The agricultural sector plays a crucial role in the economy of Kenya with smallholder farmers representing a significant portion of the workforce. However, many smallholder farmers face challenges in accessing relevant and practical resources that can empower them to transition from subsistence farming to successful entrepreneurship.

Hand in Hand Eastern Africa has been working with the Hilti Foundation in Kenya since 2017 to equip smallholder farmer with business skills, good agricultural practises, access to credit, facilitate access to markets and other forms of support to enable transition from subsistence agriculture to running profitable agribusiness hence increasing their income to above $2 per day.

The programme has two phases; the first phase focuses on equipping the target community members with basic entrepreneurship and agricultural production skills.

The second phase of the programme involves scaling up the enterprises started by community members who have graduated from the first phase, using a value chains approach, the enterprises scaled up/ accelerated are either in poultry chicken value chain or cow dairy milk value chain, these are value chains that were confirmed to be viable for the community members to invest in after a market survey was carried out. The two value chains are also among those prioritized by both the government (National & County) as well as other development actors in the areas where the programme is being implemented.

Why Value Chain Approach?

The value chain approach considers the role of existing chain actors, supporting actors, and the policy environment. It allows us to look at current challenges in a value chain, as well as the opportunities for improving the efficiency of the value chain and the benefits for everyone involved. From a farmer’s perspective, being part of a well-functioning value chain can bring greater income.

Hilti Scaling up/ Acceleration Approach

The scaling up phase has 3 main pillars/ outcome areas. These are;

1. Training in Business & Technical Skills; addresses the lack of advanced business and technical skills required to achieve high incomes in farming-based enterprises.
2. Access to Credit; linking project members with vetted pro-poor financial service providers, including “outgrowing” schemes, supporting them to secure and grow their businesses in the selected value chains.
3. Scale up with stronger producer groups; supporting producer groups to deliver greater volumes and better incomes for the project members’ businesses within the selected value chains.

The desired impact of the scaling up project is that member businesses drive poverty reduction and improve household quality of life in Kenya.

The project is currently working with about 2,500 member enterprises in the two value chains and expect to work with 16,000 participants between 2021- 2025.