How carbon finance is enhancing soil quality and agricultural practices of Kenyan farmers
In the heart of Western Kenya, amidst the vibrant landscapes of banana trees and milking cows, a pioneering initiative is quietly but profoundly transforming the region's agricultural composition and future – and the lives of the farming families working the land. The Western Kenya Soil Carbon Project, which aims at harnessing the power of soil to sequester carbon and boosting food security for local communities, has been making significant strides in its mission to promote sustainable agricultural practices while mitigating climate change. Recent developments show that the project is not only bearing fruitful crops but is also fostering a new era of sustainable stewardship and agricultural resilience. Read more about the latest project updates.
The project area lies in a populated region of Western Kenya, where agricultural activity dominates the landscape and traditional subsistence farming methods have long prevailed. Unfortunately, these traditional methods have been historically marked by low inputs, insufficient yields, and a steady decline in soil health. As previously reported, the Western Kenya Soil Carbon Project works with local farmers to revitalize the region's agricultural landscape and to harness the power of soil to sequester carbon.
The project area lies in a populated region of Western Kenya, where agricultural activity dominates the landscape and traditional subsistence farming methods have long prevailed. Unfortunately, these traditional methods have been historically marked by low inputs, insufficient yields, and a steady decline in soil health. As previously reported, the Western Kenya Soil Carbon Project aims to revitalize the region's agricultural landscape and boost food security for local communities.
Thanks to the funds generated through the sales of high-integrity carbon credits derived from this carbon removal project, Sustainable Agricultural Land Management, or SALM, practices can be actively promoted, with First Climate as the project’s carbon commercialization partner, within the farms in the project area. SALM not only enhances crop yields, but it also bolsters resilience to the impacts of climate change regionally, helps to restore degraded lands, and increases soil organic carbon levels.
Revitalizing farming practices
Traditional practices focusing on monocropping, reduced tree cover, and exposed soil with no cover crops have perpetuated centuries-old soil erosion, loss of nutrients, soil carbon, vegetation, and soil biodiversity. After being worked according to the techniques learned in trainings through extension services and the implementation of SALM know-how, these fields have been positively changed by the utilization of intercropping, increased tree cover, composting, less tillage, and increased cover crops. The impact is tangible: there is a measurable increase in soil organic carbon, soil biodiversity, and higher water conservation, which all contribute to stimulating the soil resilience of the Kenyan farmlands involved.
Examples of sustainable farming practices, including terrassed plot, cover crops, and composting.
Another benefit of the technical training provided through the project activity, is that farmers are integrating this knowledge and creating new income streams beyond the expectations of the project activities. The resourcefulness and adaptation skills of some farmers have meant culturing and bringing organic fertilizers to market, while others have produced homemade vermiculture, developed seed banks or successfully reintroduced native crops. These self-driven initiatives and byproducts are strongly related to the year-round technical support provided to farmers, which has been made possible through climate finance. In addition to training in SALM practices, participants benefit from access to markets and financial education, empowering them to continue to maximize the benefits of sustainable agriculture for their livelihoods and communities.
“Already on our first site visit, we spoke with entrepreneurial and enthusiastic farmers who were proud and eager to showcase their byproducts, like organic seed banks or fertilizers made from their own compost which they personally market and sell. Having created micro-circular economies in many respects, these farmers are excited about their futures and their positive impact on mitigating climate change,” shares Lina Ávila, a Project Manager at First Climate.
Each one, teach one
One of the cornerstones of the Western Kenya Soil Carbon Project's success lies in its ability to engage and empower local farmers, where the participating farmers promote the project and its benefits amongst themselves. Farmers see the success of their neighbors and want to bring similar yields to their own plots. Over the past year, the project has witnessed a surge in farmer participation, with an increasing number of households adopting SALM agricultural techniques. The extensive outreach programs, training sessions, and demonstration plots associated with the project has enabled farmers to gain knowledge and access resources to implement practices such as agroforestry, cover cropping, and conservation agriculture.
“This type of grassroots mobilization has not only bolstered carbon sequestration efforts but has also catalyzed broader socioeconomic benefits, including enhanced food security and diversified income streams,” states Wolfgang Brückner, Managing Director, First Climate Projektentwicklung GmbH (Project Development).
Pioneering ahead
As the Western Kenya Soil Carbon Project continues to evolve and expand its reach, with the support of bridge financing and carbon credit management provided by First Climate, the path forward is encouraging. From scaling up SALM techniques to leveraging innovative financing mechanisms for sustainable land management, there remains much work to be done in the pursuit of a carbon-neutral future. Yet, even with the complexities of a changing climate and a rapidly evolving agricultural landscape, one thing remains clear: the Western Kenya Soil Carbon Project serves as a model for future SALM projects, demonstrating the transformative power of collective action, environmental stewardship, and expert advice from trusted carbon partners.
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