The Law of Diminishing Returns in Agriculture: Why More Is Not Always Better
In farming, it is easy to believe that success comes from doing more. More fertilizer should give higher yields. More water should produce healthier crops. More labor should increase productivity. For many farmers, especially those under pressure to increase output or recover from losses, adding more inputs feels like the logical solution. However, agriculture does…
Kitui County Livestock Vaccination Drive to Control Foot-and-Mouth Disease
The Kitui County Government has rolled out a livestock vaccination drive aimed at protecting animals from contagious diseases such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). The programme targets the vaccination of over 3,000 livestock in the initial phase, with plans to scale up across the county. This initiative underscores the county’s commitment to strengthening animal health, improving…
The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) Reopens Macadamia Harvesting in Kenya: Key Updates for Farmers
The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has officially reopened macadamia harvesting and trading in Kenya, marking a critical turning point for farmers and stakeholders in the macadamia industry. The decision follows a nationwide maturity assessment that confirmed the readiness of macadamia nuts in several growing regions. This reopening offers relief to farmers who depend on…
Climate-Smart Farming in East Africa: Preparing Farmers for the March–May Rainy Season
Climate-smart farming in East Africa is becoming increasingly important as farmers face unpredictable weather patterns, rising temperatures, and frequent climate-related shocks. The March–May long rainy season is one of the most critical agricultural periods in the country, yet it is also the most uncertain. Delayed rainfall, flooding, prolonged dry spells, and pest outbreaks have disrupted…
Contract Farming in Africa: Pros, Cons, and Opportunities for Smallholder Farmers
Contract farming in Africa is increasingly becoming a key model for linking smallholder farmers to reliable markets, improving agricultural productivity, and supporting agribusiness development. Across the continent, millions of farmers grow crops and rear livestock under agreements with buyers such as processors, exporters, cooperatives, and large agribusiness companies. For many African farmers, access to markets…
Productivity vs Production In Agriculture: Understanding the Difference for Better Farm Management
Many farmers proudly talk about how much they harvested in a season ten tonnes of maize, hundreds of bags of rice, or dozens of livestock sold. While these numbers are important, they do not always tell the full story about farm success. This is where the difference between production and productivity becomes critical. In many…
Agroforestry in Agriculture: Benefits to Farmers, Challenges, and Practical Solutions
Agriculture today faces many challenges such as declining soil fertility, unpredictable rainfall, rising input costs, land degradation, and the increasing impacts of climate change. For millions of smallscale farmers, especially in Africa, these pressures threaten food security and livelihoods. One proven, sustainable solution that continues to gain global recognition is agroforestry in agriculture. Agroforestry is…
Kenya’s Local Rice Market Thrives as Government Buys All Farmers’ Produce
Kenya’s local rice market has received a significant boost following confirmation that the government has purchased all locally produced rice from farmers, marking a turning point for the country’s rice sector. The move has been welcomed by growers, particularly in major rice-producing regions such as Mwea, where farmers have long struggled with delayed payments, unsold…
How to Choose the Right Crops for Your Farm: 2026 Complete Guide Based on Climate, Soil, and Market Demand
Choosing the right crops for your farm is one of the most important decisions any farmer can make. It affects not only the crop yield but also profitability, sustainability, and long-term success of the farm. Many farmers invest heavily in land preparation, seeds, fertilizers, and labor, yet still experience poor returns simply because they selected…
Water Bankruptcy in Africa: Meaning, Impact on Farmers, and Practical Solutions
Water bankruptcy in Africa is becoming one of the most serious threats to agriculture, food security, and rural livelihoods. Across the continent, farmers are facing unreliable rainfall, drying rivers, declining groundwater levels, and rising competition for limited water resources. What was once a seasonal challenge now evolved into a long-term structural crisis. For African farmers,…
