In Kenya, significant political attention has been toward the improvement of food staples productivity, both to offset the rapidly increasing costs of food imports and to stimulate increased incomes and food security at the household level. However, many smallholder farmers, particularly in the semi-arid areas are unable to participate in the supported food staples value chains. Geographic barriers like remoteness, and poor access to natural resources such as water, limit market participation of smallholder farmers in these regions.

To overcome these challenges, the Improving Smallholder Productivity and Profitability (ISPP) project is building smallholder farmers’ skills in agricultural production, water management and in farming as a business in five semi-arid counties. ISPP is increasing household food security and nutrition through improved access and efficient management of water, the use of climate-resilient agricultural practices and agribusiness promotion. The project supports 80,000 households improve their farm productivity and food security.