Tackling rural poverty, together

Extract

The project works with farmer groups, marketing organizations, exporters, small private providers of training and spraying services, a regional certification body and the Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya. The overall aim is to ensure that increased costs associated with product certification and compliance with European Union norms do not lead to smallholders being dropped from the supply chain. By April 2006, improved agricultural practices have boosted smallholder production by 40% and have reduced the proportion of produce that is rejected by export companies. Forward contracts have been set up with three exporters, leading to a 50% increase in farm-gate prices.