By BOB AMALEMBA
March 10, 2026| A quiet revolution in agrobiodiversity conservation is underway in western Kenya, driven not by large-scale agricultural policies, but by a structured, grassroots training cascade. In Vihiga,Nyando, Seme, busia, vihiga and kabudi agoro seed banks farmers are at the forefront of a movement to conserve neglected crops, equipped with new knowledge on seed systems and value addition that is transforming their livelihoods and strengthening local food systems.
For farmers like Christine Namai of the Esunga nutrition group in Emuhaya, the journey has been transformative. “We want more of these fairs to be held at the local level,” Ms Namai said, reflecting on a recent community seed fair. “This way, we can share knowledge, ask as many questions, and teach our neighbours freely.” This local knowledge exchange is a direct outcome of a more extensive, structured training programme designed to empower farmers as the primary custodians of agricultural biodiversity.
The Training Cascade: From Lead Farmers to the Community
The initiative, implemented by Seed Savers Network in collaboration with Bioversity International and with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization, focuses conservation of PGRFA materials and enhancing local value chains to improve production and consumption of adapted PGRFA .The project, “Enabling and Scaling Open-Source Seed Systems of Beans, Sorghum and Finger Millet for Climate Change Adaptation in Kenya,” initially targeted lead farmers as agents of change.
Terry Njoki of Seed Savers Network explained that 30 lead farmers from Seme, and Busia received intensive training on community seed banking and the management of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. This core group was instructed in critical skills: on-farm seed selection, multiplication, harvesting, processing, and storage. Practical demonstrations demystified key processes, including assessing seed viability, maintaining seed purity, and setting up basic storage systems using locally available materials. To ground their learning in reality, participants also visited functioning community seed banks to observe seed-saving and biodiversity management principles in action .This has led to establishment of a seed and grain producers database, with farmers now engaged in the multiplication of sorghum, beans, and finger millet in collaboration with the National Gene Bank. Seeds multiplied will be stocked in the community seed banks and grains value added.
Conservation Through Scientific Observation
The training has instilled a more scientific approach to farming, which is key to conservation. In Vihiga, farmers part of the initiative have moved beyond simply growing traditional vegetables to meticulously documenting their growth. They record every change in the plant, from fruiting and pod formation to harvest times. Using simple tools like rulers and strings, they note the shape, size, and colour of leaves; the breadth and height of plants; and the number of seeds per pod . This systematic characterisation helps farmers identify which crop varieties flourish best in their local micro-climates and understand their resilience to pests and diseases .
This methodical approach has yielded significant conservation wins. Lillian Aluso, project coordinator at Alliance for Bioversity, noted that working with Vihiga farmers has revived nearly extinct traditional vegetables. “Varieties like Rinyororo and Nderema, which our forefathers used, were excellent for food security, especially during dry spells,” she explained . Farmers are now not only preserving these species but also learning which ones fetch better market prices, with some crops like amaranth having numerous distinct varieties .
Value Addition: The Link to Conservation and Livelihoods
A crucial component of the training links conservation directly to economic empowerment through value addition. Seed Savers Network, in collaboration with Bioversity International, has facilitated the setup of processing units equipped with roller milling machines. These units enable communities to produce high-value composite flours from the very neglected and underutilised crops they are working to conserve.
In both Vihiga and Nyando, this training has been a game-changer. Farmers at the Vihiga Community Seedbank and Nutrition Center, as well as those in Kabudi-Agoro and Nyando in Kisumu county, have received processing units and value-addition equipment . This includes solar-powered driers, threshers, winnowers, and hermetic packaging materials, funded by initiatives like the CGIAR’s Nature+ Initiative . Farmers have been given technical support to operate this equipment efficiently, transforming their post-harvest practices .
The impact is tangible. Farmers who once struggled with the manual, tiresome process of winnowing sorghum—which often caused allergic reactions—now use mechanical threshers and winnowers . Solar-powered driers have solved the challenge of drying seeds and vegetables under the threat of unexpected rain . This technology allows for the preservation of surplus produce, extending shelf life and opening up new market opportunities .
Rael Amisi, a farmer from the Esunga group, highlighted the economic potential, gesturing towards a plot of indigenous vegetables and stating, “We indeed have a ready market.” Farmers are now processing their harvest into products like the renowned “UJI POWER” flour, a composite flour for porridge made from sorghum and finger millet . This value addition means a two-kilogramme tin of finger millet flour can sell for between Sh300 and Sh400, a significant premium over staple maize flour. By creating a economic rationale for growing these crops, the training ensures that conservation is not just an ideal, but a sustainable livelihood.