Over 1,000 Farmers in Kenya’s Semi-Arid Regions Trained in Climate-Smart Innovations
The Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) Project Strengthens Climate Resilience and Sustainable Agriculture Through 27 Demo Farms
The Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project is transforming farming practices in Kenya’s semi-arid regions by promoting drought-tolerant crops and climate-smart technologies. Through farmer field days, implemented by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the project equips farmers with practical solutions for building resilience.
In collaboration with county governments in Makueni, Kitui, and Taita Taveta, AICCRA has introduced innovative approaches to tackle climate challenges, helping farmers adapt to erratic weather patterns and declining soil fertility.
The field days, organized between January and February 2025, brought together hundreds of farmers and stakeholders, including extension officers, agro-dealers, financial institutions, and farmer-producer organizations.
Through 27 demonstration farms, the project created hands-on learning platforms where farmers experienced the benefits of drought-tolerant crops like sorghum, pearl millet, green gram, and pigeonpea.
By comparing conventional tillage with conservation agriculture, these farms provided clear evidence of how improved techniques and good agricultural practices enhance resilience and boost productivity.
Farmers were taken through well-organized learning tours, where they observed crop performance and received practical training on land preparation, use of certified seeds, proper spacing, thinning, fertilizer application, pest and disease management, and post-harvest handling.
The direct interaction with experts and demonstrations helped demystify conservation agriculture and illustrated how in-situ water harvesting techniques like tied ridging, zai pits, and furrowing can make a difference in moisture retention and crop performance during dry spells.
Kitui Country
In Kitui County, over 500 farmers participated in the field days, with women making up 70% of attendees. Demonstration plots in Tseikuru, Kyuso, and Mutomo showed notable differences in crop growth, strongly influenced by rainfall variability. In Mutomo, where rainfall was highest at 306mm, crops thrived, showcasing the potential of drought-tolerant varieties when supported by sufficient moisture and good agronomic practices.
Farmers noted the contrast between crops grown under conservation agriculture and conventional tillage, reinforcing the need to embrace climate-smart agriculture technologies.
Makueni County
Makueni County’s field days saw 427 farmers participating, most of whom were women. Despite erratic rainfall, farmers observed that conservation agriculture techniques, combined with deep tillage and water harvesting methods, helped reduce crop stress.
The demonstrations illustrated the need to move away from water-intensive crops like maize and instead focus on resilient alternatives, coupled with climate-smart practices that conserve soil moisture and enhance productivity.
Taita Taveta County
In Taita Taveta County, participation was equally strong, with 245 farmers engaged in the demonstrations. Farmers were particularly impressed by the intercropping of sorghum with pigeonpea, which not only increased land productivity but also improved soil health.
The comparative analysis of conventional agriculture and conservation agriculture systems demonstrated that conservation agriculture outperforms traditional methods, especially under variable climatic conditions.
Overall, the AICCRA farmer field days have left a lasting impact, providing farmers with practical knowledge and proof that drought-tolerant crops and conservation agriculture can enhance yields, build resilience to climate shocks, and promote sustainable farming practices.
The lessons learned continue to spread through farmer-to-farmer learning and ongoing extension support, positioning these regions for better food security and climate resilience.
AICCRA activities focus on improving the quality of climate information services (CIS) and climate-smart agriculture (CSA) in Kenya, while increasing access to and use of these resources for women and youth.
This work aligns with SDGs 2, 13 & 17.
Martin Muluka
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