Economic Growth

Providing health services through farmer field days

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Women appreciated the convenience of receiving cancer screening and HIV testing at the Farmers' Cooperative
Date Published: 
February 19, 2013
A Kenyan woman stands in front of a farmers' cooperative society building

Sharon Cherutich Mutai is a produce vendor at a small but bustling market along the highway connecting Kenya and Uganda through the Great Rift Valley town of Eldoret.  Normally Sharon, who is in her 30s, is busy selling potatoes and vegetables to travelers.  But on this day she has taken time off to attend is a farmers’ field day at Mumberes Farmers' Cooperative Society grounds.

 

“I decided to come when I heard that there would be free health services,” says Sharon, accompanied by her friend with a small baby.

New loan products help dairy farmers scale up

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USAID helps Kenya's banks develop the important agricultural market
Date Published: 
February 12, 2013
A Kenyan loan officer hands his business card to a dairy farmer

 

The dairy sector currently accounts for eight percent (8%) of Kenya’s GDP. With 1.5 million smallholder farmers producing milk, dairy has the potential to greatly contribute to economic growth and job creation. With technical assistance provided by USAID, Kenya’s financial institutions are gradually starting to lend into the sector, supporting needs of farmers and entrepreneurs once excluded from commercial finance.

Youth from pastoralist community apply modern business methods to traditional crafts

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The horns and bones of pastroralists' cattle are transformed into jewelry and other products
Date Published: 
February 9, 2013
Vases made from camel bones

Hola, a small town located in Kenya's Tana River County, is home to Wata Omara Youth Group . This group produces and sells traditional jewelry made from metal, bone, and horn.  The process of smelting metal to make bangles and chains takes a significant amount of time.  In the past, the group would seel each piece for less than $1.  The Wata Omara tribe, the group responsible for these crafts, are treated as the lowest caste in their traditional society, making it difficult to engage in activities that would yield higher incomes.

Promotion of fodder production and storage benefits farmers and pastoralists

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USAID’s Kenya Drylands Livestock Development Program helps farmers increase incomes while providing much-needed fodder to herders during times of drought
Date Published: 
February 9, 2013
A Kenyan woman farmer proudly displays her fodder production at a World Food Day
In Kenya's Tana River District, both pastoralists and farmers suffer when there is drought.  Many of the indigenous communities grow maize, beans, mangoes, and various traditional vegetables.  Lacking an irrigation scheme,  the famers often find their crops succumbing to the harsh climate. 

Small Holder Farmers are Feeding the Present and the Future

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Horticultural Exports supply food for the North Rift region
Date Published: 
January 18, 2013
Three Kenyans sort snow peas

The Rift Valley region of Kenya has favorable climatic conditions for production of horticultural crops. However, this opportunity was not fully exploited for decades namely due to drought, lack of education on horticultural produce and low private sector investment.

Agricultural Biotechnology Outreach Support Program

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Click Here for Printable Fact Sheet

What is the Kenya Agricultural Biotechnology Support Program?

USAID’s Kenya Agricultural Biotechnology Outreach Support Program is educating young scientists, the general public, policymakers, and the media about biotechnology and biosafety.

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