Agriculture is the backbone of Kenya’s economy: the sector accounts for 25% of gross domestic product and 65% of the country’s total export earnings. Composed largely of small-scale production (75% of the total agriculture outputs), the sector faces structural deficits such as stagnant productivity, expensive farm inputs, poor storage facilities and weak market competition.
Climate change has also had an impact on the sector. The increasing prevalence of extreme events, unpredictable weather patterns and pestilence demands innovative approaches to both subsistence and commercial agriculture to enhance food security. Enhancing food security in a way that contributes to climate change mitigation and natural resource conservation requires a drastic transformation that is clearly unachievable in a business-as-usual scenario.
Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) often struggle with issues such as governance and management, adding value to production and gaining access to market information, further contributing to the overall issue of poor productivity in the agricultural sector. They are also more inclined to use unsustainable practices that negatively affect natural resources. This project aims to help Kenyan MSMEs in the mango, coffee and dairy sectors reduce their environmental footprint while strengthening their ability to compete in local and international markets.
