FAO Project Empowers Bungoma Farmers to Boost Food Security

In Bungoma County’s Maeni B village, Agnes Barasa, a 53-year-old farmer, has transformed her farm into a thriving source of food and income thanks to the FAO’s Boosting Sustainable Food Production in Kenya initiative (Boost Project). The program empowers smallholder farmers in Bungoma, Kakamega, Nandi, Homa Bay, and Migori with sustainable farming techniques rooted in agroecology.
Barasa now uses organic top-dressing fertiliser made from tithonia leaves and fish waste, reducing reliance on expensive chemical fertilizers. She also practices natural pest control and composting, significantly improving crop yields—her one-acre maize plot produced 20 bags last season, compared to only a quarter of that in previous years.
FAO’s Vincent Tibet explains that the project provides both inputs and intensive training, teaching farmers about soil health, composting, and pest management. Voucher farmers receive seeds and storage materials, while all farmers benefit from weekly training and agroecology hubs managed by trained youth, providing employment opportunities.
With improved techniques, farmers like Barasa are seeing maize yields rise from 10 to 28 bags per acre. The initiative promotes food security, self-reliance, and sustainable livelihoods, giving hope for a more resilient agricultural sector in Bungoma and beyond.
The program also emphasizes regulating farm inputs, as the sale of counterfeit seeds and pesticides remains a concern, with FAO urging stronger enforcement through the Pest Control Products Bill.
Through the Boost Project, Bungoma farmers are not just growing food—they are cultivating dignity, resilience, and a future for their families.