The County Government of Nakuru has entered into a five-year partnership with Tupande, the Kenyan branch of international nonprofit One Acre Fund, to enhance access to agricultural credit, farm inputs and climate-smart farming support for smallholder farmers. This collaboration aims to address administrative barriers that hinder farmers' access to services and financing.
According to County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Veterinary Services Leonard Bor, the partnership seeks to simplify licensing and approvals while expanding farmers' access to credit and promoting agroforestry. He emphasized that accessible financing and efficient service delivery are central to the county's agricultural transformation agenda.
The agreement is intended to help farmers obtain resources for production while supporting food security and rural economic activity. Bor highlighted that the partnership advances Governor Susan Kihika's administration's commitment to food security and agricultural development. The practical impact of the agreement will depend on the swift implementation of measures, communication of eligibility to farmers and monitoring of results.
To gauge the effectiveness of the partnership, the county will need to report on various indicators, including the number of farmers reached, credit accessed, licensing delays reduced, training delivered and trees planted and surviving. These indicators will help establish whether the five-year partnership improves agricultural productivity, strengthens household incomes and builds resilience to climate-related risks.
Access to affordable agricultural finance remains a challenge for many Kenyan farmers. A recent survey by the Central Bank of Kenya found that 45 per cent of sampled farmers reported borrowing to finance farming activities, up from 34 per cent in July. The survey revealed that farmers rely on commercial banks, savings and credit cooperative societies, informal groups, digital lenders, family and friends for financing.
Tupande, operated by One Acre Fund in Kenya, provides smallholder farmers with agricultural products, training and services through field staff and digital platforms. The organisation reports serving 1,255,000 farmers in Kenya and producing 150 million tree seedlings. Its existing operations provide a potential platform for expanding farmer support.
The partnership also aligns with Kenya's national tree-growing and ecosystem-restoration programme, which aims to grow 15 billion trees by 2032 and restore 10.6 million hectares of degraded landscapes. The programme includes farms and agricultural landscapes, making smallholder participation important to its implementation.
Key points
- The partnership aims to simplify licensing and approvals while expanding farmers' access to credit and promoting agroforestry.
- Access to affordable agricultural finance remains a challenge for many Kenyan farmers, with 45 per cent of sampled farmers reporting borrowing to finance farming activities.
- The partnership aligns with Kenya's national tree-growing and ecosystem-restoration programme, which aims to grow 15 billion trees by 2032.
