In 2024, the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report revealed that 733 million people globally suffered from malnutrition in 2023, an alarming increase of 152 million since 2019. This sharp rise underscores the growing crisis of hunger and food insecurity worldwide. Yet, amidst these challenges, a remarkable group of women in Narok County is rewriting the narrative through Agroecology.
Meet the Kopito Women’s Group, an inspiring community of farmers from Narok County, a region known for its arid and semi-arid climate. Determined to break free from cycles of food scarcity, they embraced agroecology through the Slow Food Community Garden, focusing on indigenous vegetables that thrive even in dry conditions. Their journey has been nothing short of transformative.
Eunice, the group’s leader, shares their remarkable progress:
“For years, we struggled to feed our families, especially during dry seasons. But since partnering with Slow Food Kenya, our story has changed. Last season, we planted potatoes and had a bumper harvest. After feeding our families, we sold the surplus and used the profits to buy two sheep. These will be distributed among members as they reproduce, ensuring that every member eventually owns a sheep. The remaining funds were reinvested into our group’s table banking system.”
Building on their success, the group expanded their farming efforts, growing kale, spinach, pumpkins, cabbages, green peas, and sweet potatoes. Despite harsh weather conditions, their crops are flourishing, proving that with the right interventions, small-scale farmers can achieve food security and economic stability.
Today, the Kopito Women’s Group is recognized as a reliable supplier of indigenous vegetables to local vendors, selling directly from their farms. Their next goal? Ensuring that each group member owns a sheep, further strengthening their economic resilience.
This group is no longer just feeding their families, they are leading a movement. Their success story is inspiring other farmers to embrace agroecology, proving that resilience, innovation, and collective action can transform lives and build a food-secure future.
Through their unwavering determination, the Kopito Women’s Group is not just growing crops they are growing hope.
