This collaboration has meant not only increased food security but also a more sustainable livelihood.

In Bomet County located in the Rift Valley region of Kenya, Hellen Rono is already preparing her farm for the new planting season

After a successful tomato harvest, which seemed improbable just a year ago, she is optimistic about her future crops. Like many farmers in the region, Hellen had traditionally depended on rainwater, but it was never enough for her commercial ambitions. The cold climate added to the challenge, prompting her to invest in a greenhouse. She believed it was the solution to her problems, but her first attempt ended in disaster.

“I planted tomatoes inside my greenhouse, which is eight metres by 15 metres, and they started germinating and growing well. However, midway through the growth process, the tomatoes began withering one by one, just as they were about to flower,” Hellen said. The withering continued until nearly 10 plants were dying each day.

Instead of giving up, Hellen reached out to agricultural officers who confirmed the plants were infected with tomato wilt. “We were told that there was no medicine for the disease. They advised us to irrigate the plants with plenty of water to prevent further withering,” she explains. With her farm relying on Bomet County water for both domestic and agricultural use, Hellen's water bill soared as she was using around 200 litres per day to irrigate the tomatoes. Despite the increased irrigation, her greenhouse remained flooded, but the damage was done—by the time some plants began to fruit, the entire crop had withered. There was nothing to harvest.

This setback led Hellen to research tomato wilt online, where she discovered tomato grafting, a technique from China that combats the disease. She also learned that high temperatures inside her greenhouse were another contributing factor, causing the flowers to drop and halting fruit production. “When scientists supervised my greenhouse, they reported high temperatures. At the time, I could not work inside the greenhouse from as early as 10 am because it was unbearably hot,” Hellen says.

Upon receiving training on how to regulate greenhouse temperatures, Hellen reduced the number of tomato plants from 500 to 250. The results were immediate. “We planted both grafted and non-grafted tomatoes in the same greenhouse. After a month, the non-grafted tomatoes started withering, while the grafted ones flowered consistently,” she says. “The grafted plants were not infected, and they continued to fruit, leading to a bumper harvest.”

Hellen's grafted tomatoes yielded impressive results. “It took 75 days to start harvesting grafted tomatoes, the same as the non-grafted ones. However, the grafted ones lasted much longer, with the first harvest weighing 6.8kg compared to 5.1kg from the non-grafted. The grafted plants reached an incredible 73.2kg, while the non-grafted ones barely made it to 8.7kg before dying.”

Yutao Liu, professor & director of the Confucius Institute at Egerton University, highlights the positive outcomes of using technological innovations in farming. "The graft seedling is resistant to disease, while the normal seedling is not. This is an example of the promising future of agricultural technology, particularly through the partnership between China and Kenya," Liu explains.

The collaboration between Egerton University and Nanjing Agricultural University has seen the establishment of 18 demo sites across Nakuru, Kisumu, Bomet, and Subukia. These sites showcase the grafted tomato variety, which has shown promise with a six-month harvest period per planting season. However, to grow grafted tomatoes, farmers need to have greenhouses.

The China-IFAD South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) initiative, funded by the Chinese Ministry of Finance, is behind this project, which aims to provide rural youth and farmers with innovative horticultural solutions. Steve Codjo, a regional analyst for China-IFAD SSTC, explains, “South-South cooperation is about knowledge exchange. We wanted something tangible that would serve the smallholder farmers for the long term.”

For farmers like Hellen, this collaboration has meant not only increased food security but also a more sustainable livelihood. This demonstrates that when technology is adapted to local contexts, it can break cycles of agricultural loss and empower rural communities.

The project puts a strong emphasis on training and building capacity among farmers.

Rwandan farmers and the private sector collaborated to improve the maize and soybean value chains for over 4,000 smallholder farmers

This partnership seeks to overcome key challenges such as low yields, limited access to quality seeds, and a lack of market opportunities, which are common among smallholder farmers in rural Rwanda.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to combat food insecurity and enhance the livelihoods of farmers across the country. By working together, farmers and private sector organisations aim to create a more efficient and sustainable agricultural value chain. The project addresses multiple aspects of the farming process, from better input supplies to improving market access. A key focus is providing farmers with high-quality seeds, offering extension services, and supporting better post-harvest handling practices.

Private sector partners, including seed companies, agribusinesses, and processors, play a pivotal role in this initiative. They are helping smallholders gain access to certified seeds, fertilizers, and modern farming practices. Furthermore, the project aims to enhance storage facilities and processing units, which are crucial for reducing post-harvest losses and ensuring that harvested crops are efficiently stored and processed.

The project also puts a strong emphasis on training and building capacity among farmers. Field agents and extension workers are being deployed to offer support on the latest agricultural practices, pest management techniques, and sustainable farming methods. This guidance is intended to help farmers increase their yields and improve the quality of their crops, making them more competitive in the market.

One of the most significant aspects of the partnership is improving market access for smallholder farmers. By connecting farmers with local and regional markets, the initiative ensures fair pricing for their produce, while also providing agribusinesses with a steady supply of quality maize and soybeans. This greater market access helps farmers bypass middlemen and capture a larger share of the profits.

Ultimately, this collaboration between farmers and the private sector offers a comprehensive approach to improving Rwanda's agricultural value chains. The combined efforts are set to enhance food security, increase incomes for smallholder farmers, and promote more sustainable farming practices. The long-term impact of this initiative is expected to play a crucial role in Rwanda’s agricultural growth and broader economic development.

The Forum’s theme focuses on agrifood systems.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) hosted a key event during the 2025 Standing Committee on Finance Forum, marking the start of the action phase for the US$282mn Food Systems Integrated Programme (FSIP)

Held at the FAO headquarters in Rome, this event comes at a critical moment ahead of COP 30 in November, where countries aim to raise US$1.3 trillion in climate finance.

For the first time since its creation at COP 17 in 2011, the Forum’s theme focuses on agrifood systems, with the goal of accelerating climate action and enhancing resilience through sustainable food systems and agriculture finance. This event included high-level discussions and special events aimed at exploring the potential of agrifood systems to provide climate solutions.

The official opening of the first global meeting of the FSIP was marked by a ministerial event, “Unlocking Sustainable Food Systems for Climate, Nature, and Livelihoods.” The FSIP, a flagship initiative led by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in collaboration with FAO and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), aims to channel US$282mn in GEF grants to transform agrifood systems in 32 countries. These transformations will focus on making systems more sustainable, regenerative, nature-positive, resilient, and pollution-reduced.

The Programme’s ambitious objectives include restoring over 870,000 hectares of degraded land, improving agricultural practices across 13.8 million hectares of landscapes, reducing 174 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, and improving the livelihoods of 3.4 million people.

QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General stressed the urgency of addressing the climate crisis through more efficient, inclusive, and resilient agrifood systems. He also emphasized that climate finance must be directed to farmers, particularly smallholders, to ensure that the transformation is both equitable and sustainable. “To beat the climate crisis, we need agrifood systems to move faster towards efficiency, inclusivity, resilience, and sustainability,” Qu said.

The event gathered ministers, government representatives, and international partners to discuss how climate finance can unlock opportunities for sustainable agrifood systems. The conversations highlighted the need for integrated solutions that address climate action, biodiversity, food security, and resilient livelihoods.

“This week marks the first time we’ve gathered with participating countries and global partners to share the ambitions of the FSIP,” noted Qu, referring to the programme’s potential to scale its impact both nationally and globally.

In addition to the FSIP meeting, the week also featured other special events, including a gathering of the Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation (FAST) Partnership. This partnership was established during COP 27 in 2022 as a platform for dialogue on climate, agriculture, and finance. A digital exhibit at FAO headquarters highlighted real-world examples of FAO’s work in accelerating climate action through agrifood solutions.FAO will also co-host a side event with Brazil, this year’s COP Presidency, to present the COP30 RAIZ initiative. This initiative aims to boost investment in large-scale agricultural land restoration to support food security, fight climate change, protect biodiversity, and combat desertification.

Finger Millet Improve Food Security in Kenya.

Kenya has selected finger millet and amaranth as strategic crops to enhance food diversity and nutrition across the country

This decision is part of a larger initiative aimed at tackling food insecurity and malnutrition while promoting sustainable farming practices. Both crops are known for their nutritional value, resilience, and ability to thrive in Kenya’s diverse and often challenging climates.

Finger millet is a drought-resistant cereal that proves especially valuable in areas with limited rainfall, where many other crops struggle to grow. Rich in essential nutrients like calcium, iron, and fibre, finger millet contributes significantly to the health of local populations, particularly in rural communities. However, despite its health benefits, finger millet has not been widely cultivated in Kenya for many years, primarily due to the dominance of maize and other more conventional crops.

Amaranth, a fast-growing and hardy plant, is another key crop being promoted. Known for its high protein content, amaranth also provides a wealth of vitamins and minerals, including iron and zinc. These nutrients are especially beneficial for the growth and development of children and women. Amaranth can be grown in various soil types and is resilient in dry conditions, making it an excellent crop for Kenya’s varied agricultural zones.

The Kenyan government has recognised the importance of diversifying the country's food production. By encouraging the cultivation of finger millet and amaranth, the government hopes to reduce dependency on a limited range of crops, particularly maize, which is vulnerable to the effects of climate change. This shift will help address the widespread issue of malnutrition in many parts of the country by providing more nutrient-dense and diverse food options for local populations.

In addition to their nutritional benefits, finger millet and amaranth hold significant economic potential. Both crops are commercially viable, and their increased cultivation could provide farmers with better income opportunities. Moreover, these crops could stimulate the local agricultural economy by creating markets for value-added products, such as flour, snacks, and other processed goods, which could be sold both domestically and internationally.

Kenya’s focus on finger millet and amaranth represents a comprehensive approach to strengthening food security, promoting healthier diets, and fostering sustainable agricultural practices. Through this strategy, the country is working towards a more resilient and diverse food system, ensuring better nutrition and long-term agricultural stability for the future.