SHEP approach provides technical and soft skills based on the theory of self-determination. The training has influenced farmers to change their mindsets and behaviour towards promoting market-oriented horticulture. In addition, most farmers gained confidence in applying the skills acquired, which resulted in improved production and marketing and increased incomes.
This approach is friendly to diverse people such as Women, Men, Youth, and people with disability whom producing and marketing horticultural crops. It targets farmers who are already members of common interest groups. The groups have 15–30 members who are 18 years old and above. The groups vary widely in composition, comprising mixed genders, men, or women only, youth or people living with disability. All members were expected to coordinate production and conduct marketing collectively so that they can achieve economies of scale and adequate volumes to attract buyers and other market actors.
SHEP’s gender awareness training contributed to strengthening relationships between couples as equal partners in managing the family farming business. In doing so, SHEP applied a family budgeting concept whereby couples were trained to share responsibilities, plan, and make decisions jointly in farm production, marketing and on use of the income generated, as well as on other family matters. After participating in SHEP training, couples worked more closely in planning and sharing roles both on the farm and at home.
SHEP in Kenya addresses gender issues from three different viewpoints: (1) equal opportunities, (2) review gender roles and (3) joint decision.
The SHEP approach recognized gender as a cross-cutting issue and paid significant attention to gender throughout the training activities. In terms of trainings, through gender awareness orientation during the sensitization workshop, women members have become more active through SHEP activities, and opportunities have been created for men and women members to meet, which was unthinkable at first in the areas where there are many conservative Muslims.
Direct beneficiaries: 24,663 farmers (855 groups), and 25,504 farmers were benefited indirectly in all counties.
Others covered:
- 11 Project Coordination Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries,
- 92 staff of agricultural institutions,
- 1301 county government officials and agribusiness firms,
- 400 students from agriculture-related educational institutions,
- 43 organizations participated in the public-private horticulture promotion council.
-
To observe the implementation of the activities, below monitoring steps were taken during the project implementation:
- Periodical Follow-up was conducted by Sub-County Management Team to monitor and evaluate the progress of Model Farmer Group in terms of the level of crop production, adoption of technologies and group empowerment levels. The Follow-up is conducted using the contents of an elaborated monitoring sheet known as ‘Observation Note of the SHEP Field Activity’. It involves actual visits to Model Farmer Groups; the Group facilitator selects the appropriate venue within the locality of the model farmer group.
- Periodical Data Survey was conducted by the project team: it is an activity of data collection with the aim of determining changes in target groups in terms of horticultural crop production (yield and income), adoption of horticulture crop production techniques and group empowerment levels over a period of time. Before conducting the actual Periodical Data Survey, the Project Secretariat trains the staff on how to carry out the survey. Periodical Data Survey is done using the same survey tools as Baseline Survey. The exercise is conducted within the locality of each group at a convenient venue. The exercise takes half a day for each group. The key facilitator during the exercise is the group facilitator who is backstopped by the Ward Agricultural Officer and Sub County Management team. The Model farmer group members should be available to provide the required information.
- Review Meetings: The meetings were organized with an objective of sharing upscaling of SHEP Approach to other groups.
- SHEP Approach Impact Field Day: It seeks to create awareness through learning how SHEP PLUS farmers succeeded in their agriculture business. The field day is different from ordinary field days which demonstrate recommended varieties of crops or production techniques. Its emphasis is on the process of changing farmers’ mindsets. Farmers who have benefited from the Approach share their success stories and experiences during the Field Day.
The Impact of “Grow to Sell” Agricultural Extension on Smallholder Horticulture Farmers: Evidence from a Market-Oriented Approach in Kenya - This paper provides the first evidence on the impact evaluation of a market-oriented agricultural extension program called Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) in Kenya. The most important feature of the SHEP approach is that it places top priority on practical training for general farmers to act as producers in a market. The study finding shows that, on average, farmers in the SHEP program enjoyed a significantly higher horticultural income increase of 70% over two years. The positive and significant effect is pronounced in vulnerable farmer households whose head is female, less educated, or older, and previous market experience prior is irrelevant. Moreover, each training component contributed to an increase in horticultural crop income. Thus, the study findings confirm that a market-oriented agricultural extension can be a pathway to improving the living standards of small-scale farmers through an increase in horticultural incomes.
Motivating farmers' market-oriented production - Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion approach in Kenya - A global study carried out by the FAO Investment Centre and the International Food Policy Research Institute, with support from the CGIAR Research Programme on Policies, Institutions and Markets and the FAO Research and Extension Unit, looks at agriculture human capital investments, from trends to promising initiatives. One of the nine featured case studies is Kenya’s Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion Approach, which provides technical and soft skills based on the theory of self-determination. The training has influenced farmers to change their mindsets and behaviour towards market-oriented horticulture. In addition, most farmers gained confidence in applying the skills acquired, which resulted in improved production and marketing and increased incomes. The approach was found to be effective in developing human capital and is therefore recommended for use in smallholder horticulture production systems or enterprises.
- Self-determination theory can also function in cultivating C/Ps' ownership, in a result the sustainability of the intervention is secured.
- Market survey and crop selection by the farmers themselves make them feel autonomous.
- Baseline survey should be Participatory and should focus on the beneficiaries (unlike baseline survey for the region).
- Involving all Subject Matter Specialists in project implementation is important (compared to dealing with ONLY Desk officer).
- Vision sharing and guiding farmers to set their goals motivates them to do better. Collaboration between the two levels of government is key to success.
- Combination of software (capacity building) and hardware (such as irrigation infrastructure accelerate adoption.
- Efforts made to align SHEP with the country government policy, currently government of Kenya incorporated SHEP as an Extension Approach in the “Kenya Agricultural Extension Policy developed in Dec, 2023.
- In the Project Design Matrix (PDM), one of the outputs is to support other countries, Kenyan CPs hosted trainees from other countries and applied the lessons learned from Kenya in their own activities.
In recognition of the potential of SHEP approach in Kenya, some counties where SHEP was implemented mainstreamed the approach in implementing other national projects such as the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project, funded by the World Bank. In addition, some projects implemented by non-governmental organizations, for example, one by Aga Khan Foundation in Kwale County adopted SHEP for the project’s extension delivery.
JICA singed Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with World Food Program (WFP) on 10th Oct 2019 aiming to provide a framework for collaboration on activities and the interest and priorities when deemed useful. Both parties make efforts to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of existing cooperation as well as to find new opportunities and innovative ways for cooperation and to build partnerships with those of different sectors including other development partners, government, private entities, and civil societies in a harmonized way to create synergy in related activities.
JICA has collaboration with Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS) and jointly developed a module (NELK-SHEP Module). GFRAS adopted this approach in the projects in Latin America and some African countries and incorporated in learning kit by the name of New Extensionist Learning Kit (NELK). Existing materials can be uploaded to NELK and the modules can be released at the SHEP Seminar for the Latin American region scheduled for February 2025.
JICA and GFRAS made a list of SHEP contents in Spanish language. In addition to this list, there is also a Spanish language version of the SHEP Practical Knowledge Test. FY2024 KCCP Latin America A_SHEP TEST (Type A) (office.com)
Current phase of SHEP has collaboration with other organizations who co-hosted Training of Trainers for their staff and continue implementing SHEP in their activities as following:
- Kisii Smart Community/Toyota Mobility Foundation: Improve rural livelihood with mobility (electric-tricycle) to create SHF’s market access which promote entrepreneurship mind among SHFs and make Agri-e-Hub operational by the community.
- Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture Technology (JKUAT): College of Agriculture and Natural Resources teaches agriculture extension in one of the courses including practical elements (market survey by students, students train farmers) in the existing course.
- Kenya School of Agriculture (KSA): Agriculture Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ATVET) belongs to MoALD offer long and short-term courses with aim to incorporate the concept of “grow to sell” into the pre-service and in-service course.
- Farm to Market Alliance (FtMA)/WFP: Improve smallholder farmers (SHFs) livelihood by agripreneurs called “Farmer Service Centre (FSC)”, expand market options by FSCs and their clients SHFs.
- Cereal Growers Association (CGA)/AGRA: Implement Regenerative Agriculture funded through AGRA by agripreneurs called “Village Based Advisor (VBA)” improve adoption rate of regenerative agriculture techniques, improve SHFs livelihood through VBA.
- Basic Needs Basic Rights (BNBR): Support persons with mental condition and with physical disabilities, train them on Income Generative Activities (IGA) to add value to their IGA training in the area of horticulture farming.
SDG 1－No poverty
- Target 1.2 - By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
- Indicator 1.2.1 - Proportion of population living below the national poverty line, by sex and age
- Indicator 1.2.2 - Proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions
SDG 2－Zero hunger
- Target 2.3－By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.
- Indicator 2.3.1 - Volume of production per labour unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size
- Indicator 2.3.2 - Average income of small-scale food producers, by sex and indigenous status
SDG 5－Gender equality
- Target 5.5－Ensure women`s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.
- Indicator 5.5.1 - Proportion of seats held by women in (a) national parliaments and (b) local governments
- Indicator 5.5.2 - Proportion of women in managerial positions
SDG 8－Decent work and economic growth
- Target 8.5－By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
- Indicator 8.5.1 - Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age and persons with disabilities
- Indicator 8.5.2 - Unemployment rate, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
SDG 9－Industry, innovation and infrastructure
- Target 9.3－Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets.
- Indicator 9.3.1 - Proportion of small-scale industries in total industry value added
- Indicator 9.3.2 - Proportion of small-scale industries with a loan or line of credit
SDG 10－Reduces inequalities
- Target 10.1－By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national average.
- Indicator 10.1.1 - Growth rates of household expenditure or income per capita among the bottom 40 per cent of the population and the total population
- Target 10.2－By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
- Indicator 10.2.1 - Proportion of people living below 50 per cent of median income, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
SDG 12－Responsible consumption and production
- Target 12.3－By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
- Indicator 12.3.1 - (a) Food loss index and (b) food waste index
SDG 1－No poverty
- Target 1.2 – By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
- Indicator 1.2.1 – Proportion of population living below the national poverty line, by sex and age
- Indicator 1.2.2 – Proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions
SDG 2－Zero hunger
- Target 2.3－By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.
- Indicator 2.3.1 – Volume of production per labour unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size
- Indicator 2.3.2 – Average income of small-scale food producers, by sex and indigenous status
SDG 5－Gender equality
- Target 5.5－Ensure women`s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.
- Indicator 5.5.1 – Proportion of seats held by women in (a) national parliaments and (b) local governments
- Indicator 5.5.2 – Proportion of women in managerial positions
SDG 8－Decent work and economic growth
- Target 8.5－By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
- Indicator 8.5.1 – Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age and persons with disabilities
- Indicator 8.5.2 – Unemployment rate, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
SDG 9－Industry, innovation and infrastructure
- Target 9.3－Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets.
- Indicator 9.3.1 – Proportion of small-scale industries in total industry value added
- Indicator 9.3.2 – Proportion of small-scale industries with a loan or line of credit
SDG 10－Reduces inequalities
- Target 10.1－By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national average.
- Indicator 10.1.1 – Growth rates of household expenditure or income per capita among the bottom 40 per cent of the population and the total population
- Target 10.2－By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
- Indicator 10.2.1 – Proportion of people living below 50 per cent of median income, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
SDG 12－Responsible consumption and production
- Target 12.3－By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
- Indicator 12.3.1 – (a) Food loss index and (b) food waste index
SHEP approach provides technical and soft skills based on the theory of self-determination. The training has influenced farmers to change their mindsets and behaviour towards promoting market-oriented horticulture. In addition, most farmers gained confidence in applying the skills acquired, which resulted in improved production and marketing and increased incomes.
This approach is friendly to diverse people such as Women, Men, Youth, and people with disability whom producing and marketing horticultural crops. It targets farmers who are already members of common interest groups. The groups have 15–30 members who are 18 years old and above. The groups vary widely in composition, comprising mixed genders, men, or women only, youth or people living with disability. All members were expected to coordinate production and conduct marketing collectively so that they can achieve economies of scale and adequate volumes to attract buyers and other market actors.
SHEP’s gender awareness training contributed to strengthening relationships between couples as equal partners in managing the family farming business. In doing so, SHEP applied a family budgeting concept whereby couples were trained to share responsibilities, plan, and make decisions jointly in farm production, marketing and on use of the income generated, as well as on other family matters. After participating in SHEP training, couples worked more closely in planning and sharing roles both on the farm and at home.
SHEP in Kenya addresses gender issues from three different viewpoints: (1) equal opportunities, (2) review gender roles and (3) joint decision.
The SHEP approach recognized gender as a cross-cutting issue and paid significant attention to gender throughout the training activities. In terms of trainings, through gender awareness orientation during the sensitization workshop, women members have become more active through SHEP activities, and opportunities have been created for men and women members to meet, which was unthinkable at first in the areas where there are many conservative Muslims.
- Self-determination theory can also function in cultivating C/Ps’ ownership, in a result the sustainability of the intervention is secured.
- Market survey and crop selection by the farmers themselves make them feel autonomous.
- Baseline survey should be Participatory and should focus on the beneficiaries (unlike baseline survey for the region).
- Involving all Subject Matter Specialists in project implementation is important (compared to dealing with ONLY Desk officer).
- Vision sharing and guiding farmers to set their goals motivates them to do better. Collaboration between the two levels of government is key to success.
- Combination of software (capacity building) and hardware (such as irrigation infrastructure accelerate adoption.
- Efforts made to align SHEP with the country government policy, currently government of Kenya incorporated SHEP as an Extension Approach in the “Kenya Agricultural Extension Policy developed in Dec, 2023.
- In the Project Design Matrix (PDM), one of the outputs is to support other countries, Kenyan CPs hosted trainees from other countries and applied the lessons learned from Kenya in their own activities.
Integrated programmes for gender equality and empowerment
In recognition of the potential of SHEP approach in Kenya, some counties where SHEP was implemented mainstreamed the approach in implementing other national projects such as the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project, funded by the World Bank. In addition, some projects implemented by non-governmental organizations, for example, one by Aga Khan Foundation in Kwale County adopted SHEP for the project’s extension delivery.
JICA singed Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with World Food Program (WFP) on 10th Oct 2019 aiming to provide a framework for collaboration on activities and the interest and priorities when deemed useful. Both parties make efforts to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of existing cooperation as well as to find new opportunities and innovative ways for cooperation and to build partnerships with those of different sectors including other development partners, government, private entities, and civil societies in a harmonized way to create synergy in related activities.
JICA has collaboration with Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS) and jointly developed a module (NELK-SHEP Module). GFRAS adopted this approach in the projects in Latin America and some African countries and incorporated in learning kit by the name of New Extensionist Learning Kit (NELK). Existing materials can be uploaded to NELK and the modules can be released at the SHEP Seminar for the Latin American region scheduled for February 2025.
JICA and GFRAS made a list of SHEP contents in Spanish language. In addition to this list, there is also a Spanish language version of the SHEP Practical Knowledge Test. FY2024 KCCP Latin America A_SHEP TEST (Type A) (office.com)
Current phase of SHEP has collaboration with other organizations who co-hosted Training of Trainers for their staff and continue implementing SHEP in their activities as following:
- Kisii Smart Community/Toyota Mobility Foundation: Improve rural livelihood with mobility (electric-tricycle) to create SHF’s market access which promote entrepreneurship mind among SHFs and make Agri-e-Hub operational by the community.
- Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture Technology (JKUAT): College of Agriculture and Natural Resources teaches agriculture extension in one of the courses including practical elements (market survey by students, students train farmers) in the existing course.
- Kenya School of Agriculture (KSA): Agriculture Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ATVET) belongs to MoALD offer long and short-term courses with aim to incorporate the concept of “grow to sell” into the pre-service and in-service course.
- Farm to Market Alliance (FtMA)/WFP: Improve smallholder farmers (SHFs) livelihood by agripreneurs called “Farmer Service Centre (FSC)”, expand market options by FSCs and their clients SHFs.
- Cereal Growers Association (CGA)/AGRA: Implement Regenerative Agriculture funded through AGRA by agripreneurs called “Village Based Advisor (VBA)” improve adoption rate of regenerative agriculture techniques, improve SHFs livelihood through VBA.
- Basic Needs Basic Rights (BNBR): Support persons with mental condition and with physical disabilities, train them on Income Generative Activities (IGA) to add value to their IGA training in the area of horticulture farming.
Direct beneficiaries: 24,663 farmers (855 groups), and 25,504 farmers were benefited indirectly in all counties.
Others covered:
- 11 Project Coordination Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries,
- 92 staff of agricultural institutions,
- 1301 county government officials and agribusiness firms,
- 400 students from agriculture-related educational institutions,
- 43 organizations participated in the public-private horticulture promotion council.
–
To observe the implementation of the activities, below monitoring steps were taken during the project implementation:
- Periodical Follow-up was conducted by Sub-County Management Team to monitor and evaluate the progress of Model Farmer Group in terms of the level of crop production, adoption of technologies and group empowerment levels. The Follow-up is conducted using the contents of an elaborated monitoring sheet known as ‘Observation Note of the SHEP Field Activity’. It involves actual visits to Model Farmer Groups; the Group facilitator selects the appropriate venue within the locality of the model farmer group.
- Periodical Data Survey was conducted by the project team: it is an activity of data collection with the aim of determining changes in target groups in terms of horticultural crop production (yield and income), adoption of horticulture crop production techniques and group empowerment levels over a period of time. Before conducting the actual Periodical Data Survey, the Project Secretariat trains the staff on how to carry out the survey. Periodical Data Survey is done using the same survey tools as Baseline Survey. The exercise is conducted within the locality of each group at a convenient venue. The exercise takes half a day for each group. The key facilitator during the exercise is the group facilitator who is backstopped by the Ward Agricultural Officer and Sub County Management team. The Model farmer group members should be available to provide the required information.
- Review Meetings: The meetings were organized with an objective of sharing upscaling of SHEP Approach to other groups.
- SHEP Approach Impact Field Day: It seeks to create awareness through learning how SHEP PLUS farmers succeeded in their agriculture business. The field day is different from ordinary field days which demonstrate recommended varieties of crops or production techniques. Its emphasis is on the process of changing farmers’ mindsets. Farmers who have benefited from the Approach share their success stories and experiences during the Field Day.