The Horticultural Impact Programme (HortIMPACT) was a collaborative initiative between the public and private sectors, funded by the Netherlands Government and executed by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation alongside Kenyan and international private sector partners. Operating from 2015 to 2019, the program sought to boost the productivity, profitability, and inclusivity of Kenya’s horticulture sector, with a particular focus on smallholder farmers (SHFs). This was achieved by enhancing their access to markets, finance, and sustainable farming technologies. The program emphasized improving food safety, increasing value chain efficiency, and promoting climate-smart agricultural practices to maintain the competitiveness of Kenyan horticultural exports in global markets.
HortIMPACT concentrated on essential horticultural value chains, such as fruits, vegetables, and potatoes, and addressed areas like agrologistics, market linkages, certification, and reducing post-harvest losses. The initiative aimed to foster private sector-driven innovations by linking farmers with agribusinesses, technology providers, and financial institutions.
Implementation Status
Key components implemented under the programme included:
- Cold Chain Logistics Improvement: The programme provides support to smallholder farmers so they can access better post-harvest storage solutions along with cooling and transportation systems, which help in minimizing food loss and achieving export quality standards.
- Market Linkages: The programme connects SHFs to large horticultural exporters through contract farming arrangements supplemented by structured aggregation centers.
- Food Safety & Compliance: We are advancing Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification alongside pesticide residue monitoring and enhanced farm traceability systems to satisfy EU and Middle East export market standards.
- Financial Access for Farmers: Farmers receive customized financing solutions through partnerships with financial institutions which enable them to purchase essential inputs and build infrastructure while obtaining certifications required for export markets.
The programme concluded in 2019 with benefits to more than 40,000 smallholder farmers who experienced increased export standard compliance and higher incomes while private sector investment in horticulture improved.
Key Findings
- Enhanced Market Access: The programme helped Kenya achieve higher export quality in horticulture which enabled smallholder farmers to reach international market standards and enter new markets.
- Post-Harvest Loss Reduction: The implementation of cold storage along with enhanced post-harvest handling methods resulted in a 15-20% reduction in losses which increased profit margins for both farmers and exporters.
- Increased Private Sector Participation: Private sector co-investment reached more than €4.5 million to support sustainable horticultural solutions in Kenya.
- Strengthened Compliance & Food Safety: Through its initiatives HortIMPACT educated farmers about GAP while simultaneously decreasing pesticide residue violations and boosting the count of certified farms.