MAJANI AGRIWEALTH LIMITED IN ACTION:UNLOCKING NEW VALUE FOR FARMERS BEYOND TEA
Across Kenya’s tea-growing regions, a quiet transformation is taking shape—one that is expanding the boundaries of what it means to be a tea farmer.
While tea remains the backbone of livelihoods within the KTDA ecosystem, there is growing recognition that long-term farmer resilience depends on diversifying income streams in a structured and market-driven way. Through Majani Agriwealth Limited, the commercial arm of KTDA Foundation, this shift is being carefully guided—ensuring that new opportunities are not only viable, but also sustainable, compliant, and aligned with market demands.
One of the most promising of these opportunities is avocado.
However, building a successful avocado value chain goes beyond introducing a new crop. It requires technical expertise, consistency in quality, and a clear understanding of market requirements. For farmers to truly benefit, the systems supporting them must be equally strong. This is where capacity building becomes critical.
In collaboration with TechnoServe and SokoFresh, KTDA Foundation—through Majani Agriwealth Limited—has been implementing a targeted Training of Trainers (ToT) model across key factory zones including Kiru, Gacharage, Kapkoros, and Momul. Rather than training farmers in isolation, the program focuses on strengthening frontline extension teams who provide day-to-day support to farmers.
Factory-based agronomists, avocado extension assistants, and farmer organization leaders are equipped with practical, field-based skills that can be translated into consistent farmer support. This creates a multiplier effect—ensuring that knowledge is not only transferred, but sustained within the system.
The training adopts a hands-on approach, covering the full lifecycle of avocado production. Participants are guided through site selection and risk assessment, proper planting techniques, spacing, canopy management, pruning, and overall tree health—foundations that directly influence both yield and fruit quality.
Strong emphasis is also placed on nutrition and fertiliser management, alongside the safe and responsible use of crop protection products in line with GlobalG.A.P standards. These standards are essential for ensuring food safety, traceability, and access to premium export markets.
Beyond production, the training extends into post-harvest handling and market readiness. Participants are equipped with skills in maturity testing, harvesting, grading, and handling practices that preserve quality and meet market specifications. Logistics and aggregation systems are also introduced, helping bridge the gap between farm production and structured market access.
Throughout the program, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) form the backbone of delivery. These frameworks ensure that avocado production is not only productive, but also consistent, traceable, and aligned with the expectations of global buyers.
Importantly, the training addresses a key concern for tea farmers—how to diversify without compromising tea production. By demonstrating both standalone avocado farming and intercropping models, farmers are able to integrate new enterprises in a way that complements, rather than disrupts, tea productivity.
This balance is central to the KTDA approach.
Through Majani Agriwealth Limited, diversification is not treated as an informal activity, but as a structured agribusiness pathway that connects farmers to reliable markets while maintaining quality and compliance standards. By strengthening extension systems at the factory level, farmers are supported not just at the point of entry, but throughout the entire production cycle.
The impact of this approach extends beyond individual farmers. It contributes to stronger, more organized value chains, enhances market confidence, and positions tea-growing regions to participate competitively in high-value agricultural markets.
As KTDA Foundation continues to scale this model across tea-growing areas, it reflects a broader shift—one that recognizes that the future of farming lies not in a single crop, but in diversified, market-ready enterprises supported by strong systems and informed farmers.
Because ultimately, empowering farmers is not just about increasing production—it is about equipping them with the knowledge, structure, and opportunities to thrive in an evolving agricultural landscape.
Post by- Splendor Lwoyelo
