By Prosper Mene
In a move to combat climate change’s toll on smallholder farms, global agribusiness leader GreenHarvest Solutions announced today a landmark program to train two million rural women across sub-Saharan Africa in climate-smart agronomy techniques.
The five-year initiative, dubbed “Women Rooted in Resilience,” aims to equip participants with tools to boost crop yields, conserve water, and adapt to erratic weather patterns, potentially transforming food security for millions.
The program kicks off in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, where women make up over 70% of the agricultural workforce but often lack access to training and resources.
“Rural women are the unsung heroes of our food systems, yet they’re hit hardest by droughts and floods,” said Dr. Aisha Nkosi, GreenHarvest’s Chief Sustainability Officer, at the virtual launch event attended by UN Women and World Bank representatives. “By empowering them with knowledge on drought-resistant seeds, soil health, and sustainable irrigation, we’re not just saving farms, we’re building resilient communities.”Funding comes from a $150 million consortium including the Gates Foundation, USAID, and private donors, with initial pilots already underway in Kenya’s Rift Valley.
There, 5,000 women farmers have begun hands-on sessions using mobile apps for weather forecasting and agronomy tips, delivered via SMS in local languages. Early feedback is promising: Participants report 20-30% yield improvements in maize and sorghum trials, alongside reduced input costs through better pest management.GreenHarvest, which specializes in seed production and distribution, draws from its success with partners like Kamano Seed in East Africa, where similar trainings have recruited hundreds of women into climate-smart seed networks.
The firm plans to scale via community hubs, partnering with local NGOs like Village Enterprise to integrate agronomy mentorship and microfinance.
“This isn’t charity, it’s smart business,” Nkosi added. “Trained women farmers mean stable supply chains and healthier markets for everyone.”Experts hail the ambition amid rising climate threats.
UN Women’s data shows sub-Saharan women farmers yield 20-30% less than men due to unequal access, but programs like this could close the gap.
In Zimbabwe, similar UNDP-backed efforts have already empowered thousands of women with irrigated plots and market linkages, shifting them from subsistence to commercial farming.
Challenges remain, including digital divides and cultural barriers, but GreenHarvest is addressing them with offline training modules and male ally workshops.
By 2030, the program eyes expansion to South Asia, targeting 500,000 more women.
