YPARD-Kenya Farmers Festival
Growing the Future - Soil Health for Sustainable Food Systems, Agroecology and AI/Data-Driven Innovation for Youth and Community Empowerment by Dickens Alubaka Ateku
The Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD) Kenya invited the Soil and Land Health Theme at the Centre for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) to take part in the YPARD–Kenya Farmers’ Festival 2026, held on 13 March 2026 at Mamboleo Farm.
YPARD is a strategic member of the Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH), elevating the voices of youth to scale soil health solutions.
Images: Ajuna Tadeo
The 2026 Festival brought together an energetic mix of youth groups, farmer organisations, high school learners, research institutions, government representatives, and agribusiness leaders in a vibrant exchange of ideas and practical solutions for more sustainable food systems. Throughout the event, participants showcased innovations aimed at strengthening climate-resilient agriculture, accelerating technology uptake, and unlocking new enterprise opportunities for young people in the sector.
Kisumu County was selected as the host location in recognition of both its agricultural potential and the pressing challenges faced by farmers in the region. Issues such as soil degradation, climate variability, and declining productivity continue to affect livelihoods, yet the county is also home to dynamic youth networks, farmer cooperatives, and emerging agribusiness ventures. With strong support from local educational institutions and government commitments to food security, climate action, and youth empowerment, the festival provided a timely platform to connect innovation with real-world needs. Its proximity to Lake Victoria further enriched conversations around the interconnected importance of land, water, and ecosystem sustainability.
The Soil and Land Health Theme of Center for International Forestry Research – World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) played a key role in the festival by contributing technical expertise on soil health and sustainable land management.
A plenary presentation titled “Healthy Soils for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems” was delivered by Dickens Ateku. The presentation focused on:
The importance of soil health monitoring for sustainable agricultural productivity.
The role of soil science in informing policy and food system transformation.
Innovations in soil spectroscopy for rapid soil analysis.
Digital tools supporting land restoration and sustainable land management, including the Regreening Africa App.
Capacity development strategies to scale soil health practices and track land health changes over time.
Participants showed strong interest in understanding how soil health data supports evidence-based policymaking and how technological innovations can enable better farm decision-making.
In addition to the plenary presentation, the CIFOR-ICRAF team hosted an exhibition booth demonstrating soil health technologies and practical soil management approaches. The booth featured:
Demonstrations on soil sampling techniques for laboratory analysis.
Awareness on the importance of soil testing before fertilizer application.
Information materials on soil biodiversity and the role of soil organisms in ecosystem functioning.
Discussions on how soil diagnostics and monitoring technologies can support sustainable farming systems.
Image: Ajuna Tadeo
Image: Ajuna Tadeo
The exhibition was facilitated by members of the CIFOR-ICRAF Soil and Land Health team, including Bella Kauma, Beatrice Oware, and Kelvin Musembi, who engaged participants through demonstrations and knowledge exchange.
The Farmers’ Festival incorporated several interactive activities designed to facilitate learning, collaboration, and knowledge sharing among participants.
Exhibition and Innovation Showcases
The festival grounds came alive with a diverse range of exhibition spaces, including vibrant displays of farmer produce, interactive demonstrations on soil health and agroecological practices, and innovation booths highlighting emerging agricultural technologies designed to support more resilient and productive farming systems. These exhibitions enabled farmers, students, and researchers to interact directly with agricultural innovations and practical farming solutions.
Images: Ajuna Tadeo
Image: Ajuna Tadeo
Networking and Stakeholder Engagement
The event created opportunities for networking among diverse stakeholders, including youth organizations, researchers, agribusiness actors, policymakers, and farmers. These interactions promoted knowledge exchange and potential collaboration on agricultural development initiatives.
Keynote Presentations
Several keynote presentations were delivered focusing on critical thematic areas including Soil Health – presented by the CIFOR-ICRAF Soil and Land Health Theme, Agroecology and sustainable farming systems, Artificial intelligence and data-driven agricultural innovations. These presentations highlighted the integration of science, technology, and ecological principles in building resilient food systems.
Image: Ajuna Tadeo
Deep Dive Sessions with Farmer Experiences
Farmers shared practical experiences and success stories demonstrating how innovative farming practices, agroecological approaches, and digital tools are transforming agricultural productivity and livelihoods.
Technical Panel Discussions
A technical panel session facilitated discussions among experts on sustainable soil management, climate-smart agriculture, and the role of digital technologies in modern farming systems.
Breakout Workshops
Image: Ajuna Tadeo
Three parallel workshops provided deeper engagement on specialised topics, including Soil Health (led by CIFOR-ICRAF experts), Agroecology and nature-based farming systems, and AI and data-driven agricultural innovations. These sessions enabled participants to explore practical applications and emerging technologies in greater detail.
Cultural and Entertainment Activities
The festival incorporated cultural performances and a Rhumba music performance, creating an engaging environment that celebrated community identity and cultural heritage alongside agricultural learning.
Farm Tour
Participants toured the host farm at Mamboleo Farm, where they observed practical demonstrations of sustainable farming practices and land management approaches.
The festival attracted over 500 participants, including students, farmers, researchers, and development practitioners.
Schools represented included:
Sinyolo Girls National School
Dr. Aloo Gumbi Senior School
Katolo Mixed Senior School
Kochongo Mixed Senior School
Students and young farmers demonstrated strong interest in soil health innovations and digital agricultural tools. The Regreening Africa App attracted significant attention, particularly among youth groups involved in tree nursery development and restoration initiatives, many of whom were previously unaware of the platform.
Images: Ajuna Tadeo
Participants actively engaged with the CIFOR-ICRAF team to understand how digital technologies and soil diagnostics can support sustainable farming practices and improve farm productivity.
The YPARD–Kenya Farmers’ Festival 2026 successfully created a vibrant platform for knowledge exchange, innovation demonstration, and youth engagement in sustainable agriculture. The event significantly increased awareness of soil health, agroecology, and digital innovations among participating farmers, students, and youth groups.
Engagement with the CIFOR-ICRAF Soil and Land Health team generated strong interest in soil testing, soil biodiversity, and digital land restoration tools such as the Regreening Africa App. Many participants expressed enthusiasm for integrating these technologies into their farming and restoration initiatives. The festival also strengthened collaboration and networking among stakeholders, supporting youth mentorship, knowledge exchange, and leadership development in sustainable agrifood systems.
The Soil and Land Health Theme of the Center for International Forestry Research – World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) played a key role at the festival, driving discussions on the critical role of healthy soils as the foundation for sustainable agri-food systems and agroecology. Their participation underscored CIFOR-ICRAF’s commitment to youth-led agricultural innovation and to advancing science-based solutions that strengthen resilience and sustainability across food systems.
YPARD Kenya is a youth-led national network that promotes youth engagement in agriculture and sustainable agrifood systems through innovation, mentorship, knowledge exchange, and community outreach.
The Farmers’ Festival is one of its flagship outreach initiatives designed to create an interactive platform where farmers, students, researchers, policymakers, and private sector actors engage on emerging opportunities in sustainable agriculture.
