Though groundnuts are a highly popular and nutritious snack in Taita Taveta County, the residents had always depended on imports from the neighboring Tanzania. Farmers had failed to take advantage of its popularity and high demand as they believed the prevailing prolonged drought conditions in the region were too harsh for the crop to thrive. … Continue reading
Hoping against hope of decent harvests, farmers in the semi-arid and arid regions of eastern Kenya have always planted their traditional and favourite food crops – pigeonpea, green gram, sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, cowpea, and maize – at the onset of long or short rains. But it is a ritual that has been driven … Continue reading
Though groundnuts are a highly popular and nutritious snack in Taita Taveta County, the residents had always depended on imports from the neighboring Tanzania. Farmers had failed to take advantage of its popularity and high demand as they believed the prevailing prolonged drought conditions in the region were too harsh for the crop to thrive. … Continue reading
Started in 2015, AVCD is a five-year program that was implemented in two phases of three years and two years. During the first three years the program achieved and in some instances, overachieved targets for planned activities. For instance, 318,362 households benefitted from the program, over and above the target of 256,937 households. These households … Continue reading
Despite minimal field visits during this period of the COVID-19-related restrictions, the AVCD program staff and management are working with extension officers and lead farmers to monitor the progress of the drought-tolerant crops component’s work. Continue reading
Despite their value, drought-tolerant crops, particularly millets and sorghum, have been steadily losing their share of contribution to calories in Kenya to maize, rice and wheat. The reasons for the low demand of these cereals are low productivity, poor image and lack of product development. Continue reading
Kenya still has a long way to go in improving the nutritional status of both the rural and urban populations. Collectively we can support the education and application of nutrition sensitization for better lives through better health and better food systems. Continue reading
Kenya is one of several East African countries where food shortages continue to persist, because of the devastating drought conditions. Statistics from the Kenya Red Cross indicate that almost three million people in Kenya are affected by drought. However, the situation is improving in Busia county, one of the counties in Kenya where ICRISAT has been … Continue reading
The Feed the Future Accelerated Value Chains Development (AVCD) program is working with county governments, ministry officials, development agencies and farmers group to address the current anticipated green gram glut and to jump-start the green gram value chain across Kenya. Continue reading
Ms. Rachel Amoit in her groundnuts farm in Busia Kenya is one of several East African countries suffering from food shortages because of devastating drought conditions. According to Red Cross, almost 3 million people are affected by drought. But in Busia county there is hope growing among farmers and a real potential solution to the … Continue reading
AVCD Kenya 