3rd Quarter Report FY 2021: Kenya Crops and Dairy Market Systems Activity

The program focuses on three key areas: diverse agricultural production and improved productivity, improving access to diverse, safe, and nutritious foods, and competitive, inclusive, and resilient agricultural market systems. Key achievements in the third quarter of FY 2021 include the promotion of services to farmers, with over 2,500 farmers receiving training in sustainable agriculture techniques. The program also reported a 27% increase in household income among program participants compared to the control group. Additionally, the program has transformed agri-input distribution and extension systems in target counties, leading to improved access to inputs and services for farmers. The program has also made significant progress in promoting competitive, inclusive, and resilient market systems. This includes transforming dairy cooperatives into functional profit-making entities, increasing diversification across multiple focus value chains, and facilitating an enabling environment for agricultural transformation at regional economic blocs. In terms of partnerships, the program has collaborated with various stakeholders, including national government, county governments, and national stakeholders. The program has also established partnerships with 231 USG grant partners, who have reported a total expenditure of $1.5 million as of June 2021. The program has also made significant progress in promoting the integration of women and youth in agricultural market systems. This includes support for market facilitation and linkages for youth and women, African leafy vegetables as a game changer in women and youth economic empowerment, and VSLA bridging access to investment capital for women and youth. In terms of environmental compliance monitoring and reporting, the program has implemented natural resource management and climate change initiatives, including the establishment of certified mango fruit fly-free zones. The program has also conducted learning studies and communications activities to promote market systems change. Despite the progress made, the program has faced several challenges, including COVID-19 related challenges and other challenges such as hard economic times and low-cost share reporting by grant partners. However, the program has responded to these challenges by implementing measures to address them. Overall, the Kenya Crops and Dairy Market Systems Activity has made significant progress in improving the competitiveness, inclusivity, and resilience of agricultural market systems in Kenya. The program has promoted diverse agricultural production and improved productivity, improved access to diverse, safe, and nutritious foods, and competitive, inclusive, and resilient market systems. The program has also promoted the integration of women and youth in agricultural market systems and implemented environmental compliance monitoring and reporting initiatives. The program has also reported a number of success stories, including the transformation of dairy cooperatives into functional profit-making entities, the establishment of certified mango fruit fly-free zones, and the promotion of African leafy vegetables as a game changer in women and youth economic empowerment. These success stories demonstrate the program's impact and effectiveness in improving the agricultural market systems in Kenya. In terms of financial information, the program has reported a total expenditure of $1.5 million as of June 2021. The program has also reported a number of key performance indicators, including the number of farmers trained, the number of households benefiting from the program, and the value of sales by farms and firms receiving support from the program.