Weekly News Roundup Nō 44 / Nov 2025
Banana Exports Bring Fortune to Taveta Farmers Under New Value Chain Model
Banana farmers in Taita Taveta County are reaping big after embracing a new value chain model that has transformed the once-subsistence crop into a lucrative export commodity.
The transformation follows a five-year programme (2020–2025) implemented by the Micro-Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT) with funding from Danida and in partnership with local agribusinesses. The initiative sought to boost productivity, improve market access, and promote climate-smart farming practices among smallholder banana producers.
Through the project, farmers received more than 476,000 tissue-culture banana seedlings, mainly the high-yielding and disease-resistant Grand Nain variety. Over 2,000 farmers were trained in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), raising adoption rates from 57 to 82 percent.
The results have been impressive. Average yields rose by about 27 percent, while post-harvest losses plummeted from 32.4 tons to just 0.48 tons per farmer. Household monthly incomes increased by 35 percent—from KSh 22,925 to KSh 30,858—while annual net earnings from banana sales jumped by 62 percent, from KSh 137,750 to KSh 223,136.
The project also facilitated the creation of Africa’s first organic banana cooperative, which has already exported more than 28,000 tons of organic bananas under a long-term contract running to 2034. The value chain has created nearly 400 new jobs, with women and youth taking up a significant share.
Beyond economic gains, the initiative has promoted environmental sustainability. Farmers have planted over 242,000 trees, adopted mulching and composting, and achieved 100 percent waste conversion on some farms. They also received training on environmental protection, fair labour, and anti-corruption practices.
County officials and partners say the model demonstrates how smallholder farmers can thrive when empowered with the right technology, organization, and access to global markets.
Learn More
Kenya Champions Digital & Innovation-Driven Agriculture
At the 5th Annual National Agribusiness Summit held in Nairobi under the theme “From Promise to Action: Advancing Agribusiness Through Dialogue and Innovation,” the government reiterated its determination to transform agriculture through technology, data and partnerships. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said that modernising the sector requires robust digital ecosystems that include farmer registration, e-extension services, digital access to inputs and real-time market intelligence.
“For agriculture to thrive, partnerships must deepen and coordination must strengthen,” Mudavadi stated. Counties were urged to invest in platforms aligned with national systems such as the Kenya Integrated Agricultural Management Information System (KIAIMS) and the National Farmer Registration System (NFRS).
The digital shift is expected to streamline supply chains, enhance market access for farmers and improve policymaking through data-driven insights. Officials say it will also create new opportunities for youth and the private sector, marking a key step toward modern, technology-based farming in Kenya
Learn More
Kenya Seals Poultry Investment Deal with South African Firms
In a move to address Kenya’s growing eggs and poultry-meat deficit, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has signed a partnership with South Africa’s Truth Black Agri House Group and Kenya’s Nouvelle Blooms Ltd to boost poultry production across the country.
Currently, Kenya produces about four billion eggs annually against a demand of nine billion, leaving a deficit of five billion eggs each year. The new deal seeks to scale up production through local feed-crop cultivation, particularly yellow maize and soya beans, while also introducing technology transfer from South African models. KNCCI’s National Director Ken Onditi urged the government to offer tax waivers on feed production and agricultural machinery to encourage investors.
If fully implemented, the partnership could significantly reduce Kenya’s reliance on imports, create employment opportunities and strengthen value chains for poultry and related agribusiness sectors. However, industry experts note that the success of the initiative will rely heavily on supportive government policy, infrastructure development and inclusion of local farmers in the value chain.
Learn More