The Kenya Small Scale Farmers Forum (KESSFF) is a network of community based small-scale farmer groups across the country. It was established in August 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa out of the Small Farmers Convergence (SFC), which was attended by more than 300 small-scale farmers from 19 countries from Africa, Latin America, Canada, Europe and Asia. The purpose of the convergence was for farmers to speak as a united voice, so that their issues and recommendations become an integral part of the deliberations of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD-02)
The Kenya Small-Scale Farmers Forum (KESSFF) aims to empower small-scale farmers in Kenya to speak as a united voice to ensure that they are actively engaged in promoting sustainable food systems through evidence-based advocacy, capacity building, partnership building, institutional development, research and knowledge management. KESSFF has members in 54 sub-counties including Soi, Mukaa, Hamisi, West Pokot, Voi, Luanda, Tana Delta, Voi, Kiminini, Pokot South, Baringo Central, Kaiti, Trans Nzoia, Central Pokot, Kakamega, Keiyo South, Elgeyo Marakwet, Rongo, Suna East, Keiyo North, North Pokot, Suna West, Busia, Kitui, Kibwezi, Moi Ben, Nyeri, Muranga, Kajiado, Mwingi North, Murunga and Nyatike.
KEY PROGRAM AREAS
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Promoting Agro-ecological farming for a sustainable future and help eliminate hunger: KESSFF strides to promote and skill small-scale farmers to embrace agro-ecological farming for creation of stable food production systems that are resilient to climate change and other shocks for instance diseases, droughts, inputs price fluctuations. Agro-ecological farming for small-scale farmers ensures an increase in food production, reduced expenses, increased soil fertility, better rainwater capture and management, improved pest management, and increased wealth creation.
GOVERNANCE
Advocating for agricultural policy reforms through mutual accountability and transparency: KESSFF aims to enhance and strengthen small-scale farmers’ institutional capacity to influence, participate and monitor agricultural policymaking processes and budget implementation at the sub-county, county, national, regional and continental level. This is done through the Public Expenditure Tracking System (PETs) and Public Social Accountability Monitoring (PSAM).
GENDER AND YOUTH
Promoting Gender equality and Youth inclusiveness in agricultural transformation: KESSFF aims to close the gender gap in all agricultural value chains and reduce gender-based violence among the communities we work in. We also strive to increase youth involvement in agriculture thereby creating significant gains for the agricultural sector through reduced hunger and poverty. Small-scale women and youth farmers’ access to finance, markets, technology and Land access, ownership and control are also vital areas of focus for KESSFF.
ORGANIZATIONAL AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Strengthened organizational and institutional mechanisms and systems for effective engagement of small-scale farmers: For small-scale farmers to ensure that their issues and recommendations are integrated into decision-making processes at all levels there is a need for them to be organized into appropriate and recognized institutional system with one voice. KESSFF, therefore, aims to ensure that its organizational and institutional capacity is strengthened to proactively amplify the voices of small-scale farmers and fulfilling its mission.