The effects of climate change in Kenya are being felt in terms of frequent droughts, floods, land and environmental degradation as well as a general rise in temperatures. These impacts inflict serious losses to smallholder farmers due to crop damage from floods and crop failure in times of drought.
The Aloe Vera Value-added project was first proposed to the Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers (KENFAP) by smallholder farmers who recognised that concentrating on Aloe Vera plants could provide be a successful solution to combat the effects of climate change.
In an area that was extremely dry and heavily eroded due to the effects of climate change, farmers noted that the only green vegetation in the area were Aloe Vera plants, scattered indigenous acacia plants and sisal plants. By transforming aloe vera into soaps, lotions and detergents amongst other products, using community-based processing facilities, farmers developed a profitable project to sustain their livelihoods while bypassing middlemen to market their products.
Kenfap provided technical and advisory support, by:
- Establishment of aloe vera nurseries
- Demonstration and planting of aloe vera in the farm.
- Expert advisory services and communicating success stories
- Planning support and capacity-building during implementation process
- Research for high yielding and early maturing varieties.
- Commercial value estimates
- Exploring opportunities to partner with a global insurance intermediary to offer farmers weather insurance, protecting them from falling into destitution in case of severe drought.
Aloe farmers, the majority of whom are women, are now able to maintain a sustainable solution to climate change, with the input of advisory services from experts within the field.
This initiative was provided by the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP).