In Kenya, about 70% of the population derives its livelihood from agriculture. About 80% of these are women who are the real cultivators of the farms. However, gender issues are still unknown by the majority of farmers. The female farmers are over-burdened with a myriad of chores ranging from reproductive duties to the farm. It is with this background that KENFAP has instilled a mainstreaming of gender issues in all its programmes.

Gender mainstreaming begins with awareness creation. Farmers need to join KENFAP in order to receive services and also to strengthen its grassroots representation and voice. The KENFAP policy and by- laws need to be attractive for female farmers to join in and receive equal treatment with men. That is why there is need to increase the membership registration of the women farmers is key. The constitution has therefore needs to be reviewed in order to accommodate this arrangement with one objective being the operationalization of a National Council of Women.

The women are generally economically vulnerable. Yet, they are the ones that take care of their households needs as well as fend the farms. It is the aim of KENFAP through its programmes to build the capacity of the female [...]

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