Regenerative agriculture drives soil recovery in Kenya

MASAI MARA, Kenya - May 11, 2026 - PRLog -- New evidence released by Farm Department and its partners shows that regenerative agriculture is transforming smallholder farming systems in Kenya, particularly in Embu and Tharaka Nithi counties.

Quantitative and qualitative learning from STRAK's participants and field surveys shows a remarkable shift in farming practices. Over 70 percent of participating farmers in Embu and Tharaka Nithi counties have adopted techniques such as intercropping, crop rotation, agroforestry, use of farmyard manure ,and cover cropping.

As a result, farmers reported up to 81 percent higher yields per acre, 92 percent improvement in water retention and a significant reduction in crop failure and soil erosion. Decreased dependence on chemical inputs has further improved farm profitability and resilience across both counties.

"These results clearly demonstrate that regenerative agriculture is not just an environmental intervention, it is an economic one."

To validate these outcomes, the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) conducted a scientific analysis of over 2,000 soil samples from the project sites. The study found that mulching-based regenerative agriculture boosted soil water infiltration by 19 to 38 percent, biomass transfer increased soil organic matter and soil biota improved significantly with nematodes increasing by 200 percent and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) colonisation by 63 percent.

These results confirm that regenerative agriculture improves soil health, restores microbial diversity, enhances yields and contributes to long-term landscape restoration, particularly in highland areas with cooler and wetter conditions.

Complementary data collected through satellite imagery and artificial intelligence further validated the ground-level evidence. Between 2017 and 2024, Downforce Technologies recorded measurable increases in Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) across Farm Africa's regenerative agriculture sites. In collaboration with Rabobank's ACORN programme, 21,658 farmers have transitioned to regenerative agroforestry, bringing 14,175 hectares under tree-based systems that have captured 24,945 tonnes of CO₂ and generated more than Ksh 85 million cash and in-kind carbon incentives for farmers.

"These results clearly demonstrate that regenerative agriculture is not just an environmental intervention, it is an economic one," says Mary Nyale, Country Director, Farm Africa.

"By equipping smallholder farmers with the farm machinery ,like corn sheller machine https://www.shellermachine.com/ ,rice milling machine https://www.shellermachine.com/combine-rice-mill-machine, knowledge and market linkages to farm regeneratively, we are seeing sustainable improvements in yields, soil fertility and incomes. This evidence shows that regenerative agriculture can work at scale and deliver measurable impact for both people and the planet."