Growing resilience and opportunities for female farmers

by Judith Batchelar, Farm Africa ambassador

I’ve recently returned from Kenya, where I had the privilege of leading the GROW for Good challenge, a hands-on experience that gave me a valuable insight into the lives of female farmers in rural eastern Africa.

The Growing Resilience and Opportunities for Women (GROW) for Good challenge brought together a group of 12 women from the UK food and farming sector to raise funds for and awareness of Farm Africa’s work empowering rural women.

The GROW for Good challenge team in Kenya.

As part of the challenge, we worked on three farms in Embu County run by inspiring women who, with support from Farm Africa, have been building the resilience of their farming businesses by adopting sustainable farming practices and regenerative agriculture.

This wasn’t my first time visiting Farm Africa’s work; over the last ten years I’ve taken part in other women-led fundraising challenges and have met many amazing and resilient female farmers ranging from fish farmers in Kenya to beekeepers in Tanzania.

Judith Batchelar (second from right) taking part in the Big Beehive Build in Tanzania in 2015.

Each experience has helped me understand the challenges facing female farmers and see the importance of Farm Africa’s work in supporting them. I’m proud of what women from the UK food and farming sector have been able to achieve over the years in support of female farmers in eastern Africa.

The climate challenge

This recent trip reinforced for me the very real impact that climate change is having on female farmers and the need to build their resilience.

Higher temperatures, lower rainfall and frequent extreme weather events are reducing small-scale farmers’ yields and their incomes. They urgently need to adapt their farming practices and female farmers in particular, need to be able to access advice, funding and inputs to help them.

Adopting practices like regenerative agriculture is vital for smallholder farmers to build their resilience to a changing climate. Regenerative agriculture helps build soil health, increase yields and develop supply chain resilience, which in turn provides food security and supports the environment.

The game-changing impact of Village-Based Advisors

Farm Africa is helping smallholder farmers in Kenya understand how they can adopt regenerative practices through its support for a network of village-based advisors (VBAs), local lead farmers who serve as agricultural experts and mentors. VBAs guide farmers on how to protect their yields through the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices.

Village-based Advisor Juliet (R) talking to Grace, another local farmer in Embu, Kenya. Photo: Farm Africa / Arete

In Embu we worked on the farms of three VBAs: Juliet, Judy and Perpatualh, who explained to us how they offer farmers training in practices like cover cropping and composting, which increases soil fertility, helps crops withstand extreme weather, conserves water and increases biodiversity.

This allows farmers to achieve sustainable yields and renew the land for future generations.

VBAs also support farmers to grow trees on their farms, which provide shade for crops, as well as retaining moisture in the soil. Trees also enable farms to earn additional income through the carbon stored in the trees by trading Carbon Removal Units (CRUs).

The beauty of the VBA model is that it’s self-financing; VBAs earn a living through commissions on the farming inputs they provide to farmers and on the services they deliver.

Investing in the future

When we invest in women, we’re investing in families, communities, and future generations. The wider impacts are profound: healthier children, more prosperous households and more vibrant local economies. Every empowered woman becomes a catalyst for growth and resilience, creating lasting change.

Achieving gender equality in farming won’t happen overnight. The work Farm Africa does to support VBAs to provide resources, training and connections are sowing seeds of progress. Women are at the heart of African agriculture, and it’s time they stand at the forefront of growth and innovation.

Roundtable discussions

Our GROW for Good challenge culminated in a roundtable event in Nairobi, where we were joined by VBAs, leaders, suppliers and experts from across the agricultural sector to discuss the role of women and regenerative agriculture in building resilient food systems.

Judith Batchelar speaking at the roundtable discussion event in Nairobi. Photo: Carol Karuitha

Hearing directly from these women about their experiences and their vision for their communities was an inspiring reminder to everyone present of what’s possible when female farmers are armed with knowledge on good agricultural practices, finance to invest in their businesses, and access to markets.

I return to the UK prouder than ever to support Farm Africa, having seen how with just a few more resources and support, women farmers are reshaping their communities in lasting ways. They’re planting trees, restoring soils, growing healthy food and creating a better world for their children. This is something to be encouraged and celebrated.