Regenerative agriculture is transforming the lives of Kenyan farmers who faced devastating losses due to floods in 2024. The heavy rains that year submerged vast agricultural lands across several regions, including Western, Nyanza, Coastal, Rift Valley, and Central Kenya. Many farmers saw their crops destroyed, leading to fears of soaring food prices and economic hardship. However, some farmers, particularly in Western Kenya, have found resilience through regenerative farming practices.
One such farmer is Mary Aketch from Matungu, Kakamega County. Previously plagued by soil erosion and crop loss due to heavy rains on her sloping land, Mary’s fortunes changed when she joined a regenerative agriculture program. This initiative trained local farmers on conservation methods that protect the soil and improve farm productivity. Through practices such as mulching, cover cropping, intercropping, minimum tillage, agroforestry, and the use of organic manure, Mary’s farm has become more sustainable and resilient.
Mary grows a variety of crops, including sweet potatoes, onions, yams, tomatoes, bananas, and traditional vegetables like black nightshade and amaranth, which add nutritional value to her family’s diet. Cover crops like pumpkins and Mombasa grass play a crucial role in controlling soil erosion and act as natural mulches. Additionally, she has shifted away from expensive chemical fertilizers and pesticides, opting instead to use farm-made compost and natural pest repellents like desmodium and onions, which save costs and protect the environment.
The program supporting Mary’s farm encourages water conservation through technologies such as drip irrigation and solar-powered systems, essential for sustainable farming under changing climatic conditions. Farmers are also trained to produce and store clean, certified seeds, reducing disease risks and ensuring high yields. These efforts have improved soil health and crop quality, while also reducing dependency on costly external inputs.
Regenerative agriculture is not limited to crop farming; it extends to pasturelands and mixed farming systems. Integrating legumes such as beans, groundnuts, and desmodium improves soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. Farmer groups, like the Shiembekho Shiepamba Self-Help Group in Matungu, have diversified their crops and embraced value addition, producing nutrient-rich flour blends, herbal teas, and natural snacks. This approach has opened new income streams and attracted health-conscious consumers interested in chemical-free products.
For many farmers, adopting regenerative agriculture means rebuilding degraded soils, increasing crop diversity, and enhancing resilience to pests and diseases. Techniques such as push-pull technology, which uses specific crops to repel or trap pests, demonstrate how biodiversity farming can reduce chemical use while boosting yields.
As climate change continues to challenge traditional farming methods, regenerative agriculture offers a viable solution to build sustainable food systems. It promotes environmental conservation, supports farmer livelihoods, and reduces agriculture’s carbon footprint. With ongoing training and support, more farmers in Kenya are expected to embrace these practices, ensuring food security and economic stability for rural communities.
