Outline of the Project

Project Name

Project for Smallholder Empowerment and Agribusiness Promotion (SHEP Biz)

Subject

Agricultural/Rural Development

Country

Kenya

Date R/D Signed

Apr. 03, 2020

Term of Cooperation

Dec. 17, 2020 to Dec. 16, 2025

Implementing Organization

Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives (MoALFC)

Background

Agriculture is the main driver for Kenya economy as the sector contributes to 33% of GDP and 62 % of export earnings. Small-scale farmers with plots of 1.2 acres or less drive most of the production as they take account of approximately two third of number of farmers, share of farms, as well as marketed agricultural produce. In addition, around 70% of rural population engage in agricultural activities. Therefore, it is inevitable to enhance the agricultural sector especially in rural area for sustainable growth in Kenya.

The importance of agriculture has been re-emphasized by Government of Kenya in "Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS)"(2019-2029) to rapidly transform this critical sector. The ASTGS prioritizes three pillars to drive the 10-year transformation; Pillar 1 is "Increase small-scale farmer, pastoralist and fisherfolk incomes", Pillar 2 is "Increase agricultural output and value add", and Pillar 3 is "Increase household food resilience".

With this background, "Project for Smallholder Empowerment and Agribusiness Promotion (SHEP Biz)" has been implemented for 5 years since December 2020, to strengthen capacity of rural agribusiness support for the improvement of rural livelihoods,

SHEP Biz consists of 2 Components. Component 1 aims to improve livelihood of smallholder horticulture farmers through promotion and mainstreaming of the SHEP Approach. Component 2 aims to identify an inclusive pathway to transform existing Value Chains (VCs) and agribusinesses into ones that are more effective, and to promote increase of income and employment opportunities for small-scale agripreneurs, including women and the youth.

Therefore, SHEP Biz will primarily contribute to the first two (2) Pillars of the ASTGS.

The Overall Goal

Rural livelihoods are improved.

Project Purpose

Capacity of rural agribusiness support is strengthened.

Outputs

1. Capacity of staff in public and private agricultural training institutions on the SHEP Approach is build and the Approach is introduced in systematic and sustainable ways.
2. Model farmers' income is increased and SHEP Approach is mainstreamed in agricultural extension in target counties.
3. Challenges on value chains for farmers and agri-SMEs are identified and interventions to overcome them are prioritized.
4. Interventions to overcome the challenges are implemented and validated.

Project Activities

1.1	Identify collaborating agriculture related education institutions for the introduction of SHEP Approach.
1.2	Consult collaborating institutions and identify the introduction method and implementing structure of SHEP approach.
1.3	Develop carriculums and training materials for SHEP Approach.
1.4	Conduct lecture/training on SHEP Approach to students/trainees in collaborating institutions.
1.5	Review and improve activity 1-4.

2.1	Select target counties based on selection criteria.
2.2	Sensitize counties on SHEP Approach.
2.3	Conduct a series of activities of SHEP Approach for 10 model farmer groups in each target county.
2.4	Support target counties to conduct activities of SHEP Approach.
2.5	Conduct data surveys and follow-up of the activity of SHEP Approach in each target county.
2.6	Result of data surveys are shared to target counties and utilized for further application of SHEP Approach in counties.

3.1	Conduct further survey to identify challenges on value chains and agribusinesses.
3.2	Identify and compile common challenges through analysis of the survey's output.
3.3	Formulate pilot project plans to overcome the challenges.
3.4	Select target counties for the implementation of pilot projects.

4.1	Implement pilot projects in target counties.
4.2	Review the activity 4-1 and compile achievements, challenges and lessons learnt.

Inputs

Japanese side

1. Dispatch of Japanese Experts
2. Provision of the equipment
3. Training for Counterpart Personnel (in Japan, in other countries)
4. Local cost for the activity of Japanese Experts

Kenyan side

1. Allocation of Counterpart Personnel
2. Office space for Japanese experts
3. Local cost (Cost not covered by JICA support)