The County Government of Kitui has intensified efforts to strengthen food security by scaling up women-led farming initiatives under the Rural Women Cultivating Change Project, implemented in partnership with GROOTS Kenya.
The project, currently active in Voo/Kyamatu, Zombe/Mwitika, Kivou, Ikutha and Ikanga/Kyatune wards, is set to expand into four additional wards, targeting more than 1,500 farmers. The expansion places women at the centre of agricultural transformation, equipping them with skills in sustainable and climate-smart farming.
Speaking during a farmers’ engagement forum in Kitui town, County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture and Livestock, Dr. Stephen Mbaya Kimwele, said the initiative is key to improving household food production and building resilience against climate shocks.
“When you empower a woman, you empower the world,” he said, noting that women form the backbone of agriculture, making up nearly 80 per cent of farmers in the county.
The programme is being implemented through ward-based agricultural extension officers who are conducting bi-monthly training sessions focused on gender-transformative agroecology. The trainings are designed to boost productivity, promote climate-smart practices, and address gender inequalities within the sector.
Farmers involved in the initiative are already gaining practical knowledge to improve yields and diversify production—efforts expected to enhance household incomes while ensuring sustainable food systems across Kitui County.
The county government says the programme is part of a broader strategy to empower rural communities and position agriculture as a driver of economic growth and food security.
