Regenerative agriculture is rapidly gaining recognition around the world as a sustainable approach to food production. By maximizing natural resource use and reducing dependence on synthetic inputs, it offers a path toward greater productivity while protecting the environment. As climate change continues to challenge food systems globally, regenerative agriculture is emerging as a powerful solution — balancing immediate needs with long-term sustainability.
In Kenya’s Makueni County, this transformative practice is quietly reshaping farming communities. In the remote villages of Wote, smallholder farmers are gradually shifting from conventional farming methods to regenerative practices, thanks to a market-driven intervention led by Enviu, a leading venture-building studio, alongside several like-minded partners. This initiative targets both crop and livestock farmers who have traditionally relied on rain-fed agriculture and synthetic inputs.
Located in the semi-arid Lower Eastern region of Kenya, Makueni faces significant challenges: low rainfall, soil degradation, and food insecurity. Yet through regenerative agriculture, farmers are discovering new hope for resilient and profitable farming systems.
“Through this programme, farmers here are finding new hope for resilient and productive farming systems,” says Christine Mutisya, Programme Manager at Enviu Agrifood.
Laying the Foundation
Enviu’s involvement in Makueni began in 2019 with a focus on eliminating post-harvest losses, demonstrating that a zero-percent food loss value chain is achievable. Building on this success, the programme expanded in 2022 to include regenerative agriculture.
“Our focus has always been on creating sustainable food systems by developing business models that reduce post-harvest losses and improve farmer incomes,” Christine explains.
Over 12,000 farmers have since benefited from Enviu’s post-harvest initiatives, accessing better markets and improving their livelihoods.
When it came to introducing regenerative agriculture, Enviu took a systematic approach. The team conducted a root-cause analysis to identify the barriers preventing farmers from adopting new methods. This informed the creation and testing of business models that could drive sustainable, systemic change.
“We chose Makueni based on a thorough issue analysis. While it’s a time-intensive method, it ensures lasting change,” says Christine.
Makueni proved ideal for several reasons: it is an Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) area where regenerative agriculture could significantly boost productivity; it enjoys strong government support for sustainable farming; and it boasts a network of potential partners to help deliver the intervention.
Today, more than 1,000 farmers in Makueni are actively practicing regenerative agriculture.
Overcoming Challenges
Prior to this programme, farmers in Makueni faced multiple hurdles: unpredictable yields due to rain dependency, high input costs, soil degradation from synthetic fertilizers, and poor market access.
Monocropping was widespread, and unsustainable practices like overgrazing and pesticide overuse had weakened soil health and biodiversity. Farmers also relied heavily on middlemen for selling their produce at low prices, limiting their profits.
“Generally, farming methods were unsustainable, reducing resilience to climate change and harming both livelihoods and the environment,” Christine notes.
Early Impacts
The regenerative agriculture initiative is already showing promising results.
Improved farm design has enhanced water retention, making farms less dependent on erratic rainfall. Intercropping diverse crops — including fruits, vegetables, herbs, and legumes — has reduced pest problems and boosted yields. Importantly, farmers are now viewing their farms as businesses rather than subsistence plots.
Soil tests have confirmed improved soil health, and increased biodiversity has been observed on participating farms.
With higher-quality produce, farmers are gaining access to bulk buyers, securing better prices and more reliable markets.
Farmers like David Matata from Wote are already seeing the benefits. A father of seven, David cultivates avocados, mangoes, bananas, indigenous vegetables, pumpkins, and herbs like thyme.
“The beginning is tough because it’s labour-intensive, but once the system is set up, it’s easier to manage,” David shares. He uses techniques like swales for rainwater harvesting, mulching, and cover crops to retain moisture — keeping his farm green even during dry spells.
His recent pumpkin harvest alone earned him significant income, supporting his family’s needs.
Joseph Nduva, an agriculture extension officer with Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT), Enviu’s implementation partner, says farmers are increasingly embracing the idea that environmental stewardship and profitability go hand-in-hand.
“Farmers understand now that ignoring the environment leads to long-term failure,” Joseph says.
Why Regenerative Agriculture?
According to Enviu’s analysis, intensive conventional farming is no longer sustainable for smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Regenerative agriculture restores soil health, improves water retention, boosts biodiversity, and reduces reliance on costly synthetic inputs.
It also lowers production costs, increases resilience to climate shocks, and opens access to premium markets — enhancing food security and farmer livelihoods.
Power of Partnerships
Enviu’s regenerative agriculture work is underpinned by strong partnerships. These include Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT) for implementation support, Rainforest Alliance for sustainable agriculture expertise, and Organic Agriculture Centre of Kenya (OACK) for organic farming promotion.
Farmer groups and input suppliers also play critical roles in scaling impact and encouraging peer-to-peer learning. The County Government of Makueni has supported the initiative through policy alignment and local advocacy.
“Our partnerships are crucial to scaling regenerative agriculture quickly and effectively,” says Arpana Philip, Senior Venture Builder at Enviu.
The programme initially received funding from the IKEA Foundation, supporting its early research, validation, and business model development. Going forward, Enviu is seeking additional catalytic partnerships to accelerate growth.
Looking Ahead
In 2025, Enviu plans to expand its regenerative agriculture ventures into new counties, strengthen existing partnerships, and advocate for systemic change within Kenya’s food system.
“As we move into the next phase, our goal is to scale regenerative agriculture as a commercially viable and transformative solution for smallholder farmers,” Christine affirms.
With a strategic, business-driven approach, Enviu and its partners are not only improving farming practices — they are helping to build a more resilient, sustainable future for Kenya’s rural communities.
This is a dynamically generated comment by Juan Martinez.