NAIROBI, Kenya — On a breezy morning in the capital, a group of women stood proudly beside baskets of indigenous grains, pulses and vegetables. Many had travelled from far-flung counties. But they came for a shared mission: to change how they farm and how their communities survive.
In a region where climate shocks and depleted soils are threatening food security, a new training programme is giving women farmers the tools to do things differently.
The scheme, called the Gender Transformative Agroecology Modules, was launched this week by GROOTS Kenya, a grassroots organisation working closely with women in rural areas. It aims to help farmers ditch outdated techniques, care for the soil, and farm in ways that better suit the land and the people who depend on it.
“We’re still seeing a lot of monoculture, where farmers grow just one crop year after year,” said Dr. Annah Indeche, the agroecologist behind the module. “If the rains fail or pests come in, they lose everything. Agroecology is about building resilience.”
The modules were created under the Rural Women Cultivating Change project, following months of consultations with farmers, government officials and civil society groups.
According to Indeche, the approach goes beyond farming. “Women face more barriers less land, fewer resources, less access to support. This programme is also about giving them a stronger voice,” she said in an interview during the launch.
Farming with Nature, Not Against It
Agroecology promotes growing a variety of crops, reducing chemical use, and reviving traditional farming knowledge. It’s not new, but experts say many farmers, especially in Kenya’s arid regions, haven’t had the support to make the shift.
In Kenya, large parts of the land are now acidic and exhausted. That’s a direct threat to food security particularly in counties like Makueni, Laikipia, and Kitui, where the new programme will begin.
The training is practical and spread out over six months. There are two tracks: one for farmland, covering 24 sessions, and another for rangelands, with 23 sessions. Topics include water harvesting, soil sampling, natural pest control, seed saving and agroforestry.
“We’re teaching people how to farm smarter not harder,” said Rachel Kagoiya, Executive Director of GROOTS Kenya. “This is about preserving what works, and helping women adapt to what’s changing.”
Government Lends Its Support
The initiative comes as the government ramps up its own push for sustainable farming. Kenya recently launched its Agroecology Strategy, one of the first of its kind in the region.
“This fits perfectly with our national goals,” said Engineer Laban Lagat, who heads agricultural engineering at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. “We’re supporting agroecology because it’s climate-friendly, and it puts women and young people at the centre of food systems.”
Lagat also pointed to a growing emphasis on reforestation and soil restoration, especially in drylands. “We’re encouraging communities to plant trees, harvest rainwater, and use crops and livestock that suit their environment,” he added.
While the initial focus is on women, the training is open to all. The ministry says it plans to expand the programme based on its early impact.
Real Results on the Ground
Rael Miwa, a farmer from Mutomo ward in Kitui County, said her community is already seeing change. “Every woman in our group has been trained. Our farms are healthier, and our profits have nearly doubled,” she said. “And we’re involving the youth they see the value now.”
Before developing the module, GROOTS Kenya surveyed local farmers. The results showed some awareness of ecological practices, particularly around seeds and soil care. But there were clear gaps in marketing, livestock rearing and post-harvest handling.
For Indeche, that knowledge gap is both a challenge and an opportunity.
“There’s a lot of wisdom in these communities,” she said. “What we’re doing is connecting the dots and making sure women farmers are not left behind.”
As Kenya faces growing environmental pressures, the women leading this initiative hope their farms and their futures will grow stronger with them.
