ADM expands Kenya farming programme to reach 17,500 smallholders

US agricultural commodities group ADM is expanding its partnership with humanitarian organisation Concern Worldwide US to support 17,500 smallholder farmers in Kenya, as the programme seeks to improve food security and help rural households build sustainable agricultural businesses.

The latest phase of the Lifesaving Education and Assistance to Farmers (LEAF) programme is expected to benefit more than 100,000 people indirectly, ADM said in a statement. The initiative, supported through the company’s ADM Cares corporate social investment programme, began in 2019 and focuses on farmers in Tana River County.

The partnership combines training in climate-smart agriculture, access to improved seeds and irrigation equipment, nutrition education and stronger links to commercial and export markets. Its stated objective is to help farmers become financially independent rather than remain reliant on external assistance.

ADM said participating farmers had collectively produced more than 2,000 tonnes of crops and demonstrated greater resilience to drought, flooding and pest outbreaks than the county average. Malnutrition rates in communities supported by the programme had fallen to 7.3%, compared with a county average of 11.5%, according to the company.

The fourth phase, known as LEAF IV, has expanded the programme to an additional 2,000 farmers since the beginning of 2026. It is also seeking to develop agricultural models that can be sustained through private-sector participation and commercial market access.

“Farmers are at the heart of everything we do at ADM, and resilient farming communities are essential to resilient food systems,” said Erdal Kurban, ADM’s president for Africa and the Middle East.

“What makes LEAF special is its focus on independence. Seven years in, we’re seeing farmers who once relied on program support now running agricultural businesses of their own,” he said.

Since January, the programme has trained 2,000 additional farmers in soil and water conservation, pest management and agricultural value chains. More than 1,000 farmers have received certified seeds, while over 450 have been provided with irrigation equipment covering approximately 330 acres of farmland.

The initiative has also trained more than 50 agricultural extension officers, established or strengthened 18 fruit tree nurseries and introduced beekeeping through 14 apiaries, providing farmers with additional opportunities to generate income.

Nutrition remains another focus. Community health promoters supported by LEAF IV have screened more than 5,100 children for malnutrition since January and provided families with nutrition education and health guidance.

Cecelia Achieng, a resident of Manyatta Village in Bura, said the programme had helped households improve access to food, income and agricultural knowledge.

“Concern has really assisted many poor resourced households in my village to put food on the table, access income and knowledge from production to market access. I am a living testimony,” she said.

Katie Waller, director of strategic partnerships at Concern Worldwide US, said the programme demonstrated the value of sustained partnerships and community-led development.

“With ADM’s sustained support, we are helping farmers access the knowledge, resources and opportunities they need to improve productivity, strengthen resilience and create lasting change,” she said.

The programme illustrates how corporate-backed agricultural development initiatives are combining farming inputs and technical assistance with nutrition and market access. Its longer-term sustainability will depend on whether participating farmers can maintain productivity, secure reliable buyers and withstand recurring climate shocks after programme support ends.

ADM manages agricultural supply chains and processes crops for food, animal nutrition and industrial applications. Concern Worldwide US is the American affiliate of the international humanitarian organisation Concern Worldwide, which works on poverty reduction, nutrition and food security in vulnerable communities.