Tana River farmers supported through the LEAF programme have collectively produced more than 2,000 metric tons of crops, strengthening food security and agricultural livelihoods.
Supported by ADM Cares, Concern Worldwide’s LEAF programme reaches 17,500 farmers through climate-smart training, agricultural inputs and stronger market connections.
LEAF IV is expanding irrigation, crop diversification and beekeeping while supporting nutrition screening and helping farmers build resilience to droughts, floods and pests.
Farmers supported through the Lifesaving Education and Assistance to Farmers (LEAF) programme in Tana River County have collectively produced more than 2,000 metric tons of crops, according to Concern Worldwide, marking progress in efforts to strengthen food security and agricultural livelihoods.
The programme, supported by ADM Cares, ADM’s corporate social investment programme, reaches 17,500 farmers and is expected to indirectly benefit more than 100,000 people.
Building on a partnership between ADM and Concern that began in 2019, LEAF combines technical training, improved access to agricultural inputs and stronger market connections to help farmers adopt nutrition-sensitive and climate-smart practices.
The latest phase, LEAF IV, aims to improve the quality and quantity of crop production while strengthening farmers’ links to commercial and export markets. It also promotes sustainable agricultural development models led by the private sector.
Since January 2026, an additional 2,000 farmers have received training in climate-smart farming, soil and water conservation, pest management and value chain development. They join 15,500 farmers already participating in the programme.
Concern said certified seeds have been provided to more than 1,000 farmers to support diversified crop production. More than 450 farmers have also received support to access reliable irrigation water across approximately 330 acres of farmland.
These interventions form part of efforts to help farming communities manage recurring droughts, flooding and pest outbreaks, which continue to challenge agricultural production in the county.
To strengthen local support networks, the programme has trained more than 50 agricultural extension officers. It has also established or strengthened 18 fruit tree nurseries to encourage crop diversification and agroforestry.
Beekeeping is another area of support, with 14 apiaries currently included in the programme. The activity offers farmers an additional income opportunity alongside crop production.
According to Concern, farmers who participated in earlier LEAF phases demonstrated greater resilience to climate shocks than the county average. Approximately 40 per cent of participating farmers have transitioned from project assistance to independently sustaining and expanding their agricultural enterprises.
“At ADM, we believe resilient communities are essential to resilient food systems,” said Erdal Kurban, ADM’s President for Africa and the Middle East.
He said ADM Cares’ support was helping smallholder farmers strengthen their livelihoods, respond to climate challenges and improve food security for their families and communities.
Beyond agricultural production, LEAF IV incorporates community nutrition activities. During the reporting period, community health promoters supported by the programme screened more than 5,100 children for malnutrition and provided families with nutrition education and health guidance across the three project areas.
Concern reported that malnutrition rates in LEAF-supported communities remained significantly below county averages, although its account did not provide specific comparative figures.
Katie Waller, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Concern Worldwide US, said the programme’s progress demonstrated the value of sustained collaboration.
“The progress achieved through LEAF demonstrates the power of long-term partnerships and community-led development,” she said.
Waller added that ADM Cares’ support was helping farmers access the knowledge, resources and opportunities needed to improve productivity and strengthen resilience.
As LEAF IV continues, its focus combines increased agricultural production with market access, diversified incomes and nutrition support, helping farming households build the capacity to sustain their livelihoods beyond project assistance.