Kenya Market-Led Horticulture ProgrammeHortIMPACT

Project

Private sector expertise boosting SME

horticulture production for inclusive markets

HortIMPACT combines private sector expertise with social impact solutions to build sustainable, inclusive domestic and export horticulture markets in Kenya.

Our focusPoor food safety, high food losses and the exclusion of small & medium size farmers from value chains are limiting the economic growth and social benefits of fruit and vegetable markets in Kenya. HortIMPACT is working across horticulture value chains to change this.

Together with entreprenurial small & medium size farmers, and Kenyan and Dutch Agri-businesses, HortIMPACT promotes innovative solutions and technologies from the private sector that improve production and help build inclusive market growth.

Our ApproachHortIMPACT supports promising business cases from Kenyan and Dutch companies that address:

» Inclusion of SME farmers in domestic and export markets.

» Improvement of food safety through integrated crop management practices.

» Reduction of food losses and improved effciency in supply chains.

Transforming horticulture value chains for thriving inclusive markets.

HortIMPACT supports Kenyan and Dutch companies to showcase innovative and commercially proven technologies & services for improving productivity, enhancing food safety and reducing post harvest food losses to entrepreneurial small & medium size farmers, to enable them to secure profitable access to domestic and export markets.

The programme also cooperates with national and county government agencies to formulate and implement policies that support the inclusion of small & medium size farmers and stimulate market growth.

1. Promoting InclusionHortIMPACT links entrepreneurial small & medium size farmer groups to innovative and proven technologies and techniques to increase farm productivity, quality and efficiency so they can compete in commercial markets. The programme brokers connections between these farmer groups and other actors in the value chain to build business networks for fair access to domestic and export markets.

The programme is also committed to the fair participation of women and young people in horticulture value chains, and addresses barriers to their active participation through targeted interventions for business and leadership development.

HortIMPACT is also working with national and county government agencies for policies that support market inclusion in a sustainable way.

2. Improving Food SafetyMost fresh fruits and vegetables for the local market are sold through open-air markets and roadside kiosks. Typically pesticide use during production is not closely monitored and pesticide residue, heavy metal and microbiological contaminant tests are rarely done.

As a result, concern over the safety of fruit and vegetable consumption continues to grow amongst domestic consumers, impacting dietary diversity and limiting market growth.

HortIMPACT in partnership with the relevant national & county government institutions, agro- based companies, and entrepreneurial small & medium size farmers introduces practices such as GlobalGAP, to ensure safe quality fruit and vegetables for consumers in the domestic market.

Creating a win-win for

farmers, agri-business &

consumers

3. Reducing Post-Harvest LossesPost-harvest food losses reduce saleable market stock and income, and can lead to higher consumer prices. Reducing food losses is also important in safeguarding affordable access to diverse fruits and vegetables, essential for the nutritional needs of healthy communities. To tackle this issue, HortIMPACT is introducing small and medium size farmers to best practices and technologies such as integrated pest management, tunnel farming, improved crop varieties, effective packaging, storage solutions, and efficient transportation.

The HortIMPACT Business Cases:HortIMPACT concentrates support on a number of promising business cases with agribusinesses and farmer groups, selected because they are economically viable, innovative and scalable. These business cases offer exciting opportunities to grow an inclusive horticulture market by addressing productivity, food safety and post harvest losses. These business cases include:

1. Promoting innovative technologies in vegetable production to farmers including greenhouse technology with Kenya Highland Seed Company.

2. Introducing soil testing using an innovative hand held device, and follow up fertilizer advice with Soil Cares.

3. Pre-paid water for irrigation with Maji Milele.4. Improving the domestic potato value chain in collaboration with processors,

policy makers and smallholder farmers.5. Development and validation of integrated crop management (ICM) packages for

the management of bacterial wilt with Koppert.

HortIMPACT will share the knowledge and insights gained from these business cases with farmers, domestic and Dutch Agri-businesses, and policy makers to scale up and extend the approach.

Our Ambition• Market oriented and inclusive supply chains built upon effective business linkages

between small & medium size farmers and traders.• Small & medium size farmers with the business skills and entrepreneurial vision

to develop and expand market opportunities for increased incomes.• Enhanced on-farm skill and productivity gained via training, the introduction of

new technologies, and engagement with domestic and Dutch companies.• Efficient, effective supply chains that reduce food losses and improve food safety.• Investment and opportunity funds leveraged to streamline and optimise supply

chains.

Championing new business initiatives for food safety, post-harvest losses & inclusive growth

HortIMPACT

Private Sector Collaboration

HortIMPACT works with private sector agribusinesses from Kenya and The Netherlands, to source and promote scalable and appropriate technologies, to aid small and medium size farmers to overcome the challenges they face in food safety, sustainable production and post-harvest losses.

HortIMPACT also brokers domestic and export market linkages, and builds business networks for small and medium size farmer groups.

SNV Netherlands Development OrganisationParkstraat 83, 2514 JG The Hague, The Netherlands ©

SNV

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HortIMPACT is proudly supported by The Trade and Development Policy Initiative of The Embassy of The Kingdom of The Netherlands, and programme partners:

Are you part of a company with an innovative business idea, market proposition, or new technology that can reduce food losses, improve food safety and market inclusion?

We can connect you to new opportunities, provide advice and support for farmer training and demonstrations, business investments and market access.

Just contact one of our experts!

For more information contact the HortIMPACT team:

Stefan EngelsHortIMPACT Project Manager, Kenyasengels@snvworld.org

Rik van KeulenSNV Global Coordinator Horticulture,The Netherlandsrvankeulen@snvworld.org

hortimpact@snvworld.org

www.snv.org/horticulture