Frontier Technology-Enabled Agriculture Empowerment Project
Project Overview
This groundbreaking initiative tackles food insecurity in the largest geographical land mass in Kenya, Semi Arid Region - Garissa County, where average temperatures exceed 30°C (86°F) and child stunting affects 26% of under-fives. It empowers over 2,000 students (95% from pastoralist communities) at Yathrib Primary School with farming skills and tech literacy. 4BM installed satellite internet, enabling the first virtual agricultural extension services here.
A key milestone was achieved when 4BM installed a satellite internet connection, enabling the 24hour first-ever virtual agricultural extension services to be delivered remotely to the community, bypassing infrastructural barriers, in Eastern Africa Region.
Key Highlights
- Location: Yathrib Primary School, Garissa Township.
- Objective: To establish a student-managed, sustainable school garden, combining traditional farming with digital learning tools (tablets and the M-lugha app) and remote expert support.
- Demographics: Serves a student population of 2,000+ children, primarily from pastoralist backgrounds..
- Agricultural Success: The first harvest of fast-growing, drought-tolerant Sukuma Wiki (kale) and Spinach was successfully gathered after just 40 days. All produce is cultivated using 100% organic practices, providing chemical-free nutrition for the school meals program.
- Management: The garden is actively managed by the students themselves, fostering leadership, responsibility, and practical life skills.
- Cross-County Knowledge Sharing: The project exemplifies powerful internal collaboration within the 4BM network. Cheres Farm and Royal Palace is operated by a 4BM members and based in Kericho County, facilitating direct knowledge transfer from Kenya's high-potential agricultural regions to its arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs).
- Community Impact: Involves the wider community in climate-smart agriculture through weekly open-day sessions, practical training, and virtual consultations with agricultural experts.
- Technological Innovation: The project's satellite internet connection breaks down geographical barriers, providing real-time access to knowledge and support, revolutionizing agricultural extension work in remote areas.
Project Partners
- 4BM: Leading project management, implementation, and the installation of critical satellite internet infrastructure.
- M-lugha: Providing digital literacy through a tablet-based agricultural curriculum.
- UK-Kenya Tech Hub: Donor.
- Cheres Farm and Royal Palace: Agri-tech company’s based in Kericho County and operated by 4BM members, providing crucial cross-county expertise and sustainable farming insights.
Sustainable Future
By engaging local vendors and Agri-tech companies, including the strategically partnered Cheres Farm (run by a 4BM member), this project ensures its long-term success. The foundation of local ownership, student-led management, continuous learning in agriculture and technology, and now, permanent access to remote expertise, creates a resilient and scalable model for the future of food security in arid regions.
