KENFAP is the umbrella organisation of producers' organisations in Kenya. Kenfap has over 60 area branches (at district level) 36 commodity associations and 15 co-operatives. The membership of KENFAP is about 1,8 million farmers. The mission of KENFAP is to empower the farmers' voice. Under FFP-1 KENFAP has taken up the initiative of realizing micro-projects at the area branche level. In total 50 micro-projects have been implemented. The micro-projects have enabled the members of KENFAP to start small scale economic activities for its members while at the same time generating income for KENFAP. Nevertheless, part of the micro-projects suffer from a lack of sustainability due to lack of business planning and economies of scale. Under FFP-2 KENFAP still aims to mobilize its grass-roots members around economic activities while incorporating the value chain approach.

In 2008 the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) started the Empowering Smallholder Farmers in Markets (ESFIM) project, in collaboration with the European Consortium of Agricultural Research in Tropics (ECART) The goal of the ESFIM research programme is to strengthen the capacities of national farmers’ organisations in developing countries to empower their smallholder members in markets, creating an enabling policy and regulatory environment as well as effective economic organisations and reinforcing the farmer led participatory policy formulation process of IFAP network. For KENYA the national research priorities formulated during the workshop are: • Examine anticompetitive behaviour in the agricultural sector and response mechanisms (government interventions, regulatory boards, prices and monopolies commission) • To understand the process of mainstreaming SME concept, explore suitable small scale value addition technologies and create awareness on standardisation and certification • To explore mechanisms for information dissemination coordination from information providers and identify approaches to minimize the existing information gaps in the agricultural sector • Explore the feasibility and implications of smallholder farmers participating in warehouse receipt systems • Carry out a value chain analysis on produce marketing of selected commodities for both traditional and non traditional crops and available facilities (sorting / storage). How can taxes and levies best benefit the farmers and their local communities • Identify agricultural financial models and agricultural insurance and align with smallholder farmer requirements The research aims at obtaining, organizing and analyzing data on constraints faced by farmers in the market place, including their causes, effects, and how they can be addressed.

In search of ways to reach farmers at the lowest level, Agriterra developed the concept of micro-projects and started a pilot with the Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers (KENFAP) in 2007. KENFAP started to support economic initiatives at area branch levels. These branches were supported in order to organise the commercialisation of products and add value to the production, processing, access to market, access to inputs and marketing of products. Trainings were given in innovation and technology, negotiation skills and technical knowledge, and financial management. In total 24 micro-projects were supported. During project implementation, the concept of micro-projects was further developed through a process of learning by doing, both by KENFAP and Agriterra. In the report of the external evaluation it is recommended that KENFAP and Agriterra continue with the programme of micro-projects. Agriterra already supported new micro-projects (of the 26 other area branches), taking into account the lessons learnt during the first pilot. This project is a continuation of the pilot of the first 24 micro-projects, based on the recommendations of the external evaluation.

In 2003 KENFAP launched a restructuring and transformation process of the organisation. This was coupled with the five-year strategic plan (2003-2007) "Sowing the Seeds of Renewal". In this period, the restructuring of the federation was achieved. Today, KENFAP is a registered, non-political, non-commercial, and democratic federation of all Kenyan farmers. Its mission is to empower its members to make informed choices for improved sustainable livelihoods; while its vision for the country is to contribute towards agricultural, social and economic development. The vision for the farmers in general is to empower them to have a strong and unified voice. This is further elaborated in the five-year plan 2008-2012 “Enriching the Farmers’ Voice”. The current project is an implementation of that strategic plan. In November 2008 an external evaluation of the KENFAP project “Transition plan”, relating to 2007, was executed. The conclusions were generally positive but contained some suggestions for improvement for KENFAP and Agriterra. Especially the lobby activities were evaluated as very positive. Kenfap has reached incredible results during the last years as far as their influence on national level is concerned. In 2009 focus will be, besides lobby and advocacy, also on stimulating and enhancing farmers participation in this process. Awareness building will be done amongst members about the role of the national organisation and the results and effects of lobbying .

KENFAP the apex farmers’ organization in Kenya was formed in 1946. Its main focus is articulating issues affecting farmers and develop possible interventions. The federation has a five year strategic plan (2008-2012) which gives it the strategic orientation. In this strategic plan the association recognizes the threats posed by HIV/AIDS amongst the farming community. In its strategic aim 6 “to improve benefits from agricultural value chain by promoting objective engagement of women, youth, and redressing environmental, HIV/AIDS and other crosscutting concerns”, the federation recognizes the effect of the HIV/AIDS scourge among the farmers and develops possible strategies for redress. The agricultural sector cannot continue with "business as usual" in communities where vast numbers of adults are dead, leaving only the elderly and children. POs are in a strong position to assist in both the prevention and mitigation of the consequences of HIV. In June 2006, KENFAP organised a brainstorming workshop “Confronting HIV/AIDS among farmers in Kenya”. Reason to hold the workshop was the increased negative impact that HIV/AIDS is having on the agricultural sector in the country. Farmers and their organisations came up with ways to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in the farming communities. POs do no have the means and capacity to address the various impacts of the epidemic One of the recommendations for POs is therefore to mainstream HIV/AIDS at two levels: in their activities and in their work policy. In both these areas capacity building of POs – at the organisational level and at the technical and managerial level (staff and farmers’ leaders) is essential to built sustainable solutions for POs to deal with issues of HIV/AIDS prevention, mitigation of effects on communities and so on. The main objective of this project is to conduct an assessment of the HIV risks and impacts among the members of the organisation. This wil be done by executing an assessment study to get an overview of total numbers of members affected and specific problems encountered by the members. The final results of the project will be: (1) to develop lobby and advocacy material; (2) to set up staff training on HIV mainstreaming; (3) to formulate and HIV action plan.

The Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers (KENFAP) is an umbrella body comprising of all farmers and their organizations in Kenya. It is the legitimate voice of the Kenyan farmers. Its main objective is to defend the interests of its members through articulation of issues affecting them through lobbying and advocacy to the relevant institutions. The federation also renders a variety of services to its members. The services include but are not limited to information dissemination, organizational development and promotion of economic activities. Kenfap has elaborated a strategy to support local level economic activities through direct contracting to its area branches. The micro-projects concept was executed for the first time in 2008. An evaluation of these projects gave a very postive outcome and support to continue these local initiatives, with support and coordination from national level.

The main problem facing horticultural farmers especially fruit growers in Kisumu, Malindi and Gucha Area Branches of KENFAP is the seasonality and perishability of the crop. Fruit production is among the main agriculture activities in the regions. However Income from fruit sale remains low due to poor market structures for raw fruits. The main problem in fruits marketing is that there is over supply for a limited time within the year. The causes of problems include; lack of structured market, poor post harvest handling, perishability and seasonality of the fruits. Therefore there is need for value addition on the produce to make it more stable and available throughout the year. The projects aim at addressing the above challenges by setting a multipurpose fruit juice processing plant in Kisumu Malindi and Gucha Area Branches.

The demand for indigenous chickens and eggs is high. Because both have good market prices it enables the farmers to make ends meet. The project intends to facilitate the farmers to access information on markets, market intelligence, technical assistance, protection from the unscrupulous middlemen in the market and provision of technical information. The farmers will also get information on the best methods of bird management to enable them fetch the best returns out of it. This will be availed at the incubation centre which will be set up and frequented by farmers.

Six micro projects relating to beekeeping will be carried out in the KENFAP’s Area branches of Kakamega, Machakos, Nandi, Kuria, Tharaka and West Pokot. Beekeeping for honey production has been a tradition among the farmers in the Machakos, Kakamega, Nandi, Kuria,Tharaka and West Pokot Area Branches. It provides a good viable option in the areas where agricultural production is low and where traditionally the areas have been producing good quality and reasonable amount of honey and other bee products. Poor honey extraction and uncoordinated marketing are some of the reasons why honey production has remained low though it has a potential for expansion. The introduction of modern extraction methods of honey, and marketing methods, in both beekeeping and honey production will definitely spur growth of the several enterprises which will be set up with these projects. The modern langstroth hives are the most recommended for modern honey production. The farmers lack capacities to add value to their products hence incur losses and earn low income from sale of raw products. Therefore these projects will combine a new style of honey production with training to the farmers in order to increase their profits.

Five micro projects will be carried out in the Transzoia, Uasin Gishu, Meru North, Murunga, and Nakuru Area Branches in Kenya. The five projects expect to set up input shops at local level in order to address the needs of the farmers and make up for the lack of farm input suppliers. The input that the projects aims to supply to the farmer at reduced prices are seeds , plant materials, fertilizers, agrochemicals, commercial feeds, artificial insemination services, hives, honey harvesting gear, etc. Some of the projects expect to train to farmers in marketing, entrepreneurship, good agricultural practices and modern agricultural technologies.

Bungoma and Meru Central Area Branches of KENFAP will carry out projects related to banana production. The Bungoma area branch draws its strength from its thirteen local branches which comprise of voluntary farmers who have a common goal of enhancing their livelihoods. The members seek funding for the improved production of bananas to increase their income and boost food security. Through the enterprise the area branch seeks to supply the entire Bungoma district with clean planting materials and ensure its institutional sustainability. The district is endowed with good loamy soils coupled with sufficient rainfall and good temperatures makes it suitable for banana production and increased entrepreneurship. Meru Central district of Kenya has a favourable climate for the production of bananas especially the tissue culture banana (TCB). In spite of good climate condition there is a lack of TCB plants in the sector having to import them from other districts of Kenya. The project aims to face the lack of plants with the establishment of TCB nurseries. The project will benefit around 500 farmer’s members of Meru Central Area Branch.

Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers (KENFAP) Busia and Meru South Area Branches seek to promote the rearing of Dairy goats and cultivation of Moringa Oleifera trees and sweet potatoes within its ten local branches in order to improved livelihoods among its members. In Busia AB seeks to introduce dairy goat farming to over 500 members, and promote the cultivation of nutritious Moringa Oleifera tree which is a good fodder for goats and also has nutritional and medicinal value to people. Meru South Area Branch seeks to promote the rearing of Dairy goats and cultivation of sweet potatoes within its local branches for improved livelihoods among 500 members.

Three micro projects will be carried out in Embu, Kissi and Migori Areas Branches. the projects aim to solve the lack of organized milk market and processing facilities in the district by setting up a milk processing plant in each area branch.

The main problem facing the cotton industry in Homa Bay and Kenya as a country is marketing. Due to luck of a market outlet for cotton, production has been going down. The main causes of the problem include the closure of the textile industries and ginneries all over the country who used to be the main cotton buyers. The government adopted liberalization policy which privatized cotton industry hence the existing ginneries cant buy all the cotton produced, leaving the farmers with little or no choice but to sell their cotton at a throw away price. Moreover there is no ginnery in the district. The project aims at setting up a cotton ginnery in Homa Bay town. The ginnery will be owned by farmers who are members of KENFAP Homa Bay branch. Cotton for ginning will be supplied by farmers both KENFAP members and non-members from within the district and its environs. Qualified personnel with agricultural background will be competitively sort from the district.

The main market for the producers within this district is Thika town. However, with some demands being instantaneous and need immediate supply, there is need to have well equipped farmers information centres at the local level to allow the farmers to contact the buyers in advance. Through the information management systems established within the centres, an effective linkage will be created between buyers and sellers of farm produce. Thus while still at the location level, the farmer can identify and have a specific person he/she is supplying the farm produce to, before taking it to him. The system will facilitate price negotiation and transactions at the click of a button, hence saving time and costs incurred in transactions. The farmers will be linked to hotels schools, hospitals and other institutions.