Weekly News Roundup Nō 37 / Sept 2025
Kenyan Scientist Wins 2025 Africa Food Prize for Work on Indigenous Vegetables
Kenya’s agricultural sector received a major boost this week after Professor Mary Abukutsa-Onyango, a horticultural scientist at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), was named co-winner of the prestigious 2025 Africa Food Prize.
The award, announced during the Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar, Senegal, recognises Prof. Abukutsa-Onyango’s groundbreaking work in promoting African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) as a tool to tackle malnutrition, boost farmer incomes and build climate-resilient food systems. She shares the US$100,000 prize with Nigeria’s Dr. Mercy Diebiru-Ojo, an expert in cassava and yam seed systems.
Prof. Abukutsa-Onyango has spent decades advocating for the mainstreaming of crops such as spider plant, African nightshade and jute mallow, which are rich in micronutrients but often overlooked by commercial agriculture. Her research has led to the registration of improved seed varieties, adoption of climate-smart technologies, and expanded cultivation in counties including Kakamega, Kiambu and Kisumu in Kenya.
“These vegetables are not just food; they are medicine, income generators and part of our heritage,” she said after receiving the award. “Empowering smallholder farmers—especially women—with better seed systems and markets can transform livelihoods while improving nutrition.”
Co-laureate Dr. Diebiru-Ojo was celebrated for her role in commercialising Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponic (SAH) technology, which produces disease-free cassava and yam planting materials, significantly improving yields for African farmers.
The Africa Food Prize, widely regarded as the continent’s premier award for agricultural innovation, celebrates individuals or institutions leading efforts to transform Africa’s food systems. Organisers said this year’s winners exemplify the power of science and local knowledge to shift agriculture from subsistence to sustainable, profitable enterprises.
Agricultural stakeholders praised the recognition, noting that indigenous crops and resilient seed systems will be crucial in ensuring food security under climate stress and rapid population growth.
“This is not just a win for Prof. Abukutsa-Onyango; it is a win for African farmers and consumers who will benefit from more diverse, nutritious and sustainable diets,” said a statement from the forum’s secretariat.
The recognition is expected to draw more investment and policy attention to indigenous vegetable research, seed multiplication and value-chain development across the continent.
Over 50,000 Tea Farmers in Kirinyaga & Embu To Get Sustainable Agriculture Training
More than 51,000 smallholder tea farmers in Kirinyaga and Embu counties will benefit from a six-month training initiative launched under the Mount Kenya Sustainable Landscape and Livelihoods (MUSULLI) Project, led by the Rainforest Alliance. Dubbed “Pesa Mfukoni” (Money in the Pocket), the programme aims to build farmer capacity in agribusiness, financial literacy, environmental conservation, human rights, gender inclusivity, and home economics. It is designed to help tea farmers reduce dependence on tea and coffee alone, diversify income sources, and enhance resilience in the face of climate change.
Already, more than 20,000 farmers have been trained through collaborations with eight tea factories. Under the plan, each participating tea factory will receive a KES 1 million revolving fund to support farmer-led diversification projects, including avocado growing, beekeeping, and small-scale tea packaging.
Examples of early successes include avocado farming, where Ndima Tea Factory has distributed 28,000 high-quality Hass avocado seedlings to farmers. In Beekeeping, Thumaita Tea Factory is supporting beekeeping ventures whereas in Tea packaging, Projects at Kathangarii Tea Factory have begun exploring value addition locally.
The programme emphasises the role of women and young people — over 70% of recent training graduates have come from these groups. Organisers also urged farmer groups to formalize (e.g., register legally) to gain better access to grants, loans, and government support. Rainforest Alliance Country Director Marion Ng’ang’a warned that without stronger environmental conservation, climate change could shrink the land under tea and coffee, reducing quality and yields. Kilimo News
Kakamega County & FAO Launch Six-Year Climate-Smart Farming Project
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has joined forces with Kakamega County to roll out a new six-year initiative called the Tunza Green Climate Fund Project. The programme aims to enhance value chains in poultry, fruit trees, coffee, and African leafy vegetables, while making farming more climate-resilient.
To kick off implementation, the County Department of Agriculture, led by CECM Mophat Mandela, held a sensitization workshop with agricultural officers from Likuyani, Lugari, and Malava sub-counties. These officers are tasked with mobilising farmer groups across 20 wards in 12 sub-counties to participate in Farmer Field Schools (FFS) starting next week.
Mandela praised FAO for aligning with Governor Fernandes Barasa’s food security goals, noting that the project is expected to boost farm productivity, strengthen resilience to climate shocks, and promote sustainable farming practices. He emphasized that strong commitment from field officers will be crucial to success.
A key feature of the project is its focus on empowering youth and women as part of climate-smart and market-oriented farming. Strengthening farmer organizations is also central to the plan.
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