From Poverty to Self-Reliance Through Farming

When ADSE established the Kamunyu sand dam along the Kamunyu River that borders Francisca’s farm in Kitui County, her life was transformed through agricultural activities. They raised the water table, providing easier access to water for farming and domestic use. Through the Malioni Self-Help Group, one of the groups targeted by ADSE through the Integrated Livelihood Enhancement Program, Francisca received training on income-generating activities and borrowed KES 21,000 through a village savings and loan scheme and started vegetable farming on her 2-acre farm. Her first harvest yielded impressive returns: she earned over KES 273,000 from the sale of tomatoes, green maize, kales, and spinach. With this income, she repaid her loan, bought a motorcycle for her husband’s transport business, and invested in a water pump. She has installed solar lighting for their home, enabling her children to study at night. Over time, she has expanded her farm to 4 acres, employed two casual workers, and secured reliable buyers in Mwingi town. Her family is now food secure, financially stable, and thriving.

“Thanks to ADSE, I moved from struggling to thriving—my family is food secure, my farm has grown, and my children now have a brighter future.” – Francisca narrates