Farmers in Vihiga and Kisumu counties have received new processing units and value-addition equipment. In Vihiga, the beneficiaries come from the Itumbu and Lianaginga areas, while in Kisumu, farmers from Nyakach, Kabudi-Agoro, and Nyando have also benefited.
This initiative is funded by the Alliance of Biodiversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, in collaboration with the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Nature of the Netherlands.
Jane Adhiambo, a farmer from Nyando, highlighted the difficulties women face with traditional threshing and winnowing methods, which are often seen as tasks for women and children. “Women spend a lot of time and energy on these labor-intensive processes,” she noted, adding that the new equipment will help save time and conserve energy. She also mentioned that many women suffer skin allergies from the dust during winnowing, but this new technology is expected to alleviate those issues.
Her colleague from Kabudi-Agoro, Phoebe Abor, described sorghum as a “headache” crop due to the laborious threshing and winnowing processes. “Now that we have access to these machines, we feel empowered to increase our sorghum production,” she said. “Sorghum is becoming popular for its health benefits, and with the right equipment and a ready market, our production will certainly rise.”
From 2018 to 2021, the Alliance of Biodiversity International and CIAT, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, established three community seed banks to conserve indigenous varieties of sorghum, finger millet, beans, traditional leafy vegetables, and local maize.
Dr. Carlo Fadda, Global Lead for the CGIAR Initiative on Nature-Positive Solutions, emphasized the importance of sustainability. “We upgraded these seed banks to create links between conserved diversity, value addition, and marketing,” he explained. “It’s crucial for farmers to work in harmony with nature to reduce agriculture’s climate impact.”
Fadda pointed out the dual challenge of feeding a growing population while protecting the environment. “Traditional crops are resilient to climate shocks, pests, and diseases, and they are often more nutritious,” he said. He urged policymakers to support local seed systems over commercial options, advocating for collaboration with stakeholders to uphold traditional seed varieties.
Dr. Abdul Aziz Niane, ICARDA country manager for the United Arab Emirates, noted that farmers often struggle with access to processing facilities and markets. “Providing processing units and equipment empowers farmers to aggregate their produce and process it for preservation and marketing,” he stated. Among the distributed equipment were solar-powered dryers, threshers, winnowers, and hermetic packaging materials.
Niane, also the Arabian Peninsula regional program coordinator and ICARDA focal person for the Nature Positive Initiative, observed that vegetable production peaks during the rainy season and declines during dry spells. “With these dryers, farmers can now dry excess produce for later use and sell when demand is high,” he added.
Vihiga County Agriculture Director Reuben Chumba highlighted the significance of value addition for smallholder farmers. “It enhances the shelf-life of produce and improves market access,” he said, encouraging farmers to collaborate in groups for larger-scale production and joint marketing.
Dr. Desterio Nyambongo, Director of the Genetic Resources Research Institute, remarked that with erratic farming seasons, it’s vital for farmers to grow a diversity of seeds. “If one crop fails, others may succeed. Early-maturing varieties are more drought-resistant, while late-maturing crops perform well in longer rainy seasons,” Nyambongo noted. He added that access to quality seeds is crucial for successful production.
