURE+ sites in Western Kenya are transforming degraded farmland into productive landscapes through nature-positive solutions and collaboration. Two aggregated farms and a community-led demonstration farm show how nature-based land management increases productivity, creates economic opportunities and incentivizes the sustainable use and conservation of agrobiodiversity.

Top photo: A farmer harvests sorghum at an aggregated farm in Jimo East, Kenya, on land that was until recently overrun by weeds and wild grasses. (Photo R. Kibui/NATURE+)

By Rachel Kibui, NATURE+

Under the CGIAR Initiative on Nature Positive Solutions (NATURE+), some 200 farmers are reversing landscape degradation, agrobiodiversity loss and low productivity by applying nature-positive solutions on their land. The community-led efforts in three locations in Western Kenya demonstrate that working with nature is a viable and sustainable alternative to status-quo farming, a major driver of rural landscape and livelihood deterioration in Kenya.

Three sites, two dynamics

In Kisumu's Nyando region, NATURE+ and its partners established two aggregated farm sites; one in each Jimo East and Agoro East. For generations, communities there preserved portions of community-shared land exclusively for rearing cattle, sheep, and goats. Herding was once a cornerstone economic activity in the community. But raising livestock gradually became less productive, leading farmers to abandon the land and search for alternative activities.

As part of the NATURE+ Landowners there worked together to design the aggregated farms, and implemented permaculture, Black Soldier Fly composting and other nature-positive activities.

A recent permaculture training session at the Agro East aggregate farm in Kenya. (Photo: Rachel Kibui/NATURE+)

At Vihiga, a peri-urban county, land ownership dynamics differ from Kisumu because most landowners still work neighboring plots. But the parcels are tiny, ranging from 0.1 to 0.8 hectares, and farmers there are also grappling with falling productivity and land degradation. But community members are enthusiastic about nature-positive solutions, and 50 agreed to share a lease one 0.8-hectare plot to pilot nature-based innovations like permaculture to learn how to implement similar activities on their farms.

Gradual transformation

A year after implementation, these farms are transforming. In Jimo East, the aggregated farm began on land taken over by stubborn weeds and wild grasses. Now it has several varieties of maize, sorghum, fodder and other crops. NATURE+ and partners supported farmers with tilling the land, permaculture training and guiding the farmers, who provided the labor needed for planting, weeding and harvesting.

In Agoro East, a Black Soldier Flies (BSF) unit is operational. The unit produces compost for use at the farms and high-protein feed for poultry and fish. In Vihiga, the demonstration farm has several crops, including maize, sorghum, traditional leafy vegetables, and various fodder crops. Farmers have already harvested the first fodder crops and bailed it for storage ahead of integrating livestock on the farm.

In all three NATURE+ sites, soil samples were collected for testing on health and biodiversity. Farmers are will soon be trained on soil health and practices for improving soil fertility. Through these activities, they anticipate applying the knowledge at NATURE+ sites and on separate farms they own.

Farmers and scientists collect soil samples at the NATURE+ demonstration farm in Vihiga, Kenya. (Photo: Rachel Kibui/NATURE+)

Establishment of value-addition centers

The establishment of value-addition centers is ongoing in all three sites, and two were recently inaugurated by community members, NATURE+ researchers, partner organizations and local government authorities. The centers are extensions of community seed banks, which were established by CGIAR researchers and local farmers to preserve neglected and underutilized

All three farms have been fenced with barbed wire and concrete poles. Planting of live fences around the farms is set to begin soon, thanks to the My Farm Trees project, which has been working with nursery operators to provide native tree varieties suitable for fencing.

NATURE+ producers celebrated the harvest season with a traditional food and seed fair in Kisumu, Kenya. (Photo: Rachel Kibui/NATURE+)

These efforts aim to build circular bioeconomies based on sustainable and profitable farming. As farmers lessen their dependence on high-cost industrial seed sources, fertilizers and pest control - by supplanting these with local varieties from community seed banks and producing their own biological farm inputs - they should see profits increase, in particular by reducing costs and tapping into markets for healthy, niche crops and producing their own value-added food products.

Creating nature-based youth employment

In a country where unemployment is a significant concern, especially among the youth, creating job opportunities at NATURE+ sites will be a major accomplishment. Although the overall unemployment rate in Kenya stands at 12.7%, the youth (aged 15-34), who make up 35% of the population, account for the highest unemployment rate at 67%. In the NATURE+ farms, young people are anticipated to be involved in activities such as composting, value addition, transport, and marketing.

With harvests underway, diversification of on-farm activities, and the construction of value-addition units, these farms are showing that nature-positive land management has the potential to positively influence the economy, society and environmental sustainability in Western Kenya and beyond.

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