Feed the Future and Agriculture

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Agriculture contributes 24% of GDP directly--and over 50% if agriculture-based manufacturing is included.  It is also the nations’ top earner of foreign exchange, contributing some 60% of export earnings.
In 2011, USAID’s Feed the Future value chain programs contributed to international export of targeted agricultural products valued at $54 million, plus an additional $19.5 million in agriculture exports in the East Africa region. More than $14 million of this export income went directly to the small holder farmers who grow the produce.

USAID is a leader in farming and pastoral programs that focus on the entire value-chain: from seeds, soil and production methods to connections to markets.  In addition, we work with the Kenyan government to enact and implement policies that ease the way for small-scale farmers and increase incomes for rural households. 

USAID/Kenya boosts the production skills, business acumen and income of small-scale farmers. Our programs:

  • train farmers in business as well as sustainable methods to produce higher yields 
  • link them to markets, financing, other business services;
  • develop farmer-friendly national policies; and
  • economically empower women


Ongoing Agriculture Projects:

Kenya Horticulture Competitiveness Program
Kenya Maize Development Program
Kenya Drylands Livestock Development Program
Kenya Dairy Sector Competitiveness Program
Financial Inclusion for Rural Microenterprise
Kenya Feed the Future Innovation Engine
Farm Input, Finance, Extension, Market Facilitation for Western Kenya Smallholder Farmers
Farm Inputs Promotion - Africa
Tegemeo Agricultural Policy Research and Analysis Program
Program for Biosafety Systems
Kenya Agricultural Biotechnology Support Program
Maize, Dairy, Soil Fertility, and Nutribusiness Support Program (KARI-Nutribusiness)
Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET)
African Women in Agricultural R&D