Farm Africa launches Growing Futures appeal

14 October 2017

Farm Africa will launch its Growing Futures fundraising appeal today (Saturday 14 October) at the Africa on the Square festival in Trafalgar Square, London.  The international development charity is asking festival-goers to team up with a friend and take photos of themselves as ‘Peas in a Pod’ using selfie frames featuring giant peapods to raise awareness of the appeal.

Farm Africa is aiming to raise more than £380,000 through the appeal and the UK Government will match all donations from the UK public, to help 2,000 young women and men in the county of Elgeyo Marakwet in western Kenya escape poverty by growing and selling vegetables that are in high demand, such as mangetouts, French beans and chillies.

The funds raised will be used to give high-quality seeds and agricultural and business training to young adults to enable them to set up their own sustainable horticulture businesses. Farm Africa will help project participants work with other young farmers so they can sell their crops in bulk for higher prices.

In Kenya 45 percent of people live below the poverty line. A gift of £3 could provide a young farmer with a training session, equipping them with the essential agricultural and business skills they need to make a profit not just this harvest, but every harvest.

International Development Secretary Priti Patel said:

 “Farm Africa’s Growing Futures appeal will support thousands of young farmers in West Kenya, giving a boost to local businesses.

 “The money raised will help farmers – half of whom are women – to develop their agriculture skills and improve access to markets, so they can grow more crops, increase their incomes and better support their families.

 “Every donation made by the generous British public to the Growing Futures appeal will be matched pound for pound by the UK Government, meaning we double the difference Britons can make to these people’s lives.”

Farm Africa’s patron Michael Palin is lending his support to the campaign by presenting an appeal that will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 7.55am and 9.26pm on Sunday 15 October and at 3.27pm on Thursday 19 October.

Mr Palin commented:

"I’ve supported Farm Africa for 20 years now, and what I liked then and what I still like now is that Farm Africa do not impose solutions on people.

“They consult with local people, talk to local people, and respect traditional methods of farming. They help people help themselves by finding a more efficient way to produce what they are already producing. It’s a way of really encouraging them to do what they already do very well, but better.

"I know this from personal experience because I was in Ethiopia myself to see the work they were doing. I shall continue supporting Farm Africa and I hope you will too.”

Other high-profile supporters of the Growing Futures appeal include The Voice newspaper, Ashley Palmer-Watts, executive chef of two Michelin-starred restaurant, Dinner by Heston, the supermarket Aldi, the #GivingTuesday UK campaign, the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards, Restaurant magazine and The Grocer. 

Donations to the Growing Futures appeal from individuals based in the UK will be doubled by the Government through UK Aid Match between 14 October 2017 and 14 January 2018.

Donations can be made online at www.farmafrica.org/growingfutures