Over 500 Farmers Received Climate-Smart Agriculture Training in Kenya
“You know, if you have food security, if someone has eaten enough food, his thinking capacity grows.” — Samwel Onyango, a sweet potato farmer in Kenya
Sustainable agriculture improves access to nutritious food and is a consistent driver of income generation and improved livelihoods worldwide. The Feed for Knowledge project, led by Rise Against Hunger and Rural Family Hope, provides farmers with climate-smart agriculture training, strengthening the local economy and enhancing long-term food security in southwestern Kenya.
Since the project began in 2022, more than 500 farmers have received training, and the number of smallholder farmers increased from 33 to 95 in the project’s first year. These farmers help meet the nutritional needs of their families and local communities.
Through this project, seven schools have established onsite gardens, where students learn to tend crops like kale, corn and potatoes as members of groups called 4K clubs. Fresh produce from the farmers, suppliers and school gardens is added to school meals daily, providing critical nutrients to the students. Hear firsthand from program participants below to learn more about their impact.
Samwel Onyango, a sweet potato farmer
Samwel, a local sweet potato farmer, received training through the project and has since seen a significant improvement in his health and quality of life. He shared, “The purpose I decided to come into farming sweet potatoes and other crops is just for food security.” The sweet potatoes Samwel harvests at his farm support students in nearby schools who receive daily meals through the project’s school feeding program. “You know, if you have food security, if someone has eaten enough food, his thinking capacity grows.”
Piyos Musongo Keyo, a local farmer
Since participating in the climate-smart agriculture training program, local farmer Piyos has harvested healthy crops with higher yields. Piyos said, “It has been very beneficial to me and other farmers…I’ll be able to supply the school and get more returns from the farm.” The improved outcome of his farm not only boosts his livelihood but also ensures his family and the local community have regular access to healthy, nutritious crops. He explains further, “With the good climate conditions, I am able to feed my family.”
Job Miruka, a poultry farmer
With the increased demand for eggs and their rich nutrients, Job began a poultry farm and received training through the project. He shares how it’s been a reliable agribusiness that continues to thrive and how it continues to support the lives of many people in his community, including students at participating schools where eggs are distributed and served with daily meals. Job said, “You can even see when you look around at the children the health status has improved because eggs have a lot of proteins.”
Ivone Ogweno, Agronomist at Rural Family Hope
Rural Family Hope’s Agronomist, Ivone, shares that through the Feed for Knowledge project, students receive agriculture training and learn how to grow crops as part of the 4K clubs. She said, “We want to see them have a broader scope of knowledge in agriculture since they are the future pioneers of food production and security.” She explains further how this impacts the children and their parents’ lives, “Teaching agriculture in schools is important to increase productivity in the villages and the homes they come from.”
Mary Ayieta, Agronomy Teacher at Awendo Primary School
As the Agronomy Teacher at Awendo Primary School, Mary leads the 4K club members who take care of the school garden as their secretary and teaches the students agriculture and nutrition. She shares how the students’ performance in the classroom has improved and how they look forward to hands-on learning through the project’s garden. Mary said, “We grow kale, we grow some other crops like potatoes, and this…has made them independent because they copy that, and they would want to do it at home.”
Each of these farmers and school leaders has experienced the lasting impact of the Feed for Knowledge project. Watch the video below to learn more about the program, its participants and how agriculture has paved the way toward bright futures in Kenya.
As a Hunger Champion, you can help farmers and school leaders build sustainable, nutritious food sources for children and their families. With your partnership, we will continue agriculture initiatives that change communities from within. Will you join us?