1. The FIVE Project Helping smallholder farmers in Kenya
Welcome!
We’re going on a journey to Kenya, to learn about:
Farmers in Kenya
What is a smallholder farmer
What are the challenges faces smallholder farmers in Kenya
What can help
Traidcraft’s FIVE Project

2. Let’s head to Africa…
Africa

3. We’re heading here… Kenyan Flag
… To Kenya, on the east coast of Africa, on the equator.
The capital and largest city is Nairobi. Mombasa is the second largest city. The two official languages in Kenya are English and Swahili, although there are dozens of other languages spoken in various parts of the country. Kenya shares Lake Victoria, the world's second largest fresh water lake, with Tanzania and Uganda, and the country has many national parks and wildlife reserves, with safaris being a popular activity for visitors.
Agriculture is important to Kenya's economy, especially tea, coffee and flowers.
Large animals such as lions, buffalo, leopards, elephants and rhinoceros are present in Kenya.
Hydroelectricity is the largest contributor to Kenya's electricity supply.
Kenya is a developing country and half of the population live in poverty.

4. Back in 2012, Traidcraft used funds from the Catalyst Programme to research drought-prone areas of Kenya and see how we could help smallholder farmers there. We saw there was a great need and used our research to win significant funding from the Big Lottery to carry out the proposed work. Now almost 30,000 people are benefiting from the Flourishing in Vulnerable Environments (FIVE) project!
What is a smallholder farmer? Can anyone guess?
Small holder farmers are farmers that hold only a small amount of land. They grow enough food for themselves and then sell the rest to people in their local communities.
[The dictionary definition of a ‘smallhold’ is that it is a plot of land smaller than a small farm. ... A smallholding is a piece of land and its adjacent living quarters for the smallholder and stabling for farm animals, on a smaller scale than that of a farm but larger than an allotment, usually under 50 acres (0.20 km2).]

5. Due to climate change, there are unpredictable levels of rainfall and long periods of drought…
We’re helping smallholder farmers learn new farming techniques, get organised and work together to counter the effects of climate change on their farming. In doing this we’re increasing incomes, building skills and improving quality of life for all involved.
Climate change means that there might be periods of severe drought or heavy rainfall, both of which can cause disaster. While there is little we can do about climate change at ground level, practical training in how to cope with drought or floods can help to minimise the damage caused by either.
Where climate change is most obvious, and extremely concerning for farmers, is the rain cycles which have become so erratic that they don’t know when to plant anymore. In 2015, we had no rain for four whole months from January to April. This is highly unusual, as this used to be known as the rainy season in Kenya. On the other extreme end, we’ve also been experiencing highly unusual periods of frost and heavy hail.
Any farmer will tell you that planting during a dry spell is foolish. And, when you do risk it, being hit by hail or frost will irrevocably damage your tea shoots. In either scenario you lose your cash crop, and it can take months if not years to recover from such a setback. Based on this year’s climate, we’ve known for some time already that 2015 is going to be a disastrous year for yields.

6. Damaris Francis Ilai (14 years old) Kivivya Ngangi Nzambi
Meet Francis Ngungu Ilai (39), his wife: Damaris Ngungu Ilai (30), and his children: Ilai (14), Kivivya (11), Ngangi (6), Nzambi (4).
Francis’s Story is an excellent examples of how the FIVE project helps families to improve farming methods, and to avoid the devastation caused by extreme weather. Francis and his family live in Kairungu Village, Kairungu Sub-District, Kitui County, Kenya.
Ngangi
(6 years old)
Nzambi
(4 years old)

7. Francis and Damaris work their own smallhold, and before they became involved with the FIVE project, they struggled to grow enough on their plot of land to support themselves and their children.
Francis: ‘Before joining the program we used to sell some crops but very little. We used to sell just one bag of green grams and a half bag of dolichos, totaling 9000 ksh. I used to work casual jobs harvesting crops and weeding on other farms. Now, in addition to feeding my family I sell five bags of green grams, three bags of dolichos, two bags of millet and three bags of sorghum, totaling 60,500 ksh. We also grow cow peas, pigeon peas, maize, and beans.’

8. Harvested pigeon peas
Picture of harvested pigeon peas – one of the crops Francis and Damaris grow on their plot of land.

9. Damaris and her children
sorting beans
The extra income means that Francis can afford to send his children to school regularly enough to gain an education. Previously, the children were often sent home, as the family couldn’t afford the fees.
Francis: ‘In the past, the kids used to go to school but were sent home very often because we couldn´t pay school fees. They would miss school around three days a week. I used to feel so bad because the neighbor´s kids were going to school. I felt like they would never finish school, that they would have no future. I just couldn´t foresee a good life for them. What could they do other than casual labor without an education? Ilai wants to be a mechanical engineer. And I hope they will go to university.’
Can you image what job you would grow up to do if you couldn’t read or write?

10. ‘Terraces’ reduce the erosion caused by weather over time
Francis: ‘Before, the harvest was not enough even for consumption. We used to have one meal per day, usually githeri (beans and maize). The only thing I would think about back then was where to find food. Life is a bit better now – we can afford three meals a day.
I´m also proud that others from the community come to see what I´ve been doing and I teach them. I´m still very scared that the rain will fail and we will get nothing but I´ve received training from the FIVE program and I´m better prepared. I know what to do if there is no rain. The most important thing I learned from the program was how to conserve water and soil by digging terraces to prevent erosion.
I have hope for the future. If I can prevent soil erosion I can start to plant fruit. I´ve already planted a few mango trees and I´m planning on planting pawpaw and orange trees, which can survive much better without a lot of rain.’
Can you see how planting different crops makes better use of the land and provides a back-up to crops failing?

11. Possible extensions:
Follow other Traidcraft activities for Fairtrade Fortnight
Explore climate change (
Design your own smallhold, compensating for extreme rain and drought!