Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition (BFN) Market Linkages
Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition (BFN) Market Linkages
In Western Kenya, cases of malnutrition, stunting and underweight are common especially for children under five years. This has been attributed to low purchasing power and over-reliance on starchy foods. Yet, Western Kenya is rich in agricultural biodiversity which would provide a gateway to dietary diversity for food and nutritional security. Africa Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) offers such biodiversity which can be exploited not only for nutrition but also economic gains. But this value chain has been under-developed and un-exploited due to production and marketing constraints faced by farmers.
The BFN market linkages project was implemented with the aim of empowering farmer groups to supply markets for nutrient rich foods. An adapted Farmer Business School (FBS) model which applied varied approaches to learning enhanced knowledge sharing among target groups. A total of 547 beneficiaries (151 male, 386 female and 119 youth) from the 25 farmer groups participated in the project. Farmers are better organized, undertake market research and have capacity to respond to new market opportunities. Five farmer groups managed to enter into contractual arrangements with 14 institutional markets comprised of 13 schools and one hospital. The farmer groups developed 23 business plans, which inform their production, financing and marketing plans throughout the year. Farmers are now willing to invest more resources in ALV production and marketing –which will translate into better incomes and livelihoods. Also, most participating households understand and appreciate the nutritional value of ALVs and the significance of a balanced diet.
The project was funded by Bioversity International (https://www.bioversityinternational.org/) through Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (https://www.aciar.gov.au/).
The project’s specific objectives were to:
- Create innovations that can enable co-management at the county and national level to work in favor of all stakeholders in the livestock value chain.
- Find innovative ways of delivering effective animal health services that are responsive to livestock production, hence enabling them to meet market requirements.
- Integrate traditional and modern knowledge on climate change interventions to improve the capacity of pastoralists to adapt and mitigate climate change impacts.
- Facilitate innovative financing for the above interventions for the development of the pastoral livestock economy to improve the incomes and livelihoods of inhabitants of pastoral areas.
In addressing these objectives, CABE undertook preparatory activities which will culminate into a national policy dialogue on the above challenges, proven innovations, and the necessary policy support. The project held discussions with stakeholders in Turkana, Kajiado, and Marsabit counties; and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (Department of Livestock Production, Department of Veterinary Services), Kenya Veterinary Board, National Drought Management Authority, and Kenya Meteorological Department.
Notably, the two most critical issues affecting pastoralism, and which should inform national policy dialogue are pastoralism and climate variability, and trade and transboundary diseases.
The project’s achievements
- Mapped actors and identified seven kraals as a basis for respectively engaging policy makers and pastoral communities.
- Documented and prepared papers and policy briefs on existing climate-smart pastoral practices and innovations, disease surveillance and management and innovative livestock marketing.
- Established several avenues (though forums for meetings, print and electronic media) for county-level policy debates and dialogues on animal health, trade, climate smart pastoralism, food security and livelihoods.
- Reviewed policies on animal health, climate change, marketing, and trade.
- Organised a sub-county policy dialogue comprising 80 stakeholders who provided feedback on policy briefs.
- Developed and aired 8 radio programmes on community radio stations through Kraal-based radio-listening clubs initiated by CABE.
The success of Phase I (ReSAHMaP) led to Phase II for hosting a national policy dialogue OF Phase I, then Phase III on Climate Smart Pastoral Innovations (CSPI).