AGRA and Government Strengthen Partnership to Transform Smallholder Farming
AGRA President Alice Ruhweza addressing delegates at the IGFA 2025 in Naivasha, Thursday, November 27, 2025.
Naivasha Kenya, November 27, 2025 – The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating Kenya’s farmer-centered agricultural transformation through a strengthened partnership with national and county governments. The collaboration aligns AGRA’s investments with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and county priorities.
The announcement was made at the Intergovernmental Forum for Agriculture (IGFA) 2025 in Naivasha, a gathering of policymakers, development partners, researchers, and farmer organizations. The forum focused on strategies to improve productivity, promote climate-smart agriculture, and strengthen value chains for smallholder farmers.
At the event, AGRA President Alice Ruhweza highlighted the importance of addressing the foundational challenges smallholder farmers face, including poor soils, market access, and financial services. She explained that practical, on-the-ground support is essential to transform farms into profitable enterprises.
“Kenya can turn small farms into thriving businesses if we fix soils, markets, and finance together.” She said.
Ruhweza elaborated on how AGRA supports farmers directly through local advisors who guide them throughout the season.
“Our partnership is about delivery on the ground; AGRA has helped build a strong network of 506 Village-Based Advisors, 60 percent being women. These are trusted local advisors who walk with farmers, field by field, season by season.” She said.
AGRA stressed that its programs work through government systems to ensure sustainability and coordinated policy implementation. In 2024, it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Development to coordinate national and county investments in areas such as fertilizer distribution, soil health, extension services, and seed systems.
Ruhweza highlighted soil fertility as a critical factor for Kenya’s food security and agricultural competitiveness, explaining that many productive areas suffer from depleted soils.
“We supported Kenya to host the 2024 Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit and are now helping domesticate the resulting Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan in selected counties.” She said.
She further emphasized the long-term benefits of healthy soils
“Investing in healthy soils is critical; it multiplies the returns from inputs and secures long-term productivity.” Ruhweza emphasized.
AGRA’s Kenya Acting Country Director Davis Muthini highlighted the importance of collaboration across government, private sector, and farmer organizations. He explained that improving yields and market access strengthens livelihoods and enhances national food security.
“By improving yields for smallholder farmers and helping them access structured markets, we can strengthen livelihoods and contribute directly to Kenya’s food security.” He said.
Muthini further clarified why multi-stakeholder partnerships are essential for sustainable agricultural transformation.
“Addressing challenges in agriculture requires collaboration across the ecosystem from government to the private sector and farmer organizations.” He explained.
The partnership also addresses post-harvest losses, which can reach one-third of production for some crops. Muthini explained the practical impact of AGRA-supported storage solutions, including dryers, shellers, and hermetic storage.
“Farmers in Makueni County, for example, have reduced spoilage, secured better prices, and planned for school fees and on-farm investments.”Muthini explained.
He further emphasized the broader benefits of proper storage and market access. “Proper storage and market access are critical tools to transform farming from subsistence to business.” He emphasized.
Finance and youth employment are also key pillars of the collaboration. AGRA is partnering with the National Treasury and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to support banks, SACCOs, and microfinance institutions in creating financial products suited for farmers and agribusinesses.
Looking forward, AGRA aims to support 2.5 million farmers in adopting climate-smart practices, provide post-harvest solutions to 2 million farmers, strengthen structured markets for 100,000 farmers, and improve extension worker-to-farmer ratios using frontline agents and digital advisory tools.
Through this strengthened partnership, AGRA and the Kenyan government aim to transform smallholder farming into thriving, business-driven enterprises, ensuring food security, higher incomes, and sustainable livelihoods for millions of farmers.
