The traveling workshop to Kenya by the LIVES steering committee in early October brought many insights related to horticulture and livestock. These sectors are more advanced in Kenya than Ethiopia and steering committee members described the visit as an “eye opener”.

Committee members observed some striking differences between Ethiopia and Kenya. They visited Thika and Nyeri districts, which belong to high potential agro-ecological zones and are located close to Nairobi.The major difference is the predominance of the private sector in Kenya with the State limiting its role to developing and implementing regulations and economic interventions related to national interests, such as smart subsidies for maize growers. The group also visited highly intensive farming systems combining vegetables, fruit, maize, coffee, fodder and dairy on smallholder farms with a size ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 ha. The farm owners use manure to maintain soil fertility and crop production and made limited use…