What We Do Empowering Farmers, Ending Hunger: The FocusWise Story
Since 2009, FocusWise has been on a mission to combat hunger and poverty in vulnerable Kenyan communities. We started by registering the FocusWise, inviting community members to join the fight for food security.
We address these challenges head-on by distributing improved seeds of drought-resistant crops like cassava, millet, sorghum, and high-iron beans. Our network of demonstration farms has welcomed over 89,711 farmers, providing them with valuable hands-on learning experiences. Researchers also frequent these farms, fostering collaboration and innovation in climate-smart agriculture.
Beyond seed distribution, we empower farmers through extension services and outreach meetings. These sessions educate them on best practices for adapting to changing weather patterns. We further showcase the benefits of our approach by participating in agricultural shows and field days, demonstrating the diverse crops and food products we promote.
Supporting our farmers’ success goes beyond education. We established a social enterprise cottage food and feed processing factory. This empowers them to add value to their harvests and increase their incomes. In 2012, a successful crowdfunding campaign on GlobalGiving.org allowed us to purchase essential milling machines, and we’ve continued to invest in expanding our processing capabilities.
Our dedication to climate-smart agriculture has garnered significant media attention. Since 2011, we’ve been featured on various Kenyan media platforms, sparking important conversations about food security. Our efforts have also been recognized through several community service awards, and we’ve been invited to share our expertise on cassava and food security across Eastern Africa.