Project profile — More Food: Empowering Kenyan Women

• Kenya (100.00%)

• Food crop production:
Food crop production (31161) (20.00%)
Agricultural extension (31166) (20.00%)
Agricultural education/training (31181) (20.00%)
Agricultural co-operatives (31194) (20.00%)
Livestock/veterinary services (31195) (20.00%)

• Gender equality (significant objective)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (not targeted)
• Participatory development and good governance (not targeted)
• Trade development (not targeted)
• Biodiversity (not targeted)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (not targeted)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Children's issues (not targeted)
• Youth Issues (not targeted)
• Disaster Risk Reduction(DRR) (not targeted)
• Indigenous Issues (not targeted)
• Disability (not targeted)
• Nutrition (significant objective)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)

The ultimate outcome of this project is improved food and nutrition security of farm families (women, girls, boys and men) in the Buuri Dairy milk collection area and adjacent rural communities in Meru County, Kenya. The project integrates a number of innovative approaches to increase agricultural productivity, income, nutritional knowledge and skills among the target population. Women are the focus of the project as they are eager to learn and apply knowledge and skills that help improve the lives of their families. The project works with the local government extension network and nutrition experts to train 400 farming women who are members of ten women’s groups and/or three dairy groups on best practices in dairy, egg, vegetable and fruit production, as well as biogas, rain water harvesting and solar power technologies. It also works with five schools in the project region to establish vegetable gardens and cookhouses for a school feeding program. The project directly benefits women’s families (1600 people), and an additional 1500 students in the schools. Farmers Helping Farmers became registered in Kenya and established a fully owned subsidiary as an incorporated company, Wakulima Waididia Wakulima (FHF in Swahili).

The expected results for this project include:(1) increased agricultural income and productivity (vegetables, fruit, milk, eggs) of women farmers; and (2) improved dietary diversity (consumption of vegetables, fruit, milk, eggs) for women, girls, boys and men.

Results achieved at the end of the project (March 2024) include: (1) successfully reached 19,145 rural farmers, students and households (4,127 direct of which are 1,198 women and 15,018 indirect). This allowed an increase of 35% of its target; (2) established 13 women’s groups, benefitting 689 female rural farmers with new production and income skills; (3) allowed 100% of the direct beneficiaries to use 1 to 2 new or improved agriculture skills. These include bookkeeping, seedling production and management, market access, water conservation and poultry disease management; (4) distributed 1,256 grow bags to 689 women farmers, a key factor in the increased household production of leafy greens during ongoing droughts; (5) successfully established vegetable gardens in 7 schools supporting 2,642 students and 96 teachers. This resulted in improved access to diversified nutritious foods (such as iron-fortified potatoes and beans, leafy greens and carrots) and ongoing school lunches; and (6) enabled agricultural production and income to increase by 55% (from an average of 7,000 Kenyan shilling to 10,500 Kenyan shilling per month) for women farmers. Overall, the project improved food and nutrition security for the project participant at the household levels with continued access to markets and dietary diversity, placing them in a better position to rebound from socio-economic challenges.

• Proactive disclosure