Blog From Beans to Fees: How ECREA is Transforming Farming in Nakuru County
The ECREA, KALRO, and KMD team returned to Nakuru on March 5, 2025, for farmer training ahead of the MAM season. 100 farmers received certified Nyota bean seeds bundled with WCIS, agro-advisory services, and seasonal forecasts to boost climate resilience and productivity.
In the wake of the escalating climate crisis, small-scale farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa face unpredictable weather patterns that threaten their yields, food security, and livelihoods. To address these challenges, the Enhancing Climate Change Resilience in East Africa (ECREA) project is working to empower farmers with Weather and Climate Information Services (WCIS) and agro-advisories.
The ECREA project is funded by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through the WISER Office and it is implemented through the Climate Action lever of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. ECREA is a collaborative initiative that brings together key partners to ensure that climate information reaches the farmers who need it most.
The project has a keen emphasis on partnership and collaboration. It leverages the expertise of National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS), and strategic alliances with organizations like IGAD Climate Prediction Applications Center (ICPAC), Shamba Shape Up and iShamba and community radios such as Radio Huguka in Rwanda and FADECO Radio in Tanzania to foster inclusive and accessible climate resilience strategies.
By working closely with meteorological services, agricultural researchers and media partners, the project ensures that farmers receive accurate, timely and user-friendly climate information that empowers them to make informed decisions about their farming activities.
Since its inception, ECREA has reached more than 200,000 farmers across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Through capacity-building programs, extension services, and interactive platforms, the project has equipped farmers with the knowledge to interpret and apply WCIS in their farming activities.
One of the most successful interventions has been the Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (PICSA-Lite) training, which provides farmers with tailored climate forecasts, agronomic advice and decision-making tools. This training ensures that farmers understand past climate trends, seasonal forecasts and risk management strategies, enabling them to optimize their agricultural practices.
Farmers in Solai Ward, Nakuru Sub-County attend a PICSA-Lite training, gaining climate-smart insights ahead of the MAM season on March 11, 2025. Photo credit: Joseline Kiogora/Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
Impact on the Ground: More Beans, More Food and School Fees
With thousands of farmers already trained, the impact of the project is becoming increasingly evident. One such success story comes from Solai, Nakuru County, where farmers who participated in the training and adopted WCIS have seen significant improvements in their bean yields, enhancing both food security and economic stability. During the training, held from April 29 to May 3 at the Agricultural Training Centre in Nakuru, extension officers and lead farmers from four counties in Kenya gained valuable insights into the 12-step PICSA approach. This comprehensive training equipped them with the knowledge and skills to utilize climate, weather, crop, and livestock data effectively, enabling them to make informed decisions that optimize farm productivity.
The Nyota bean variety, developed by KALRO, has played a crucial role in this transformation. With its high iron content, it is not only boosting household nutrition but is also being incorporated into school feeding programs, a move that is redefining how farmers manage school fees. Unlike before, when farmers had to sell their harvest to raise money for school fees, those growing Nyota beans now have a direct pathway to education. They simply take the beans to school as payment. This shift has brought immense relief to families who no longer have to worry about fluctuating market prices.
"For the first time, I don’t have to sell my beans to raise school fees. I take them directly to my children’s school and they are accepted as payment. This has changed everything for us," says Silas Rono, a farmer from Solai Ward, Nakuru county who has benefited from the project.
This growing impact was evident when the ECREA, KALRO and KMD team returned to Nakuru on 11 March 2025 for additional farmer training just before the onset of the March-April-May (MAM) season. As part of efforts to scale up climate resilience, 100 contracted farmers received certified Nyota bean seeds for planting, bundled with WCIS, agro-advisory services, and seasonal forecasts. This bundling of services not only provides farmers with high-quality inputs but also equips them with essential climate information, enabling them to make well-informed decisions throughout the growing season.
Members of the Chemasis farmer group in Solai Ward, Nakuru County engaging with experts to enhance their farming resilience through the PICSA-Lite approach. Photo credit: Joseline Kiogora/Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
“Receiving the bundled seasonal forecast, WCIS, and agro-advisory services just before the rains starts is a game-changer for me. I know exactly when to plant, what to expect and how to manage my farm better. This kind of timely information makes all the difference." – Jane Chebet, farmer and ECREA project beneficiary commented during the training.”
With continued support from partners and local governments, ECREA is demonstrating that climate resilience is achievable. By equipping farmers with the right tools, knowledge and resources, the project is transforming agriculture into a climate-smart, profitable and sustainable venture.
From higher yields to increased income and improved nutrition, the impact of co-designed climate information services is being felt at the grassroots level. And as farmers in Solai and beyond continue to embrace these solutions, the future of agriculture in East Africa looks brighter than ever.
The Team
Desire Kagabo
Project Leader
Livingstone Byandaga
Research Specialist
Mvuyibwami Patrick
Senior Research AssociateRead more
