NAIROBI, Kenya (PAMACC News) - For decades, Kenya’s smallholder farmers have leaned heavily on synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides to sustain crop yields in the face of erratic weather patterns, invasive pests, and rising food demand. But this reliance has come at a steep cost: depleted soils, contaminated water sources, declining biodiversity, and mounting health concerns for both farmers and consumers.

Now, Kenya is rewriting that story—starting from the ground up.

In 2024, the government launched the National Agroecology Strategy, a landmark policy framework designed to steer the country toward environmentally sustainable, health-conscious, and socially just food systems. At the same time, counties like Murang’a and Vihiga have taken the lead in implementing local agroecology policies aimed at helping farmers transition from chemical-intensive agriculture to nature-based solutions, including the use of bio-products such as organic fertilizers and biopesticides.

Agroecology is more than just organic farming—it is a holistic approach that integrates ecological principles into every part of the food system, from soil health and seed diversity to market access and consumer awareness.

Murang’a and Vihiga have crafted county-specific agroecology policies that incentivize the use of bio-inputs, improve extension services, and promote soil and biodiversity conservation.

In the central highlands, Murang’a County was the first to implement the policy, which paved way to agroecological innovation. The policy sets clear targets: phasing out toxic synthetic inputs, increasing farmer access to organic fertilizers, and promoting the use of biopesticides for the benefit of human health and the environment.

The same is now happening in Vihiga County, in the Western part of the country.

“We’ve already started training our extension officers on the use of bio-products,” says Dr Wilber Ottichilo, the County Governor for Vihiga. “We want to build local knowledge on how beneficial microorganisms, composts, and natural pest repellents can work just as effectively—if not better—than synthetic chemicals.”

The Governor adds that the county is also supporting farmer groups to produce their own organic inputs like fermented bokashi fertilizers, vermi compost and biopesticides using locally available materials. “This not only lowers input costs but also creates new income opportunities,” he says.

The county boss also wants Vihiga residents to diversify their crops, given the small sizes of land owned by individual households.

“Our goal is to reverse the damage caused by years of over-reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, reliance on growing only maize and beans and give farmers alternative nutritious and also income generating indigenous vegetables and food security crops such as sweet potatoes and cassava,” said Dr Ottichilo

One of the campaigns currently in many parts of the country is Healthy Soil, Healthy Food campaign, driven by AFSA to promotes composting, agroforestry, and the use of microbial-based soil enhancers. Through partnerships with NGOs and local cooperatives, farmers are also learning how to prepare and apply organic pest control products.

“After switching from chemical inputs to bio-fertilizers and intercropping with legumes, my maize yields improved without harming the soil,” says Moses Omwenga, a smallholder farmer from Emuhaya. “It’s a new mindset, but the results are real.”

Transitioning to agroecology isn’t just about banning chemicals—it requires infrastructure, research, and community support. Both Murang’a and Vihiga are investing in farmer training programs, establishing community seed banks, and promoting participatory research with local institutions.

They are also collaborating with private-sector players who produce certified bio-products, making it easier for farmers to access safe and affordable alternatives.

“Policy is important, but practice is where transformation happens,” says Ferdinand Wafula, the Founder - Bio Gardening Innovations (BIOGI). “The counties that are succeeding are the ones backing their words with resources, farmer training, and real incentives to go green,” he said.

“For too long, farmers have been trapped in a cycle of buying expensive chemical inputs that damage their soils and health. Agroecology offers a way out—a system that restores the land while reducing production costs and ensuring safer food for our communities,” says Wafula.

Kenya’s agroecology strategy, supported by pioneering county policies, signals a turning point in the country’s agricultural journey—away from chemical dependency and toward a food system that is healthier, more inclusive, and more resilient to climate shocks.

With farmers like Omwenga at the forefront, and with continued political will at national and county levels, Kenya is proving that the future of farming lies not in the laboratory—but in the living soils.