AGRA

Approximately 180 kilometres from Nairobi lies the village of Kithumula, also known as Kwa Mutonga. The residents of this village in Kitui County largely depends on agriculture for their livelihood, with most households practising crop and livestock farming.

Kitui County, renowned for its abundant production of fruits, spans an impressive 30,496 square kilometres, making it one of Kenya’s largest counties.

Besides agriculture, the county is rich in natural resources, including coal, limestone, iron ore, and building sand. Additionally, it is home to almost half of Tsavo East National Park, offering significant tourism potential.

Yet, despite its agricultural potential, smallholder farmers like Mr. Nzomo Mitau have long struggled with declining soil fertility, land degradation, and the adverse effects of climate change.

Traditional farming methods were failing them, and Nzomo, who has an 11-acre farmland, could only harvest a mere one bag of produce per acre. This meagre output barely covered his family’s needs, let alone leave any surplus for reinvestment. “I had to dig into my savings just to keep the farm running and support my family. Traditional farming was taking a toll on me,” he recalls.

The Turning Point: Embracing Regenerative Agriculture

Hope came knocking when Nzomo encountered representatives from the Cereal Growers Association (CGA) based in Kitui county, which was implementing the Strengthening Regenerative Agriculture in Kenya (STRAK) project in Kitui and Makueni counties. Funded by the IKEA Foundation through the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the project aimed to build climate resilience and food security for smallholder farmers by promoting regenerative agricultural practices.

Nzomo began his journey into regenerative agriculture cautiously, dedicating just one acre to test the new methods. To his amazement, the yield from this single acre exceeded what he had previously harvested from his entire 11-acre farm. “My neighbours were surprised and thought I had done something unusual to boost my produce,” he chuckles. Encouraged by the results, he expanded regenerative farming to four acres, which now yield over 40 bags of produce in total.

Diversification and Sustainability

With the newfound success, Nzomo made a bold decision—rather than continuing to struggle with low-yield traditional farming on all 11 acres, he diversified his farming activities. He allocated the remaining seven acres to livestock rearing, beekeeping, and poultry farming, creating multiple revenue streams.

“I used the income from my first regenerative harvest to buy my first Friesian cows in one of the local dairy farms. Before that, I only had local breeds, which produced very little milk,” he says.

Today, he integrates his livestock and poultry farming with his crop production, practicing a circular economy approach where farm waste is converted into organic manure, reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers. His beekeeping venture is also thriving, providing honey for sale and supporting pollination on his farm.

The Science Behind Regenerative Agriculture

Nzomo’s transformation is a result of adopting regenerative agriculture techniques promoted by the STRAK project.

These practices include ripping, planting basins, and zai pits to enhance water retention and soil fertility, along with soil and water conservation structures to prevent erosion. Agroforestry has been introduced to improve biodiversity and provide additional income through fruit trees, while composting and the use of farmyard manure naturally enrich the soil. Mulching helps retain moisture and suppress weeds, while integrating livestock, poultry, and crops creates a balanced farming ecosystem. Pasture farming supports livestock feed production while acting as a protective ground cover, and apiculture (beekeeping) enhances pollination while generating extra income.

A Model for Sustainable Farming

Nzomo is now a model farmer in Kitui County, proving that sustainable agricultural practices can not only increase yields but also improve overall livelihoods. His success story is inspiring other farmers in the region to adopt regenerative agriculture. Through the CGA’s Village-Based Advisors (VBAs), farmers receive training and access to quality inputs, ensuring the long-term sustainability of these practices.

With the STRAK project expected to benefit 20,000 farmers in Kitui and Makueni, the goal is to see a 20-25% increase in yields across the region. Additionally, the initiative aims to produce, aggregate, and market over 6,000 metric tons of pulses and 4,000 metric tons of cereals, with an estimated value of €4,018,634.

As Kitui County continues its journey toward climate-resilient agriculture, Nzomo’s story serves as a beacon of hope for thousands of farmers looking to break free from the cycle of low yields and financial struggles. Through regenerative agriculture, the land is healing, and so are the livelihoods of those who depend on it.