In Kenya’s Bomet and Homabay Counties, smallholder bean farmers are adopting innovative and sustainable agricultural techniques to bolster resilience and increase production in the face of climate change. By integrating beneficial insects such as bees and diversifying their farms with fruit trees including mangoes, avocados and oranges, these farmers are mitigating the adverse effects of unpredictable weather patterns, encouraging biodiversity, and improving both human and soil health. This holistic approach is proving to be a transformative strategy, presenting a viable model for sustainable farming that balances environmental protection, nutrition and economic prosperity.
The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, through its Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA), is at the forefront of these efforts. By harnessing partnerships and cutting-edge research, PABRA is empowering smallholder farmers and promoting sustainable agriculture across Kenya and other countries.
Climate change poses a significant threat to bean yields in Kenya, manifested in irregular rainfall, prolonged droughts, and escalating temperatures. These issues lead to diminished harvests, the proliferation of insects and diseases, and soil erosion, thereby jeopardising food and nutritional security, as well as the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, particularly women, youth, and children who depend on beans.
PABRA, through the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, has played a crucial role in tackling these challenges. The Building Equitable Climate-Resilient African Bean & Insect Sectors (BRAINS) project, co-implemented by PABRA and the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), exemplifies the potential of collaboration and innovation. Supported by a CAD $20 million grant, BRAINS aims to directly benefit five million smallholder farmers and 2.5 million consumers across 15 sub-Saharan African countries. The project follows a corridor model.
Key elements of the initiative encompass:
- Climate-Resilient Crops: The development and distribution of drought-tolerant bean varieties and fruit trees like mango and avocado.
- Sustainable Practices: The application of insect-based solutions such as biofertilisers, biopesticides, and beekeeping-friendly trees to enhance soil fertility and pollination.
- Economic Empowerment: Investment in carbon-neutral, climate-resilient, and gender-responsive business development that aligns with emerging climate finance sector objectives.
Spotlight on Bomet County: A Model for Success
In Bomet County, the impact of PABRA’s past and current investment is evident through partnerships with organisations like the Abosi TopHill Cooperative and Gorgor Primary School. The cooperative, a women-led initiative with over 600 members, has become a hub for agribusiness, empowering women and youth through the bean value chain. Meanwhile, Gorgor Primary School’s 4K Club has successfully integrated Nyota Beans into school meals, using proceeds from bean sales to support the school library. Both partners are now incorporating beneficial insects and fruits to diversify their production and reinforce the ecosystem in a more sustainable manner.
The County Government of Bomet has also played a key role, fostering public-private partnerships in the value addition of bee products and avocados, as well as establishing incubation centres for youth. These initiatives are expected to create job opportunities for local communities.
Expanding Impact: Homa Bay County
The success of PABRA’s initiatives extends beyond Bomet to Homa Bay County, where 1,200 farmers (51% women and 18% youth) are benefiting from integrated farming systems. Through agroforestry, bean cultivation, aquaculture, goat rearing, and mango cultivation, farmers are diversifying their income streams while improving food security. Learning sites and conservation groups, supported by organisations like Caritas, are accelerating the adoption of sustainable practices.
In Homa Bay, the focus on agroforestry and climate-smart agriculture is assisting farmers in adapting to changing weather patterns, while simultaneously improving soil health and biodiversity. These efforts demonstrate the scalability of PABRA’s model and the significance of partnerships in driving sustainable development.
The success of the BRAINS initiative underscores the importance of collaboration. By working with national agricultural research institutes, local governments, and communities, PABRA and its partners are creating a sustainable model for food security and economic empowerment.
“The BRAINS initiative represents a groundbreaking approach to addressing climate change.
Sunday Ekesi, Director of Research and Partnerships at ICIPE, and co-Principal Investigator of BRAINS, highlighted the multifaceted benefits of the integrated approach: “By incorporating beans, fruit trees, and edible insects into farming systems, we simultaneously improve nutrition and food security, and bolster climate resilience. These crops and practices rejuvenate soil health, rehabilitate ecosystems, and provide sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth. This holistic strategy allows us to cultivate a future where agriculture and the environment flourish in unison.”
Jean Claude Rubyogo, Bean Programme Leader & Director of PABRA, echoed this sentiment, stating, “The integration of beans, fruit trees, and edible insects will significantly enhance nutrition security, providing communities with access to affordable, nutritious food choices while also fostering positive social change.”
Underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts, Alicia Sosa, First Secretary (Development) at Global Affairs Canada’s Pan Africa Regional Development Program, remarked, “The success of the BRAINS initiative demonstrates the power of partnerships. By uniting researchers, farmers, governments, and communities, we are tackling immediate issues like malnutrition and food insecurity and simultaneously building long-term resilience. Together, we are forging a sustainable agricultural model that can be replicated across Africa and beyond, ensuring that no one is excluded from a healthier, more prosperous future.”
Claude Landry, Head of Cooperation, also from Global Affairs Canada’s Pan Africa Regional Development Program, emphasised the long-term impact of the BRAINS initiative: “Investing in a multidisciplinary project like BRAINS is about building resilient communities and empowering women and youth to lead the way in sustainable development. By backing innovative solutions like climate-resilient beans, fruit trees, and beneficial insects, we are fostering a future where food security and economic opportunity are intrinsically linked – a transformative change that will create a lasting legacy for generations.”
