Amid the arid plains and resilient communities of Baringo, a quiet transformation is underway; led not by machines, but by the people who are rediscovering the native species that once thrived on this land. Thanks to the project Native Plants for Environment and People (Native PEP), local communities are reclaiming their degraded environment from invasion by stranglehold species, especially Prosopis juliflora, and restoring balance to nature.

According to Dennis Rotich, the Assistant Chief of Loboi Location, the unchecked spread of prosopis had turned once-productive landscapes into thorny wastelands. “Prosopis had invaded much of the lowlands around Lake Bogoria, including Kiborgoch community wildlife & wetland conservancy, making it hard for people, livestock, and even wildlife to move or graze,” he lamented. The growing dense thickets blocked traditional livestock routes, depleted pasture, harbored disease-causing parasites like tsetse flies, and inflicted painful injuries on animals.

The invasive tree also narrowed access to water and farmland, posing significant threats to food security and livelihoods. “Its roots choked canals and waterways, making irrigation difficult. The cost of removing prosopis was far beyond what most farmers could manage,” Rotich added. Moreover, prosopis reduced water inlet to a swamp of regional importance which offers water access to more than 10,000 pastoralists and their livestock throughout the year.

The Native PEP’s intervention involved targeted removal of prosopis, restoration of canals, and the revival of water springs through community-led protection efforts. These actions have already yielded measurable results. “Before the removal, there were high levels of human-wildlife conflicts. Wildlife would invade farms looking for food and water,” the chief shared. “But now, with more pasture and water inside the conservancy, wildlife remain within their habitat.”

Cases of crop damage and livestock attacks have significantly dropped. Springs that were once drying up are now flowing again, enlarging nearby swamps and supporting diverse life; both human and wild.

Livestock, once highly vulnerable during dry seasons, are now better equipped to survive. “Before, animals suffered due to lack of pasture and diseases spread by flies. But now, with increased forage and reduced disease pressure, we are not losing as much livestock,” Rotich said.

The Native PEP intervention has also supported the protection of key springs, particularly the peatlands—wetland areas with thick, waterlogged soils made up of partially decomposed plant material (peat), which store vast amounts of water and carbon. These peatlands are now feeding into expanded swamp areas. “This has brought more water not just for biodiversity but also for irrigation; especially in Kamuskoi and Loboi. It’s improving food production and livelihoods,” Rotich noted.

The success of Native PEP in Baringo is rooted in its community-driven approach. By involving local leaders, elders, women and youth, the project has fostered a strong sense of ownership and sustainability. It’s not just an environmental initiative; it’s a social and economic one, restoring dignity and opportunity to a region long burdened by ecological degradation.

Chief Rotich inspirationally concludes, “With the support of Native PEP, we’ve seen the swamp grow, the pasture return, wildlife stay where they belong, and our people benefit. This work needs to continue.”

By Simon Njoroge

The Agroecology Promotion Programme (APP) Capacity Building presents the Agroecology and Organic Agriculture Leadership Course, a transformative learning journey designed to empower current and future leaders in the field of agroecology. This course, supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), aims to strengthen leadership, policy influence, and market and business development to foster inclusive, sustainable, and resilient food systems.

Through a dynamic and participatory approach, the course will deepen participants’ understanding of agroecological principles and practices while enhancing their leadership, communication, and facilitation skills. By engaging with global experts, innovative tools, and local experiences, participants will build and strengthen knowledge and strategies to promote agroecological transitions in their communities, institutions, and policy spaces.

On 27th June 2025, during the KHEA Monitoring and Support Supervision Visit to the KCOA Demonstration Farm in Ngoma District, the Rwanda Organic Agriculture Movement (ROAM) the Country Implementing Partner (CIP) in Rwanda officially awarded a certificate to the COPROBIO Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Group — Rwanda’s first group to achieve PGS certification. This landmark achievement marks a significant advancement for both the group and the broader organic agriculture movement in Rwanda.

A Community-Driven Approach to Organic Certification

COPROBIO PGS Group consists of 20 dedicated members;10 men and 10 women who champion organic farming practices across diverse value chains. Their products include fresh fruits and vegetables, cereals, natural juices, and handcrafts, all produced using agroecological methods rooted in sustainability.

Using the Participatory Guarantee System framework, COPROBIO conducts peer reviews and ensures collective quality assurance, enabling smallholder farmers to access a cost-effective and community-based alternative to traditional third-party certification.

Support from the KCOA-KHEA Project

The certification process of COPROBIO is part of a broader regional initiative supported by the Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology in Africa (KCOA) through the KHEA Project, which has so far strengthened 19 farmer groups across five countries; Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Rwanda in developing and implementing PGS frameworks. This effort aims to foster inclusive, affordable organic certification models that empower smallholder farmers and promote agroecological transformation in Africa.

Certification journey of COPROBIO PGS group

Achieving PGS certification was no small feat. From establishing COPROBIO group, training group members, ensuring consistent documentation, uphold organic standards requirements, all while maintaining a unified and participatory group dynamic.

Albert Nkundabagenzi, a proud COPROBIO member and KCOA-KHEA Project Multiplier, shared:

“Achieving certification was a challenging journey, but it has built strong trust among us and opened new market opportunities. Using the Kilimohai mark shows that our products meet recognized quality standards, both locally and internationally.”

The Kilimohai Mark: A Gateway to Broader Markets

ROAM authorized the certified COPROBIO PGS group to use the Kilimohai mark organic quality seal on their  products. This recognition enhances consumer confidence and unlocks market access at both local and international levels, increasing income for group members and strengthening the case for organic production.

A Call to Governments across the East African Region and World at Large for Support and Scaling

COPROBIO joins other organic actors in calling on government institutions to:

1. 1. Strengthen policy frameworks supporting participatory certification schemes through PGS.
   2. Support farmers to access organic inputs
   3. Facilitate better market linkages for certified organic products

These steps are critical to scaling the PGS model, improving rural livelihoods, and advancing environmentally sustainable agriculture across Rwanda.

Looking Forward

COPROBIO’s certification is more than a local success, it serves as a beacon of what is possible when community-led systems are backed by the right support. Their journey was featured on the KHEA Digital Knowledge Platform as a case study in innovation, resilience, and the power of participatory certification. Together with ROAM and KHEA, COPROBIO PGS Group continues to empower men and women farmers and foster resilient organic value chains that protect both people and the planet

For readers interested in learning more about the transformative journey of the COPROBIO Cooperative from their innovative mushroom farming initiatives to achieving certification, please visit the detailed story here:

Access a copy of the PGS guide in Kinyarwanda;

Access a copy of the PGS guide in English

Prepared by Pamella Magino – KHEA Communications Officer, PELUM Uganda and Biovision Africa Trust and Dieudonne SINDIKUBWABO, Head of Programs-ROAM   

Between 9th and 29th June 2025, the Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology in Eastern Africa (KHEA) conducted targeted support supervision and monitoring visits to the Country Implementing Partners (CIPs). These visits were designed to review the KHEA Phase 2 project implementation under the KCOA project, track key milestones, and collaboratively reflect on the path forward for the KHEA Phase 3.

The main objective of the activity was to assess project performance, challenges, and key lessons learned from KHEA Phase 2 and inform strategic recommendations for the KHEA Phase 3 (August 2025-September 2026).

Visit to Kulika Uganda – KHEA Centre of Excellence in Uganda (June 9-13, 2025)

The visit to Uganda was anchored by a field mission to Kulika Uganda, a Centre of Excellence under the KCOA project. Kulika Uganda has played a pivotal role in promoting agroecological learning, hosting multiplier trainings, and demonstrating practical innovations in sustainable farming.

The KHEA team included; Venancia Wambua – Head of Programs (KCOA and EOA-I) at BVAT, the KHEA Accountant – Ephraim Indeche from BVAT accompanied by the KHEA Project Manager – Francis Nsanga along with the PELUM Uganda staff, interacted with the Master Trainer-Florence Ddumba and multipliers, trainers. Key insights included Kulika’s role in building resilient knowledge hubs and its potential to replicate agroecological innovations and practices.

Visit to Madagascar- MCIngredients, Phael Flor in Moramanga Region, and other Partners (June 15 – 21, 2025)

During the Madagascar visit to MCIngredients a private-sector partner located in the Moramanga region., the KHEA team included; KHEA Project Manager – Francis Nsanga and the KHEA M&E – Lennox Ouma. The KHEA team held both operational and strategic discussions and interacted with multipliers, trainers, and community members to assess the outcomes of KHEA Phase 2 interventions. This collaboration highlights a successful case of engaging agro-processors in the organic movement. The farm works with multipliers trained under KHEA, applying agroecological practices in production and supply chains.

The visit also coincided with Biologika 2025, where a key side event addressed “Access to Inputs Allowed in Organic Agriculture.” Stakeholders, including SYMABIO and GSDM, led robust discussions around enabling policy environments and local input production. The event gave visibility to Madagascar’s organic and agroecology champions and the ecosystem that supports them.

Visit to Rwanda – CORPOBIO PGS Group at the KCOA Demo Farm – Rwamagana District (June 22–29, 2025)

In Rwanda, the KHEA team included the BvAT Finance and Admin Manager – Dinah Amwayi and the KHEA Communications Officer – Magino Pamella. They visited the CORPOBIO Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) group based at the KCOA Demonstration Farm in Rwamagana District. The group has been instrumental in advancing organic farming through localized quality assurance systems and peer learning.

At the demo site, KHEA-supported multipliers showcased diverse agroecological techniques in composting, organic pest management, and crop rotation. Discussions focused on improving access to certified markets, strengthening PGS frameworks, and enhancing consumer trust through the Kilimohai mark. The group was officially presented with their certificate to show that they can officially use the Kilimohai mark.       

Visit to Kenya – PELUM Kenya (22–29 June 2025)

The support visit in Kenya evaluated PELUM Kenya’s approaches in knowledge packaging, multiplier training, and digital engagement. Stakeholder dialogues revealed strong progress in youth involvement, localized learning materials, and farmer-driven knowledge networks.

The KHEA team represented by; KHEA Project Manager – Francis Nsanga, KHEA M&E Officer – Lennox Ouma and the KHEA Accountant – Ephraim Indeche. The team held reflective and strategic discussions with the PELUM Kenya team, Master Trainer – Dr. Nehemiah Mihindo, Multipliers and beneficiary farmers. The team visited a beneficiary farmer, Ann Watiri in Mungu village, Githunguni subcounty in Kiambu county who expressed gratitude for the enlightenment, skills and knowledge acquired from the KHEA Multiplier, Zipporah Nyambura Kuria. Everything Ann grows today is organic. She transitioned from conventional farming 4 years ago and she has since impacted more than 25 other farmers around Mungu village to start growing food using organic and agroecological practices.

Cross-Cutting Lessons and the Road to KHEA Phase 3
Across all countries, a few critical themes emerged:

1. Centres of Excellence (like Kulika Uganda) are vital for institutionalizing agroecology training.
2. Private-sector engagement (as seen with MCIngredients) can scale organic value chains.
3. PGS and demo farms (like in Rwamagana) serve as living classrooms and trust-building tools.
4. A growing need for input access, policy reform, and diversified funding to drive sustainability.
5. Model farmers are a launching pad for greater impact at community level.

Additional Recommendations:

1. Strengthening Farmer Networks: Facilitating farmer-to-farmer knowledge exchange enhances adoption of agroecological practices and community resilience.
2. Integration of Gender and Youth Perspectives: Prioritizing inclusive approaches ensures agroecology benefits reach marginalized groups and future generations.
3. Improved Data Collection and Monitoring: Establishing robust monitoring frameworks helps track progress, measure impact, and inform adaptive management.
4. Leveraging Digital Technologies: Using mobile platforms and digital tools can improve farmer outreach, extension services, and market linkages.
5. Enhancing Climate Resilience: Embedding climate-smart agroecological practices is critical to address increasing climate variability.
6. Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: Encouraging collaboration among governments, NGOs, research institutions, and private sector creates synergies and resource sharing.

These engagements reaffirmed KHEA’s commitment to Focus Area 3: Enhancing consumer awareness, facilitating market development, and ensuring organic agriculture is locally rooted and regionally connected.

As KHEA prepares for Phase 3, the experiences from the ground will shape a stronger, more resilient roadmap grounded in evidence, built through collaboration, and driven by the communities it serves.

Prepared by Pamella Magino (KHEA Communications Officer), Francis Nsanga (KHEA Project Manager)