The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, with funding from the Biovision Foundation Switzerland, implemented a comprehensive project in Vihiga County, Kenya, from 2014 to 2023. This initiative aimed to enhance nutrition-sensitive agriculture in Vihiga County and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Through the promotion of traditional leafy vegetables (TLVs), the project significantly improved dietary diversity. Notably, stunting rates dropped from 23.6% in 2014 to 16.6% in 2022. Consequently, the consumption of diverse, nutritious foods increased among the targeted communities.
Strengthening local seed systems
One of the project’s key innovations was the establishment of 10 Community Seed Banks (CSBs). These CSBs played a crucial role in preserving local agrobiodiversity and ensuring access to quality seeds. By the end of the project, the CSBs had conserved and distributed over 50 varieties of TLVs, legumes, and cereals. The project reached 250 community-based organization (CBO) members and extended training and seeds to an additional 8,410 farmers. A significant percentage of these farmers adopted new agroecological practices and reported improved incomes and diets.
Capacity Building and Farmer Empowerment
The project also focused on capacity building through the Training of Trainers (ToT) model. This model empowered champion farmers and Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to disseminate knowledge and best practices within their communities. As a result, peer-to-peer learning reached over 1,000 farmers. Additionally, the project promoted regenerative agriculture and organic farming techniques. These efforts led to increased crop yields and reduced use of synthetic inputs, thereby improving food security and farming system resilience.
Policy influence and multisectoral coordination
Through active participation in multi-stakeholder platforms, the project contributed to the development of the Vihiga County Nutrition Policy and the initiation of an Agroecology Policy. These policy engagements aimed to mainstream NSA interventions and ensure their sustainability. The project’s success stories, such as those of Elizabeth Omusiele, Consolata Lumati, Joseck Mukuna, and Evans Ochuto, illustrate the transformative impact of nutrition-sensitive agriculture in Vihiga County on individual livelihoods and community resilience.
This case study was visited during a field visit in the framework of the Learning Route “Seeding Prosperity: How Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture is Transforming Africa,” providing participants with firsthand insights into the project’s successful implementation and impact.
