Blog From a women’s crop to a household enterprise, beans are redefining farming in Nakuru and Elgeyo Marakwet counties in Kenya
Farmers in Nakuru and Elgeyo Marakwet Counties are embracing Nyota beans as a cash crop. Ahead of the MAM season, ECREA, KALRO, and KMD trained over 200 farmers in Nakuru and Elgeyo Marakwet counties on climate-smart farming, providing certified seeds, agro-advisories, and seasonal forecasts.
Once considered a food crop primarily associated with women, beans are now emerging as a lucrative cash crop, attracting men into production. In Nakuru and Elgeyo Marakwet Counties, the high-iron Nyota bean is transforming livelihoods, with both men and women heavily investing in its farming. This shift is fueled by the Enhancing Climate Resilience in East Africa (ECREA) project, which, through strategic partnerships with the Grain Legume Program of the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO- Katumani) and the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), is making weather and climate information more accessible to bean farmers.
This transformation was evident during a recent training in Nakuru, just before the onset of the March-April-May (MAM) season, when the ECREA, KALRO, and KMD team engaged farmers on leveraging weather and climate information services (WCIS) for climate-smart decision-making. During the event, 100 contracted farmers from Nakuru County both men and women received certified Nyota bean seeds bundled with weather and climate information services (WCIS), agro-advisories and seasonal forecasts.
Farmers from Nakuru County, Kenya, participate in a training session on the MAM seasonal forecast and its implications for climate-smart farming. - Photo credit: Joseline Kiogora/Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
Similarly, in Elgeyo Marakwet, 58 extension staff and trainers of trainers were sensitized on the co-produced seasonal forecast for the MAM season, alongside training on bean production, behavioral change, and pest and disease management. This comprehensive approach ensures that farmers are not only equipped with high-quality inputs but also with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions throughout the growing season.
Extension officers from the Elgeyo Marakwet County Government attentively engage in the training session. Photo credit: Joseline Kiogora/Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
The growing economic potential of Nyota beans is reshaping household roles and attracting a more diverse group of growers, including men and youth. Traditionally, beans were considered a subsistence crop managed by women. However, currently, beans are now recognized as a profitable cash crop in Nakuru and Elgeyo Marakwet Counties. More men are actively participating in bean farming, while young people are exploring it as a viable agribusiness. Additionally, Nyota beans have been integrated into school feeding programs, allowing families to supply beans directly to schools in exchange for tuition fees. This not only eases financial burdens but also improves household nutrition by ensuring children have access to nutritious meals.
"For the first time, I see beans as a business, not just food for the family. With the right seeds and climate information, I can plan my planting and harvest confidently," said Eliud Mwangi, a farmer from Nakuru.
"I used to think farming was just for our parents, but Nyota beans have changed my perspective. Now, I see it as a real business opportunity. With a ready market in schools and good returns , I can invest in my future without having to leave my community," says Brian Kipkurui, a young farmer in Elgeyo Marakwet who has embraced bean farming as a source of income.
By scaling up access to improved seeds and climate services, the ECREA project is not only enhancing food security but also redefining gender roles in farming, proving that when agriculture becomes profitable, it becomes everyone’s business.
