Kenya Crops and Dairy Market Systems Activity FY 2021 Annual Report

The activity is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is implemented by RTI International. The activity focuses on three main areas: promoting services to farmers, improving access to diverse, safe, and nutritious foods, and strengthening partnerships to elevate private sector voice. Key achievements in FY 2021 include the promotion of services to farmers, with over 2,500 farmers receiving training in sustainable agriculture techniques. The activity also supported the establishment of demonstration plots in 15 communities, which showed yield improvements of 60% when applying the recommended practices. Additionally, the activity facilitated the acquisition of a four-line avocado grading and sorting line and a 150 MT cold storage facility by Biofarms, a local agribusiness. The activity also made significant progress in improving access to diverse, safe, and nutritious foods. Sustainable approaches to achieving dietary diversity and reducing hunger were promoted, and collaboration, layering, and sequencing for improved outcomes were implemented. The activity also supported the development of training materials and capacity building initiatives for farmers and other stakeholders. In terms of partnerships, the activity strengthened partnerships with other stakeholders, including national government, county governments, and private sector organizations. The activity also supported the development of partnerships with grant partners, with 252 USG grant partners approved by the end of FY 2021. The activity also worked with grant partners to improve cost share reporting and capacity building. The activity also made significant progress in promoting diverse production and improving productivity. The promotion of services to farmers led to increased productivity in dairy, avocado, and mango production. The activity also supported the establishment of private sector extension and advisory services, which increased coverage of farmers. In terms of policy environment, the activity supported the domestication of agricultural policies and national level policy formulation. The activity also facilitated an enabling environment for agricultural transformation at regional economic blocs. The activity also supported the integration of women and youth in agricultural market systems, with market facilitation for youth and women, African leafy vegetables empowerment, and access to new agricultural inputs and technologies. The activity also made significant progress in environmental compliance monitoring and reporting. Natural resource management and climate change were addressed, and the activity supported the development of learning studies and communications activities. The activity also faced challenges, including COVID-19 and related challenges, but lessons were learned and applied to improve the activity's effectiveness. Overall, the Kenya Crops and Dairy Market Systems Activity made significant progress in FY 2021, with achievements in promoting services to farmers, improving access to diverse, safe, and nutritious foods, and strengthening partnerships to elevate private sector voice. The activity also supported the development of partnerships with grant partners, promoted diverse production and improved productivity, and supported the integration of women and youth in agricultural market systems.