March 15, 2025
Kenyan Farmers Combat Climate Change with Beans, Bees, and Fruit Trees

In Kenya’s Bomet and Homa Bay counties, small-scale farmers are embracing sustainable agricultural techniques to enhance resilience against climate change. By integrating beneficial insects like bees and diversifying their farms with fruit trees such as mangoes, avocados, and oranges, they are mitigating the impacts of unpredictable weather patterns while improving biodiversity, soil health, and food security. This holistic approach presents a viable sustainable farming model, balancing environmental conservation, nutrition, and economic growth.
Through the Building Equitable Climate-Resilient African Bean & Insect Sectors (BRAINS) project, smallholder farmers are adopting drought-resistant bean varieties, using biopesticides and biofertilizers, and developing carbon-neutral agribusinesses. In Bomet, local cooperatives and schools are integrating climate-smart practices, while in Homa Bay, over 1,200 farmers benefit from agroforestry, aquaculture, and diversified farming systems. These initiatives highlight the importance of collaborative efforts among research institutions, local governments, and communities in fostering a climate-resilient agricultural sector.
