Solidaridad backs coastal cooperatives at agribusiness expo

KENYA – Solidaridad East and Central Africa has stepped up support for farmers in Kwale and Taita Taveta counties by sponsoring ten cooperative leaders to attend the Coastal Region Agribusiness Expo.

This move is set to bring them closer to new markets, finance opportunities, and sustainable farming solutions.

The event, held under the Acting Now For Food Resilience project funded by the Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken, showcased solutions that directly target challenges faced by smallholder farmers.

Cooperative leaders engaged with the Agricultural Finance Corporation on ways to access funds for logistics and mechanization. They also met the Kenya Bureau of Standards for guidance on product certification to strengthen the competitiveness of their food products.

Other sessions included talks with Simlaw Seeds on KS20 green gram seeds, Davis & Shirtliff on irrigation technology, and Agro Z on hermetic storage bags.

The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) demonstrated pest control methods such as biopesticides, pheromone traps, and push-pull techniques.

Farmers also received training on safe pesticide use and learned about insect farming, including black soldier fly larvae, crickets, and beekeeping for both feed and value-added products.

According to Solidaridad, this exposure will improve farmers’ resilience as the project enters its final stretch, running from 2023 to 2025. “These practical exchanges give our cooperative leaders tools they can take home and apply immediately,” a Solidaridad representative noted during the event.

The expo also highlighted climate-smart methods ranging from raised beds and agroforestry to biogas adoption. Demonstration plots showed how smallholder farmers can adapt to changing weather patterns while improving yields.

Post-harvest handling took center stage through training by the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC), which covered structured trade, collective marketing, and cereal storage.

Kilifi County Deputy Governor Hon. Flora Chibule praised the event, saying, “When farmers meet experts and see these solutions in practice, they return more confident and ready to improve their production.”

EAGC Executive Director Gerald Makau Masila added that the conference gave smallholders a platform to “connect with real buyers and service providers in one space.”

A broader regional effort

The expo drew participants from six coastal counties including Kilifi, Mombasa, Kwale, Taita Taveta, Tana River, and Lamu. Solidaridad East and Central Africa, headquartered in Nairobi, works across Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and parts of Central Africa.

It supports more than 176,000 farmers in adopting good agricultural practices and promotes over 166,000 hectares under improved management.

Beyond farming, the organization also engages over 207,000 workers and miners in programs that improve working conditions, wages, and inclusion.

Its climate resilience work focuses on agroforestry and carbon farming in regions such as Trans Nzoia and Bungoma, while its policy advocacy efforts seek to strengthen supply chains in sectors like tea, fruit, and vegetables.

Speaking about the broader mission, Solidaridad officials emphasized that their field-level engagement combined with strategic partnerships keeps them focused on long-term sustainability.

“We want farmers, miners, and workers to feel supported not just with inputs but with lasting connections to markets and policies that work for them,” the organization stated.

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