Biovision Africa Trust has launched it new project funded by Louis Dreyfus enterprise (LDF). The project is titled ‘Enhancing food and nutrition, market linkages and resilient livelihoods for smallholder farmers through agroecology in Kitui and Nakuru counties of Kenya with a special focus on women and youth’ and will be implemented for an initial period of 3 years from 2024-2026.
The Project aims to promote selected agroecology practices to enhance food and nutrition, strengthen access to markets and improve resilience of livelihoods by smallholder farmers specifically women and youth in Kitui and Nakuru counties of Kenya.
Project Objectives
- Enhance adoption of agroecological farming practices (agroforestry, water harvesting techniques, soil health management, crop rotation, crop diversification, soil protection, conservation agriculture, etc.) among smallholder women farmers and youth.
- Develop a revolving fund scheme of livestock production (small ruminants -improved dairy goats and rabbits) and bee keeping as alternative livelihood sources.
- Enhance capability to access and control resources through establishment of local level institutions (VSLAs) for farmers and youth to access financial and market functions/services for supporting agroecological farming transitions.
- Enhance access to markets by small holder farmers by supporting existing agroecology-enterprises (SMEs) to off-take farmers produce and ensure farmers are making profits from agroecological farming.
- Enhance delivery of project goals and objectives through structured management and monitoring and evaluation.
On the 17th of May, the Biovision Africa team, led by Ms. Venancia Wambua, Head of Programmes EOA and KCOA, embarked on a significant journey, paying a courtesy visit to Hand in Hand East Africa in Kitui County. Hand in Hand East Africa has established itself as a leader in enterprise development training and resource mobilization, particularly focusing on empowering local communities.
The primary agenda of this meeting was to explore avenues for collaboration, particularly in the realm of Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA), a concept that Hand in Hand has successfully implemented in the county for 11 years. VSLA stands as a pivotal component of the LDF project, demonstrating tangible impacts on the lives of smallholder farmers.
During the meeting, Ms. Venancia provided an insightful overview of Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT) and its overarching mission. The organization is deeply committed to combating poverty and enhancing the livelihoods of smallholder farmers across Kenya and other African countries. This is achieved through the dissemination of vital information, knowledge sharing, and capacity building, ultimately enabling farmers to adopt appropriate technologies for the improvement of human, animal, plant, and environmental health.
Mr. Michael Muthama, the Branch Manager of Hand in Hand East Africa, expressed profound appreciation for the endeavors of BvAT in supporting smallholder farmers. He emphasized the synergy between the organizations, particularly in the domains of regenerative agriculture and VSLAs. This collaboration promises to enhance the livelihoods of farmers through a comprehensive approach.
Hand in Hand East Africa operates through seven modules designed to empower farmers:
- Group Formation and Dynamics-equips farmers with skills in group establishment, leadership, bookkeeping, and constitution drafting.
- Resource Mobilization and Savings-provides training on group and individual savings.
- Enterprise Development-offers guidance on business setup, planning, record-keeping, and proposal writing.
- Financial Management-imparts knowledge on effective money management.
- Credit Access-educates farmers on responsible borrowing practices, with loan amounts ranging from 5k to 30k.
- Value Chain-trains farmers on value addition within local farming contexts.
- Climate Resilient Agriculture-focuses on strategies to mitigate climate-related risks.
Mr. Muthama highlighted the current initiatives in sunflower and beekeeping value chains, aligning seamlessly with Biovision Africa Trust value chains to be implemented
In conclusion, the collaboration between Biovision Africa and Hand in Hand East Africa marks a significant step towards empowering small-scale farmers in Kitui and Nakuru counties. Through the joint implementation of VSLA trainings and other interventions, both organizations aim to catalyze sustainable agricultural development and foster resilience within farming communities. This partnership stands as a beacon of hope, signaling a brighter future for smallholder farmers across the region.
Prepared by Mercy Zakayo, edited by Venancia Wambua.
