Challenges

Kenya’s tomato sector faces persistent hurdles that limit its potential to become a transformative income earner for rural communities. Smallholder farmers struggle with low productivity and frequent crop losses due to soil-borne pests and diseases (e.g. bacterial wilt, fusarium and root rot), which diminish yields, reduce quality, and threaten food security and livelihoods?. These vulnerabilities have made tomato cultivation heavily reliant on chemical pesticides, often imported at high cost, posing environmental and health risks. At the same time, rural youth encounter scarce employment opportunities in agriculture, as traditional tomato farming offers little profit or stability for the next generation. This combination of agronomic and economic challenges demands innovative, climate-resilient solutions to boost yields and incomes. Improving disease resistance, modernizing farming practices, and engaging young people in agribusiness are all required steps to overcome these issues in support of the SDGs on zero hunger, decent work, and climate action. By introducing new horticultural techniques and value-chain linkages, tomato farming can become more productive, sustainable, and attractive to youth – thus directly contributing to SDG 2, SDG 8, SDG 13, and related goals on poverty reduction and partnerships.

Toward a Solution

In response to ongoing challenges in Kenya’s tomato sector, a project funded by the China-IFAD South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) Facility was established to enhance productivity, build resilience among smallholder farmers, and strengthen local capacities through sustainable horticultural practices. The project specifically aimed at introducing climate-resilient technologies and methodologies tailored to local agricultural conditions, contributing to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Responding to a request from Nakuru County for practical and affordable greenhouse solutionss, IFAD facilitated a collaboration between Egerton University in Kenya and Nanjing Agricultural University in China. Under this partnership, experts from China shared specialized agricultural knowledge on tomato grafting, particularly using disease-resistant rootstocks to manage bacterial wilt, alongside energy-efficient greenhouse technologies to improve tomato productivity. Initial training sessions were conducted remotely and subsequently transitioned to in-person workshops facilitated by Egerton University, ensuring the relevance and suitability of these technologies for Kenyan farmers.

A distinctive aspect of the project was its participatory approach, involving multiple stakeholders including researchers, extension agents, private sector actors, and local farmers, with particular emphasis placed on the inclusion of youth and women. Participants engaged directly in practical training sessions and were actively involved in setting up greenhouses and demonstration plots. Local farmer organizations played a critical role in disseminating the adapted technologies, championing broader community engagement, and facilitating knowledge transfer across farming networks.

This model led to a structured exchange of agricultural practices and knowledge, strengthening capacities on both sides. Chinese experts acquired insights into smallholder farming realities in Kenya, enhancing the relevance of their technologies, while Kenyan stakeholders benefitted from access to proven agricultural innovations adapted through local trials and demonstrations.

The pilot initiative had the following early results. Greenhouse tomato yields increased from an average of 5–6 tonnes per hectare to approximately 7.5–9 tonnes per hectare, representing an increase of about 40%. Correspondingly, farmer incomes improved from a previous range of USD 6,000–7,400 per hectare to between USD 8,900–11,100 per hectare. Additionally, the prevalence of bacterial wilt—a major hindrance to tomato cultivation—declined from 90% incidence to around 10% in 18 demonstration sites, as a result of adopting grafting techniques. Over 1,100 farmers and extension officers, predominantly youth and women, participated in more than 20 targeted training sessions, generating perspectives for new employment opportunities and contributing to the dissemination of climate-smart agricultural practices. Reduced pesticide dependency, owing to the use of grafted seedlings and controlled-environment cultivation, provided additional economic and environmental benefits.

The initiative also encouraged entrepreneurship among youth, leading to the establishment of grafting service enterprises and seedling nurseries.  Farmers were also systematically linked with processing and marketing companies, resulting in improved market access and better value-chain integration. Local co-financing and a public–private partnership established with ICM Solutions, a local company specialized in supplying disease-resistant seeds and essential grafting materials, further reinforced input supply chains and seedling production. Overall, an increase in farmer demand for grafted seedlings indicated a positive trajectory towards sustained local adoption of the piloted solutions.

Solution adoption was also facilitated by Egerton University through a dedicated curriculum  on grafting techniques, and climate-smart agricultural practices. Due to the simplicity, affordability, and tangible benefits of the introduced techniques, the project was successfully replicated beyond Nakuru County, notably in Mwea, Kirinyaga County. The technology is readily adaptable given its low cost and strong return on investment. Grafted seedlings, for example, cost KES 30 (USD 0.22) compared to KES 10 (USD 0.07) for traditional varieties. However, this additional cost is quickly offset by substantial yield improvements: 40–60% more under normal conditions and up to 160% more in disease-prone environments. Even at the lower end of the yield gains, the added value from harvests more than compensates for the KES 20 (USD 0.15) premium, making grafted seedlings a highly cost-effective and profitable option for smallholder farmers.

The Implementation of this initiative also generated several valuable lessons for future South–South initiatives in agriculture:

• Demand-driven design: Aligning with local government priorities secured strong ownership, stakeholder buy-in, and smoother implementation.
• Effective South–South partnerships: Peer-to-peer exchange between Kenyan and Chinese universities accelerated innovation transfer and built mutual understanding.
• Holistic value-chain approach: Addressing production, inputs, and market access simultaneously proved more effective than technology transfer alone.
• Inclusive participation: Engaging youth and women throughout the process enhanced impact and community-wide benefits.
• Adaptive implementation: Flexibility to revise plans (e.g., shifting from remote to hands-on training) improved efficiency and relevance.
• Local capacity and continuity: Training local farmers and involving Egerton University ensured knowledge stayed in-country and continued post-project.
• Private sector engagement: Involving agri-businesses in seedling production and input supply strengthened sustainability and scalability.