Greenlife Agribusiness LTD is pleased to share significant progress achieved under the AFYAPEAT Project: Addressing Soil Degradation and Food Insecurity in East Africa (Somalia & Kenya). This initiative is funded by the East African Community (EAC) and GIZ EAC, with support from the European Union through the Global Gateway Initiative. Through this partnership, the project is making impactful strides in supporting vulnerable farming communities, restoring degraded soils, and strengthening regional agricultural resilience.
Over recent weeks, the AFYAPEAT Project successfully conducted a two-day practical training for 100 farmers in Balcad District, Hirshabelle State, Somalia. This training represents a major milestone in the project’s first quarter and demonstrates our commitment to delivering practical, field-based capacity-building that directly strengthens food security and livelihood outcomes in rural communities.
The training focused on equipping farmers with essential skills in nursery establishment, seedling production, and climate-smart soil management using AFYAPEAT—our locally produced cocopeat made from recycled coconut husks. AFYAPEAT is engineered to improve soil structure, increase moisture retention, and enhance early crop performance, making it a valuable solution for regions experiencing soil degradation and water scarcity.
Participants engaged in a structured combination of demonstrations, group exercises, and farmer-led practical sessions. Through hands-on learning, farmers were guided step-by-step on how to prepare nursery trays, fill cells with cocopeat, correctly place seeds, manage watering routines, and care for young seedlings under harsh climatic conditions. Both women and men actively participated in all components of the training, reflecting the project’s commitment to inclusivity, gender balance, and community-driven capacity building. The strong turnout and enthusiastic engagement underscored the urgent need for climate-resilient farming solutions in the region.
Beyond improving technical skills, the AFYAPEAT Project contributes directly to EAC regional integration efforts by promoting a unified, scalable agricultural solution that aligns with the region’s shared development priorities. AFYAPEAT offers a locally sourced, sustainable alternative to imported peat, helping strengthen regional agricultural value chains and reduce dependency on external inputs. This supports the EAC’s goals of enhancing the free movement of goods, fostering collaboration among partner states, and empowering youth-led agribusiness innovations that contribute to collective economic growth.
Importantly, the project tackles one of the biggest threats to agricultural productivity in East Africa—soil degradation. Many farming communities face declining soil fertility, reduced water-holding capacity, and limited access to quality agricultural inputs. By restoring soil structure and improving seedling survival rates, AFYAPEAT helps farmers overcome these challenges and build a stronger foundation for sustainable food production. Improved germination, healthier root development, and greater seedling vigor translate directly into better yields, increased income stability, and enhanced community resilience.
This initiative also aligns with broader food security goals by promoting practices that strengthen early-stage crop development. Healthy seedlings are the starting point for productive harvests. Through proper nursery management and optimized soil media, farmers are better prepared to withstand climate pressures, minimize losses, and increase household food availability. The Balcad training sessions demonstrated how affordable, locally produced solutions like AFYAPEAT can play a transformative role in boosting agricultural outcomes across Somalia and the broader East African region.
We extend our sincere appreciation to the East African Community, GIZ EAC, German Cooperation, and the European Union (Global Gateway Initiative) for their essential support and partnership. Their commitment enables local innovations such as AFYAPEAT to reach farming communities, strengthen livelihoods, and contribute meaningfully to a more climate-resilient, food-secure East Africa.
Greenlife Agribusiness LTD remains dedicated to advancing soil restoration, empowering farmers, and scaling sustainable agricultural practices that uplift communities across the region. Through the AFYAPEAT Project, we look forward to expanding our reach, deepening regional collaboration, and continuing to deliver climate-smart solutions that nourish both people and the land.
