Kenya will benefit from a Sh600 million European Union-funded programme to restore soil health and agroecology among 40,000 smallholder farmers in six counties, launched in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The €4.3 million (about Sh600 million) grant will support integrated soil fertility management, soil testing, agroecological training, agroforestry, climate-smart agriculture, and improved post-harvest handling. Most of the interventions will be delivered through a digital e-voucher system that links farmers to private-sector input suppliers and service providers.
The programme was launched in Kakamega amid growing concern over declining soil fertility, land degradation, and the impacts of climate change on food production. It aims to strengthen climate resilience and promote sustainable farming practices.
Dubbed Investing in Livelihood Resilience and Soil Health (ILSA), the three-year initiative will be implemented by IFAD in partnership with national and county governments under the Kenya Cereal Enhancement Programme–Climate Resilient Agricultural Livelihoods (KCEP-CRAL).
Speaking during the launch, Mariatu Kamara, IFAD Country Director for Kenya, said the programme builds on earlier European Union–supported agricultural interventions rather than operating as a stand-alone project.
“This action builds on what has already been implemented and tested. We are not introducing something entirely new; we are scaling up approaches that have already demonstrated impact,” Kamara said.
She explained that KCEP-CRAL, launched in 2015 through a partnership between the Government of Kenya, the European Union, and IFAD, enabled smallholder farmers in 13 counties to access farm inputs through an e-voucher system. The programme was later expanded under the BOOST initiative to promote bio-inputs, agroecological practices, and digital delivery mechanisms.
The six implementing counties of Kakamega, Trans Nzoia, Embu, Kilifi, Makueni, and Taita Taveta were selected based on assessments of climate vulnerability, agricultural potential, and county governments’ capacity to implement and sustain the interventions.
“We looked at counties already experiencing climate stress, where productivity improvements are possible, and where county governments have shown readiness to integrate these interventions into existing agricultural programmes,” Kamara said.
She added that sustainability is a central pillar of the programme, with IFAD providing a proof of concept before transitioning implementation to county and national governments.
“IFAD is not here to stay forever. These programmes are deliberately implemented through county structures so that when the grant phases out, counties can take over, continue, and even scale up what works,” she said.
State Department for Agriculture Secretary of Administration Rashid Khator said the project aligns with the government’s policy shift towards sustainable soil management and long-term productivity.
“The objective is to enhance soil fertility, reduce land degradation, and increase agro-ecosystem resilience. These interventions are essential to improving crop yields, food security, and household incomes,” Khator said.
He noted that the grant will directly support farmers through access to certified seeds, fertilizer, bio-inputs, soil testing services, and post-harvest technologies, while also strengthening extension services, training programmes, and monitoring systems to track improvements in soil health.
“This will support Kenya’s national priorities on food and nutrition security, climate resilience, and sustainable economic growth,” Khator said, adding that the government would provide the policy and institutional support needed to sustain gains beyond the three-year implementation period.
Kakamega County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Irrigation, and Cooperatives Moffat Mandela, speaking on behalf of Governor Fernandes Barasa, said the county was honoured to host the national launch, noting that Kakamega has benefited from all three EU–IFAD agricultural programmes implemented so far.
“This project directly addresses soil health and agroecology, central to making agriculture productive, profitable, and resilient. We are committed to mainstreaming these interventions into county programmes to ensure long-term impact,” Mandela said.
He added that the county government views agriculture as an economic enterprise and is keen to transition farmers from subsistence production to commercially viable farming models that can attract youth and improve rural incomes.
