The Growing Futures Project is an agribusiness initiative aimed at empowering young farmers in
Kenya by providing them with skills in commercial horticulture and support for accessing markets.
Implemented by Farm Africa and funded by the UK’s Waitrose & Partners Foundation, the project
seeks to improve the profitability and sustainability of smallholder farming through better
production techniques, enhanced post-harvest handling, and direct connections to export
markets.
This initiative specifically focuses on youth and women-led farmer groups in areas with significant
horticultural potential, such as Trans Nzoia County, assisting them in moving from subsistence
farming to commercially successful horticulture businesses. A major emphasis of the project is on
export-oriented value chains, including French beans, sugar snap peas, and snow peas, which
are highly sought after in European markets.
Implementation Status
- Training & Capacity Building: More than 1,000 young farmers have received training in
Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), climate-smart farming techniques, and organic
certification to meet export standards. - Post-Harvest & Agrologistics Support: The project has helped build centralized
packhouses and cold storage units, enhancing the shelf life and quality of horticultural
products for export. - Market Access & Export Linkages: Farmers have been linked with UK-based buyers,
including supermarkets like Waitrose, ensuring a consistent demand for their products. - Sustainable Agribusiness Development: Participating farmers have formed
cooperatives, which allows them to negotiate better prices, access group loans, and
minimize post-harvest losses.
Key Findings
- Increased Household Incomes: Smallholder farmers involved in the project reported a
40% rise in income due to higher yields, direct market access, and improved farm
management practices. - Enhanced Export Readiness: More than 70% of farmers trained in the program obtained
GlobalGAP certification, enabling them to tap into premium European markets. - Youth & Women Empowerment: 60% of project beneficiaries were young farmers aged
18-35, and over 50% were women, contributing to job creation and poverty alleviation in
rural areas.
Many farmers still face limited access to affordable financing, along with rising input costs, strict
export compliance requirements, and vulnerability to climate change.