UN agency makes first local food purchase from small-scale Kenyan farmers

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has for the first time bought food from small-scale farmers in Kenya under a new initiative aimed at boosting agriculture by connecting farmers to markets.

Under ‘Purchase for Progress’ (P4P), WFP has a committed policy to buy from low-income farmers, allowing them to invest profits to boost production and increase food security, according to a news release issued by the agency.

The first P4P purchase by WFP is 45 metric tons of rice from farmers in Ahero in the Kisumu district in western Kenya, which was made possible thanks to a $50,000 contribution by Brazil. The scheme helps 550 smallholder farmers and a community of 20,000 people to benefit from the production, processing, and marketing of rice.

“P4P is a win-win situation,” said WFP Country Director Burkard Oberle. “We help support local farmers. The rice grown in Ahero will be used in WFP’s operation to assist Kenyans hit by drought.”

WFP has purchased food locally in Kenya for many years at the best price, taking into account the cost of transport and shipping. In 2007, 80 per cent of food purchased by WFP globally – a record $612 million – was bought in 69 developing countries.

What makes P4P different is that it represents a committed policy by the agency to buy from low-income farmers, who can invest their profits to boost their production and increase food security, according to a press release issued by the agency.

The initiative was launched last year in September 2008, but because of high food prices and drought, WFP was unable to purchase food in Kenya. It now aims to buy drought-tolerant crops, such as sorghum, millet, pigeon peas, beans and cow peas, as well as irrigated crops, like rice.

P4P is a five-year project made possible by contributions from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Howard Buffet Foundation, and donor governments, all of whom have donated $76 million for 21 countries around the world to participate in the innovative programme.