Smallholders shaping Kenya’s agroforestry future
Empowering smallholder farmers to shape agroforestry policy for sustainable livelihoods, restoration and climate resilience.
Cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr Deborah Mlongo Barasa (back row, centre), with FFSPAK representatives and other stakeholders during the launch of Kenya’s National Agroforestry Strategy (2025-2035) (Photo: Martin Binnot/FFF Kenya)
The Farm Forestry Smallholder Producers Association of Kenya (FFSPAK) is a national farmer organisation representing more than 50,000 farming families across the country. Established in 2013, the organisation works with grassroots farm and forest producer organisations in Kenya to promote and champion the interests of farm forestry smallholders.
Despite FFSPAK’s important role, agroforestry development was constrained by fragmented policies, weak coordination between forestry and agriculture sectors, limited financing, inadequate extension services and poorly developed value chains. Many farmers also faced insecure land tenure, limited access to quality seedlings and markets, and low participation of women and young people in decision-making processes.
Forest and Farm Facility activities
With support from the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF), FFSPAK strengthened its role as a national advocate for smallholder farmers during the development of Kenya’s first National Agroforestry Strategy (2025-2035). Using its farmer advocacy and consultation tool (FACT), FFSPAK gathered and consolidated farmers’ perspectives from the grassroots, identifying key challenges and priorities affecting agroforestry adoption. These evidence-based recommendations were then presented through national policy platforms and stakeholder consultations.
FFF support enabled FFSPAK to actively participate in the national committee responsible for formulating the strategy, including serving in leadership roles. Drawing on the experiences of its members, FFSPAK contributed practical recommendations on policy coordination, financing mechanisms, research and extension services, market development and equitable participation for women and young people.
This ensured that the realities faced by smallholder producers were reflected in the national policy framework.
Significance of impact
FFSPAK’s advocacy helped ensure the National Agroforestry Strategy recognises agroforestry as a key pathway for achieving Kenya’s environmental, social and economic development goals.
The strategy promotes stronger coordination among institutions, increases investment in agroforestry, improves research and extension systems, enhances market opportunities and ensures the greater inclusion of women and young people. It also integrates agroforestry into climate action and national restoration programmes.
The strategy aims to support the establishment of five million acres of woodlots in arid and semi-arid lands, strengthen agroforestry value chains, and contribute to raising Kenya’s tree cover to 30% by 2032.
Most importantly, the process demonstrated that organised smallholder farmers can effectively influence national policy and shape decisions that affect their livelihoods and landscapes.
Conclusion
FFF support enabled FFSPAK to transform grassroots farmer perspectives into meaningful policy influence. By ensuring that smallholder voices informed the development of the National Agroforestry Strategy, FFSPAK helped create a more enabling environment for agroforestry, sustainable livelihoods and landscape restoration.
The official launch of the strategy in 2025 marked a significant milestone in recognising farmers not only as beneficiaries of policymaking, but as active partners in shaping Kenya’s sustainable future.
Further reading
News: Sweden and Kenya showcase North-South partnership inspiring collective action for forest farmers, FAO (2022)