Goal: Promote sustainable agricultural practices that conserve natural resources, enhance soil fertility, and reduce environmental degradation.

Agriculture remains a cornerstone of livelihoods in Kenya’s Lake Region and Sugar Belt areas, especially for smallholder farmers who rely on it for food and income. However, these regions face escalating challenges from climate change, such as erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and rising temperatures, which have reduced agricultural productivity and exacerbated poverty.

According to the Kenya Climate-Smart Agriculture Strategy (KCSAS) 2017–2026, unsustainable farming practices, including monocropping and overuse of chemical inputs, have further degraded soils, water bodies, and ecosystems.

In addition to environmental degradation, marginalized groups, including adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs), face pervasive social injustices that compound their vulnerability. These injustices include:

• Sex for Fish: Exploitative practices in fishing communities where AGYW are coerced into transactional sex to secure fish for resale.
• Sex for Pads: Girls from economically disadvantaged families are forced into exploitative arrangements to access menstrual hygiene products.
• Gender-Based Violence (GBV): A lack of economic independence increases vulnerability to domestic and sexual violence.
• Economic Marginalization: Youth and PWDs often lack access to resources, training, and land ownership, excluding them from meaningful agricultural opportunities.
• Child Labor and Exploitation: Youth in vulnerable communities are often subjected to exploitative labor due to financial instability.

HEDSO’s climate-smart agriculture initiatives extend beyond environmental sustainability to address the systemic social injustices faced by AGYW, youth, and PWDs. By promoting economic empowerment through inclusive and sustainable farming practices, the organization reduces vulnerabilities and creates pathways for dignity, equality, and resilience. This dual approach ensures that communities are not only better prepared for climate challenges but also free from the cycles of exploitation and marginalization that hinder progress.

Key Interventions

• Establishment of Demonstration Farms: HEDSO operates farms showcasing CSA techniques, such as conservation agriculture, agroforestry, crop rotation, and integrated pest management. These farms serve as learning centers for local farmers, demonstrating practical ways to enhance productivity while conserving natural resources.
• Capacity Building for Marginalized Groups: Recognizing the need for inclusivity, HEDSO trains AGYW, youth, and PWDs in CSA practices. By providing them with the knowledge and tools to engage in sustainable farming, HEDSO empowers these groups to improve their livelihoods and actively contribute to environmental sustainability.
• Community Dialogues on Sustainability: To foster a broader understanding of CSA’s benefits, HEDSO facilitates community dialogues, bringing together stakeholders to discuss sustainable agricultural practices and local challenges. These platforms encourage knowledge sharing and collective action.