Seeds and Skills for Women to Grow Vegetables

In Meru County, Kenya, 320 low-income, women-led households are growing fresh vegetables year-round, improving family nutrition, and earning additional income.

Seed Programs International (SPI) is partnering with The Village Trust (TVT) to empower households through the Vertical Smart Vegetable Farming program. TVT is a community-based nonprofit that promotes food security and uplifts women in low-income communities by using climate-smart, space-efficient farming methods. This initiative allows families to grow nutritious vegetables year-round with minimal space and water, strengthening household food security, improving nutrition, and generating additional income.

Each participating household received vertical grow bags pre-filled with soil and manure, training, and seedlings including spinach, kale, spring onions, and sweet potatoes. The hands-on technical training was provided to ensure every woman had the knowledge and confidence to kick-start her smart farming journey. 

Women now have reliable access to fresh vegetables at home, supporting better diets and dietary diversity. Surplus produce is sold in local markets, generating income for school fees, healthcare, and other essential household expenses. In the words of TVT Founder Dr. Sarah Kilemi, "The families that benefitted are reaping big in terms of vegetables." The success of this program has revealed the depth of need in the region. Many additional women came forward requesting grow bags, demonstrating strong demand for this type of support in the community. TVT remains committed to reaching those still waiting and looks forward to continued collaboration with SPI to expand this impact. 

This year, SPI is continuing to support TVT and arranged for the donation of 13,000 kgs of bean seed through a local seed donor. This donation will ensure the women can sustain and expand their growing activities.Thank you for making this possible, together, we are turning small spaces into big futures for women across Kenya.

We are proud to continue our partnership with Public Fund AVEP in the Ton District of Kyrgyzstan. This year, the program directly benefited 135 women and 30 students through improved access to fresh food, hands-on agricultural training, and expanded income opportunities. In total, an estimated 1,500 people benefited through direct participation or through the support shared with family members, neighbors, classmates, and broader social networks.

Over the past three years, the program has steadily expanded and evolved, introducing a new agricultural focus each season. The first year began with vegetable production, followed by corn silage training in the second year, and strawberry cultivation in the third. Women rotate through each module, gaining a comprehensive three-year agricultural education and building a diverse skill set that strengthens their families’ resilience.

This year, 45 women from three new villages joined the vegetable program, while previous participants advanced into the corn or strawberry tracks. Each group receives ongoing mentorship, training sessions, and access to the resources needed to succeed.

One of the participants shared her experience:

"I didn't know how to grow cucumbers before, but now I've mastered the process. This year I planted spinach for the first time — and, apparently, we'll get a good harvest. We grow five varieties of cabbage, two of which I've already successfully mastered and now I share my experience with other women in the group. Our participants learn not only how to grow vegetables, but also how to properly care for them. We use regular vinegar and soda against moths. We scatter wood ash, manure and chicken manure. We apply these mixtures every seven days, without waiting for the pests to appear. We shape the tomato and cucumber bushes so that the fruits are larger, thin out the rows and replant the plants.”

Previously, she had to purchase vegetables at high prices. Now, she uses spinach, beets, onions, and other crops in her daily cooking—providing her family with fresh and healthy food. She also sells her surplus produce in her village, helping to increase her household income.

Your support helps make these multi-year training opportunities possible. Thank you for empowering women to grow nutritious food, share skills within their communities, and build brighter futures for their families.

Giving Tuesday is December 2 and GlobalGiving is giving $500 million to boost donations to nonprofits worldwide. This is a great opportunity to make your donations go further and support programs like this. Thank you so much for your partnership.