1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background to the Study
Kenya’s agricultural sector is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its dependence on rain-fed farming and the predominance of smallholder farmers who cultivate less than two hectares of land. Over the past two decades, farmers have been confronted with increasingly unpredictable rainfall, recurrent droughts, rising temperatures, land degradation, soil erosion, and declining soil fertility. These climatic shocks have resulted in reduced crop yields, heightened food insecurity, and increased livelihood instability for many rural households. The pressing need for sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural systems has therefore become urgent.
Regenerative agriculture—an ecological farming approach aimed at restoring soil health, enhancing biodiversity, improving water retention, and boosting climate resilience—has rapidly emerged as a promising solution. In Kenya, various development partners, NGOs, and farmer-led initiatives are promoting regenerative practices such as agroforestry, composting, mulching, crop diversification, and reduced tillage. These practices not only mitigate climate impacts but also enhance smallholders’ ability to adapt, recover, and thrive in the face of climatic stress.
1.2. Problem Statement
Climate variability has intensified agricultural risks in Kenya, leading to increased crop failure, soil degradation, and higher production costs for smallholder farmers. Conventional agriculture—characterized by intensive tillage, monocropping, and heavy reliance on inorganic inputs—has struggled to address long-term soil degradation and climate stress. Farmers urgently need low-cost, ecologically sustainable solutions that build soil fertility, conserve water, and strengthen farm-level resilience.
Despite growing interest in regenerative farming, there is limited documented evidence on how Kenyan farmers are adopting these practices, the factors driving adoption, the challenges faced, and the actual ecological or socio-economic outcomes achieved. Understanding these dynamics is essential for designing effective policies, strengthening extension systems, and scaling up regenerative agriculture as a climate adaptation strategy.
1.3. Justification of the Study
This study is significant for several reasons. First, it contributes to ongoing national efforts to enhance climate-resilient agriculture in line with Kenya’s Climate-Smart Agriculture Strategy (2017–2026) and Vision 2030. Second, it provides evidence-based insights for policymakers, NGOs, and agricultural extension officers working to support smallholder farmers. Third, the study strengthens scientific understanding of regenerative agriculture’s role in improving soil quality, increasing yields, and stabilizing community resilience. The findings will inform decision-making, improve program design, and enhance adaptation pathways for farmers in diverse agro-ecological zones.
1.4. Objectives of the Study
1.4.1. Main Objective
To examine how farmers in Kenya are adapting to climate change through regenerative farming.
1.4.2. Specific Objectives
To identify the regenerative farming practices adopted by Kenyan smallholder farmers.
To analyze the drivers and motivations influencing farmers’ adoption of these practices.
To assess the environmental and socio-economic outcomes of regenerative farming.
To evaluate the challenges and constraints faced by farmers in adopting regenerative agriculture.
To identify policy, institutional, and community-level enablers that support regenerative farming.
1.5. Research Questions
What regenerative farming practices are being implemented by Kenyan farmers?
What factors motivate farmers to adopt these regenerative practices?
How has regenerative agriculture influenced soil health, biodiversity, water management, yields, and farmer livelihoods?
What challenges limit adoption among smallholder farmers?
What mechanisms or policies support scaling up regenerative agriculture?
1.6. Scope and Limitations of the Study
The study focuses on smallholder farmers across key agro-ecological zones in Kenya, including semi-arid regions, highlands, and mixed crop-livestock systems where regenerative farming is increasingly practiced. It emphasizes agricultural adaptation to climate change rather than mitigation alone.
Limitations include variations in adoption levels across counties, limited long-term data on soil health improvement, and challenges in isolating regenerative agriculture impacts from other climate-smart practices. Nonetheless, the study offers comprehensive insights based on available evidence, case studies, and field-based observations.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1. Climate Change and Its Impacts on Agriculture in Kenya
Kenya is experiencing rising temperatures, decreasing rainfall reliability, and frequent droughts—especially in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). These climatic stressors reduce soil moisture, increase evapotranspiration, accelerate erosion, and lower overall crop productivity. Smallholder farmers remain disproportionately affected due to limited access to irrigation, inputs, extension services, and coping assets. Studies show that climate variability contributes to recurrent food insecurity, high vulnerability, and the loss of productive land. This underscores the need for adaptive farming systems that build environmental and household resilience.
2.2. Regenerative Agriculture: Concepts and Principles
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic, ecological approach to farming that aims to restore soil health, enhance biodiversity, and strengthen ecosystem functioning. Its key principles include minimizing soil disturbance, maintaining permanent soil cover, integrating crop and livestock systems, enhancing biodiversity, and recycling organic waste. Unlike conventional agriculture, regenerative farming focuses on long-term ecological balance, soil regeneration, and carbon sequestration. Globally, studies show that regenerative agriculture enhances soil organic carbon, improves water retention, boosts biodiversity, and increases climate resilience.
2.3. Status of Regenerative Agriculture in Kenya
Kenya has witnessed a growth in regenerative agriculture initiatives led by non-governmental organizations such as Farm Africa, the Aga Khan Foundation, Itanya Africa Group, and other community-based organisations. These partners work with smallholder farmers to train them in composting, agroforestry, water-harvesting structures, and soil conservation techniques. Demonstration farms have become important learning platforms where farmers observe how regenerative practices contribute to yield improvements, water saving, and soil restoration. Despite this progress, adoption remains uneven due to socio-economic and institutional constraints.
2.4. Theoretical Framework
This study applies two key frameworks:
- The Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF)
This framework helps explain how regenerative farming enhances natural, financial, human, and social capitals—leading to improved household resilience.
- Resilience Theory
Resilience theory describes how agricultural systems absorb shocks and reorganize while maintaining productivity. Regenerative agriculture strengthens resilience through improved soil health, biodiversity, and ecological balance.
2.5. Empirical Studies on Regenerative Practices
Existing studies affirm that regenerative practices such as agroforestry, mulching, and composting increase yields over time, reduce dependence on synthetic inputs, and enhance biodiversity. Research from Kenya shows that integrating trees with crops improves microclimates, stabilizes soil moisture, and protects against erosion. Other empirical work suggests that composting can significantly boost soil organic carbon and improve nutrient availability. However, evidence gaps persist regarding long-term outcomes across different Kenyan counties.
3. REGENERATIVE FARMING PRACTICES USED BY FARMERS IN KENYA
3.1. Agroforestry and Tree-Based Systems
Agroforestry is one of the most prominent regenerative practices in Kenya. Farmers integrate fruit trees, nitrogen-fixing species (such as calliandra and sesbania), and indigenous trees with their food crops. This system enhances soil fertility, increases shade, reduces erosion, and supports natural biodiversity. Trees create microclimates that help crops withstand heat stress and retain soil moisture during dry spells. In regions like Embu, Kitui, and parts of Rift Valley, agroforestry has significantly contributed to improved yields and diversified income sources.
3.2. Soil Fertility Restoration Practices
3.2.1. Composting and Organic Manure
Farmers are increasingly converting crop residues, livestock manure, and household waste into compost. Compost boosts soil organic matter, enhances moisture retention, and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. Composting also promotes microbial activity, which is vital for long-term soil health.
3.2.2. Mulching and Soil Cover Techniques
Mulching using crop residues, grass, or organic materials helps in reducing soil temperature, preserving moisture, suppressing weeds, and preventing erosion. Mulching has been particularly effective in semi-arid regions where soil moisture retention is crucial for crop survival.
3.2.3. Reduced and Conservation Tillage
Reduced tillage minimizes soil disturbance, preserving soil structure and microbial life. Farmers adopting conservation tillage report improved water infiltration, lower erosion rates, and gradual increases in soil carbon.
3.3. Biodiversity and Crop Diversification
Diversifying crops through intercropping, relay cropping, and rotations helps reduce pest pressure, enhances soil fertility, and improves household nutrition. Integrating legumes increases nitrogen in the soil, while indigenous crops like sorghum, millet, and cowpeas provide resilience under drought conditions.
3.4. Water Management Innovations
Water management is essential for climate adaptation in Kenya. Farmers use techniques such as zaipits (small planting basins), water pans, drip irrigation, and rainwater harvesting systems. These innovations improve water-use efficiency and ensure consistent soil moisture, especially during prolonged dry periods.
3.5. Use of Climate-Smart and Regenerative Technologies
Digital innovations equip farmers with timely weather forecasts, soil data, pest alerts, and crop management insights. Remote-sensing platforms and mobile-based advisory tools help farmers monitor soil moisture, plan planting seasons, and adjust regenerative practices accordingly. These technologies help bridge knowledge gaps and enhance climate resilience.
4. Adoption Patterns and Socioeconomic Factors Influencing Regenerative Farming in Kenya
Regenerative agriculture adoption among Kenyan farmers is shaped by a complex interaction of socioeconomic, environmental, institutional, and cultural factors. Smallholder farmers—who constitute over 70% of the country’s agricultural producers—adopt regenerative practices primarily as a risk-mitigation strategy against climate shocks such as erratic rainfall, drought, soil degradation, and increasing pest pressures. Evidence from Farm Africa and Aga Khan Foundation reports shows that farmers who experience severe climate-related losses demonstrate a significantly higher willingness to adopt soil-building and water-saving practices. This indicates that perceived vulnerability is a strong determinant of adoption.
Socioeconomic conditions also play a critical role. Households with access to extension services, training programs, farmer-to-farmer networks and NGOs are more likely to adopt practices such as composting, cover cropping, reduced tillage, and agroforestry. Farmer education level and access to information—particularly climate advisory services—enhance capacity to make informed decisions. Financial constraints, however, remain a barrier; many regenerative practices require initial labor or material investments, such as establishing tree nurseries or mulching systems. Social networks and community demonstration farms have emerged as highly influential in accelerating adoption by reducing perceived risks and demonstrating tangible benefits. Overall, adoption is highest when farmers see clear improvements in yields, soil health, and resilience within one to two seasons.
5. Impacts of Regenerative Farming on Climate Resilience and Farm Productivity
Regenerative agriculture has demonstrated significant positive impacts on resilience, soil productivity, and climate-adaptive capacity across diverse agroecological zones in Kenya. A review of case studies from Itanya Africa Group and Farm Africa indicates that practices such as agroforestry, mulching, intercropping, and organic soil amendments have consistently improved soil moisture retention—often by 20% or more—enhancing crop survival during dry conditions. Increased soil carbon levels, resulting from compost use and reduced soil disturbance, improve soil structure and nutrient cycling, enabling healthier root systems and reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.
In terms of productivity, regenerative farming contributes to both yield stability and long-term output increases. Farmers practicing composting, mulching, and diversified cropping systems report yield increases of 15–40% depending on crop type and agroecological context. For example, maize–bean intercropping systems have shown improved nitrogen utilization and reduced pest incidence, leading to more stable harvests even under climatic stress. The addition of agroforestry trees such as Grevillea and Calliandra provides microclimate regulation—reducing wind speed, moderating temperatures, and preventing erosion—which further boosts productivity.
Moreover, regenerative farming enhances long-term climate resilience by building ecosystem health. Increased biodiversity, both above and below the soil, strengthens natural pest regulation and reduces dependence on costly chemical inputs. Farmers also benefit from diversified income streams through fruit trees, fodder, fuelwood, and high-value crops incorporated into regenerative systems. Collectively, these impacts make regenerative agriculture a cornerstone of climate adaptation strategies in rural Kenya.
6. Challenges and Barriers to Scaling Regenerative Agriculture in Kenya
Despite its clear benefits, the widespread adoption of regenerative agriculture in Kenya faces multiple systemic barriers. One of the most significant obstacles is limited access to reliable and context-specific extension services. Many smallholder farmers rely on outdated conventional input-based advice, with insufficient guidance on holistic regenerative approaches. Capacity gaps among extension officers further slow down dissemination of regenerative knowledge. Additionally, the labor-intensive nature of some practices—such as mulching, compost preparation, and tree establishment—can discourage adoption among households with limited labor availability.
Financial constraints present another challenge. Although regenerative agriculture often reduces costs in the long-term, initial investments such as seeds for cover crops, tree seedlings, compost structures, and water-harvesting equipment are not always affordable. Limited access to credit tailored for regenerative agriculture exacerbates this challenge. Many farmers prefer fast-acting synthetic fertilizers over organic alternatives because the benefits of soil-regenerating inputs are gradual and not immediately visible. This creates a behavioral resistance rooted in short-term survival needs.
Cultural preferences, land tenure insecurity, and market pressures also impede scaling. In some communities, traditional belief systems favor conventional tillage and monocropping, making it difficult to introduce new methods. Fragmented land ownership reduces incentives for long-term soil investments. Additionally, market structures often reward high yields of single crops rather than diversified regenerative systems, discouraging farmers from transitioning.
Environmental challenges—such as prolonged drought, land degradation, and inadequate water availability—further hinder adoption. Without supportive infrastructure, capacity-building programs, and enabling government policies, scaling regenerative agriculture across Kenya remains slow. Overcoming these barriers requires integrated solutions that blend policy reform, financial incentives, research support, and community-based training models.
7. Strategic Recommendations for Enhancing Adoption of Regenerative Farming in Kenya
Strengthening the adoption and scalability of regenerative agriculture in Kenya requires coordinated action among farmers, government institutions, NGOs, private sector actors, and research institutions. First, there is an urgent need to expand farmer-centered extension services that focus on practical, hands-on training rather than traditional input-based models. Government extension departments and non-state actors should invest in demonstration farms, peer-learning platforms, and farmer field schools that provide real-time, localized guidance on implementing regenerative techniques. Integrating climate advisory services—such as seasonal forecasts and digital agronomic alerts—into extension systems would further enhance farmer decision-making and climate preparedness.
Second, financial support mechanisms must be strengthened to lower the entry barriers associated with adopting regenerative practices. This includes targeted subsidies for organic fertilizers, composting infrastructure, and water conservation technologies; low-interest credit tailored to soil-health investments; and results-based incentives that reward farmers for improvements in soil carbon, biodiversity, and land restoration. Public–private partnerships can play a critical role by linking farmers to markets for regenerative products, expanding value chains such as organic produce, tree crops, and sustainably produced livestock fodder.
Third, policy integration and institutional alignment are necessary to mainstream regenerative agriculture into national and county-level climate strategies. Incorporating regenerative principles into Kenya’s Climate-Smart Agriculture Strategy, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and county integrated development plans would ensure long-term investment and institutional support. Policies addressing land tenure security—especially for women and youth—should be prioritized to encourage long-term soil investment.
Finally, research and innovation should focus on region-specific regenerative models suited to Kenya’s diverse agroecosystems. Universities, agricultural research institutions, and NGOs should collaborate to generate local evidence on soil carbon enhancement, yield impacts, pest dynamics, and cost–benefit analyses. Emphasizing data-driven decision-making will build confidence among policymakers and farmers and accelerate adoption. With these combined strategies, Kenya can achieve large-scale regenerative transformation capable of delivering climate resilience, food security, and sustainable livelihoods.
8. Conclusion
Regenerative farming represents a transformative pathway for enhancing climate resilience, ecological health, and agricultural productivity among Kenyan smallholder farmers. As climate change intensifies—manifested through erratic rainfall, extreme droughts, rising temperatures, and declining soil fertility—the need for sustainable adaptation strategies has become undeniable. This study has shown that regenerative agriculture offers a holistic, scientifically grounded approach capable of rebuilding soils, improving water-use efficiency, stabilizing yields, and diversifying farmer incomes.
The analysis indicates that Kenyan farmers are increasingly adopting regenerative practices in response to climate pressures, though adoption patterns are shaped by socioeconomic conditions, access to training, financial capacity, and community-level support. While evidence demonstrates significant gains in soil health and productivity, widespread scaling remains hindered by systemic barriers such as limited extension services, inadequate financing, labor constraints, and insufficient policy alignment.
Despite these obstacles, the potential for regenerative agriculture to transform Kenya’s agricultural landscape is substantial. Strategic investment in farmer education, institutional support, market incentives, and research collaboration will be critical in unlocking the full benefits of regenerative systems. By integrating regenerative agriculture into national climate policies and development agendas, Kenya can enhance resilience not only at the farm level but across entire ecosystems and rural economies. Ultimately, regenerative farming offers a practical, evidence-based pathway for achieving sustainable food systems, climate resilience, and long-term agricultural prosperity for Kenyan smallholder farmers.