By Lenah Bosibori
Women Farmers in Makueni and Laikipia counties are set to benefit from a new training module that teaches practical agroecology practices. The goal is to help farmers improve soil health, boost yields, and embrace more sustainable ways of farming, especially as many parts of Kenya struggle with acidic and degraded soils.
The module dubbed ‘Gender Transformative Agroecology Modules’ was developed under the Rural Women Cultivating Change (RWCC) project by Grassroots Organisations Operating Together in Sisterhood (GROOTS Kenya) in collaboration with farmers, government officials, and various partners across the country.
Speaking during the launch in Nairobi, Agro-Ecology consultant Dr. Annah Indeche, who developed the modules, said that many farmers still rely on outdated practices like monoculture, growing only one type of crop, which makes them highly vulnerable.
“Many farmers still rely on outdated practices like monoculture. If a drought hits, they lose everything. We also see overuse of pesticides, poor marketing systems, and lack of information. This module is designed to tackle these challenges,” said Indeche.
She further said that Agro-ecology focuses on working with nature using local knowledge, reducing chemical use, and boosting crop diversity. “The new module aims to equip farmers with the tools they need to grow food more sustainably, manage pests naturally, and reduce waste,” said Indeche.
The module also addresses deeper challenges such as limited access to land, especially for women, and the lack of extension services in rural areas. “Women often carry the burden of both farming and family care, yet have fewer resources,” noted Indeche.
Before creating the module, GROOTS Kenya assessed farmers’ awareness of agroecology. While farmers had some knowledge of seeds, soil, and pest control, there were major gaps in areas like marketing, post-harvest handling, and animal production.
How It Works
Each session will be delivered every two weeks over six months. Topics include soil sampling, seed selection, water harvesting, use of bio-pesticides, indigenous crops, and agroforestry. Women farmers, extension staff, and community leaders will be the first to receive training.
“We developed the module to document knowledge that already exists and to transform how agriculture is practised. If we don’t deal with land degradation now, our soil will become infertile,” said Rachel Kagoiya, Executive Director of GROOTS Kenya.
Engineer Laban Lagat, agricultural engineering secretary from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, state department of agriculture, said the government is fully behind the program.
“These fit right into our Agro-Ecology Strategy. It’s sustainable, climate-smart, and it puts women and youth at the centre of farming,” he said. “We are also promoting tree planting in dry areas to improve soil health and biodiversity.”
Rael Miwa, a farmer from Mutomo ward, Kitui South, Kitui County, shared her success story on how the program has enabled her and her organisation to double their profits.
“Each woman in our ward has been trained in agroecology. We are involving the youth, and we are seeing real benefits, better yields and healthier farms.”
The module is open to anyone interested in agroecology and not just women. But for now, the focus is on women farmers, with plans to expand based on impact.