Kenya will receive a US$4.3 million grant from the European Union (EU) to strengthen agricultural productivity among about 40,000 smallholder farmers spread across six counties.
The three-year programme will be delivered by the International Fund for Agricultural Development in partnership with national and county governments, with a focus on restoring soil health, promoting climate-smart agriculture, and scaling up agroecological farming methods.
Known as the Investing in Livelihood Resilience and Soil Health initiative, the project will be rolled out in Kakamega, Trans Nzoia, Embu, Kilifi, Makueni, and Taita Taveta. The counties were selected due to their exposure to climate stress, strong agricultural potential, and the ability of local governments to embed the interventions within existing programmes.
According to IFAD’s Kenya Country Director Mariatu Kamara, the emphasis was placed on regions already feeling the effects of climate change, where productivity gains are achievable and county administrations are prepared to integrate the support into their agricultural frameworks.
Also Read: LafargeHolcim East Africa Nears Final Dissolution After Exit from Bamburi Cement
The initiative builds on earlier EU-supported programmes, including the Kenya Cereal Enhancement Programme–Climate Resilient Agricultural Livelihoods, which has since 2015 provided smallholder farmers in 13 counties with digital e-vouchers to access farm inputs.
State Department for Agriculture Secretary of Administration Rashid Khator said the programme aims to improve soil fertility, curb land degradation, and strengthen the resilience of agro-ecosystems, measures he noted are critical for boosting yields, food security, and rural incomes.
Using digital delivery systems, the project will link farmers directly with private suppliers of seeds, fertilisers, bio-inputs, and post-harvest technologies. Sustainability is a core pillar, with activities designed to be embedded in county structures so they can continue beyond the grant period. Planned interventions include soil testing, agroforestry, climate-smart practices, and digital training to enhance productivity and household earnings.
For counties facing declining soil quality and erratic rainfall, the programme represents a move to scale up proven solutions rather than trial untested approaches. By connecting farmers to inputs and technical support, it seeks to shift small-scale farming from subsistence to commercially viable activity, while making agriculture more attractive to younger generations.
