In Kapsowar Ward, Elgeyo Marakwet County, women are transforming small plots into profitable vegetable enterprises. Faced with unpredictable weather and rising living costs, many have abandoned traditional maize and bean farming for tomatoes, spinach, cabbage, and French beans—crops with strong market demand.
Mary Kiplagat, a farmer from Kapchesewes, exemplifies this shift: “With vegetables, I now pay school fees and buy what we don’t grow.” Her success mirrors a broader trend. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), women constitute 43% of the global agricultural labor force, yet their productivity is often hampered by limited resources. In Kenya, horticulture contributes over 33% of agricultural GDP, with smallholder farmers—especially women—playing a pivotal role.
Training and Collective Power Drive Success
Support from NGOs like Farm Africa has been critical. Women learn modern techniques—seed selection, pest control, drip irrigation—and financial literacy. Farmer groups, such as those in Kapchesewes and Ng’orng’oroi, amplify their impact by pooling resources and negotiating better prices. Safina Kipchumba, a community facilitator, notes that over 10 women-led groups now practice integrated farming, combining vegetables with poultry and sheep rearing to enrich soil and income.
Youth engagement is also growing. 4K school clubs, like those at Moi Girls High School, teach girls sustainable farming, fostering the next generation of agripreneurs.
Barriers: Land Ownership, Water Access, and Climate Shocks
Despite progress, structural challenges persist. Only 1% of women in Kenya own land independently, restricting their ability to invest or secure loans. Rose Komen from Sinon explains: “If we had title deeds, we’d expand into greenhouse farming.”
Climate change exacerbates these hurdles. Erratic rainfall and droughts force reliance on costly irrigation. While some groups adopt water-harvesting and drip systems, 70% of Kenya’s agriculture remains rain-fed, leaving farmers vulnerable. The World Bank estimates that climate-smart agriculture could increase yields by up to 30%—if accessible.
The Way Forward: Policy and Investment
Experts urge:
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Land reforms to secure women’s ownership.
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Affordable irrigation to combat droughts.
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Market linkages to reduce post-harvest losses (currently 30–40% for perishables in Africa).
With these interventions, women farmers could scale from subsistence to commercial production, strengthening both local economies and food systems.
Women in Kapsowar Ward are proving that small-scale vegetable farming can be a powerhouse for income and food security. But unlocking their full potential requires addressing land rights, climate resilience, and market access. Investing in women isn’t just equity—it’s smart economics.
