Strengthening Availability, Dissemination and Use of Effective Fertilizers Among the Smallholder Farmers in Kenya

Farmers being trained on fertilizer use, water management and good agronomic management.

Strengthening Availability, Dissemination and Use of Effective Fertilizers Among the Smallholder Farmers in Kenya (AGRA Project)

Theme: Soil Health for Improved Livelihoods
Start Date: 2019
End Date: 2021

Lead

APNI

Supported by

AGRA

Main Collaborators

State Department of Agriculture, the 14 Kenya county governments, 5 fertilizer companies, Kenya Agricultural Research Organization (KALRO)

Other Collaborators

Farmer organizations; Agro-input suppliers

Target Crops

Maize, Potato, Beans, Green gram

Target Countries

Kenya

Description

The main goal of the project is to promote the use of balanced fertilizer products to support increased incomes and improved food security for 120,000 smallholder farmers. The project targets to support directly 120,000 farmers, train 400 VBAs and 300 extension workers over a 3-year period

Objectives

  1. To create a robust partnership of fertilizer actors to address the systemic problems depressing the level of fertilizer use and the fertilizer use efficiency.
  2. To improve awareness of smallholder farmers, extension workers and policy makers on availability and use of balanced, multi-nutrient soil- and crop-specific fertilizer blends for improved maize, beans and potato production in Kenya.
  3. To validate and support improvement of available soil- and crop-specific fertilizer.
  4. To build capacity of fertilizer companies in the development of effective fertilizer blends and lime products.
  5. To identify and build capacity of agricultural village-based advisors who can provide agricultural advisory services to farmers.

Sites

Economic Bloc Counties to be served
Mt Kenya and Aberdares Embu, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Kiambu, Muranga, Nakuru
Lake Region (LREB) Kakamega, Bungoma, Siaya
South Eastern Kenya (SEKEB) Machakos, Kitui, Makueni
North Rift (NOREB) Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia