At Walisha, we implement a suite of thoughtfully designed productivity enhancement initiatives targeted at empowering the region’s smallholder wheat farmers to sustainably boost yields, incomes, and resilience. Our programs take an integrated approach addressing the multiple barriers these farmers face across seed access, soil fertility, water availability, climate adaptation, access to finance and market linkages.

Specifically, we promote the adoption of high-yielding wheat varieties that can thrive in local conditions alongside training in optimal agronomic practices to see rapid yield gains. Recognizing depleted soils as a major constraint across small landholdings, we facilitate inexpensive soil testing and provide customized fertilizer recommendations for environmentally judicious nutrient management. Moisture stress is another key challenge, so Walisha expands access to water harvesting, storage and affordable irrigation systems like drip kits to safeguard wheat crops through moisture deficit periods that are being exacerbated by climate change.

We also have a strong focus on building the long-term climate resilience of smallholder wheat systems through stress-tolerant varieties, intercropping combinations, and moisture conservation techniques. These adaptive measures buffer farmers against losses from the mounting weather extremes occurring across East Africa. Finally, we link farmer organizations to predictable local wheat value chains from millers to bakers to ensure stable market environments that incentivize productivity investments.