In response to the escalating global food crisis exacerbated by climate change and the war in Ukraine, Kenyan innovators are developing smart farming solutions. Catherine Kamanu, a central Kenyan farmer, educates smallholder farmers on alternative practices like using compost manure in place of scarce fertilizers. Innovations such as Gro Intelligence's Food Security Tracker, supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, provide real-time agricultural data. The Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture has partnered with Microsoft to create AgriBot, a chatbot for farmer advisory services. Mastercard's Farm Pass offers market information to farmers. However, some platforms are criticized for a top-down approach that excludes farmers from decision-making. Emrys Schoemaker of Caribou Digital suggests social agriculture, leveraging social media for information exchange, could be a more inclusive solution. Despite the potential of these technologies, challenges such as internet access and reluctance to adopt new methods remain.

Kenyan farmers are increasingly adopting natural farming methods to combat the effects of climate change and to mitigate the impact of external crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war. These climate-smart approaches, including agro-ecology and conservation agriculture, are helping farmers cope with challenges like fertiliser shortages and the need for sustainable food production. The war in Ukraine has disrupted Kenya's fertiliser imports and coffee exports, prompting farmers to seek resilience through practices like inter-cropping. The Kenyan government has launched a climate-smart agriculture plan to support these efforts. Experts suggest that diversifying food systems and localizing food production can enhance resilience to global shocks.

In Ghana, farmers like Adam Fuseina are increasingly facing droughts, floods, and pests that threaten their livelihoods. A free crop insurance project by Roots of Change, under Opportunity International, is providing a safety net against extreme weather and crop diseases. The project uses satellite data and field visits to calculate crop loss and has already paid out to more than 300 farmers. The Ghana Agricultural Insurance Pool verifies claims, and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture collects data to support the program. The initiative aims to make farming more stable and attractive, especially to the youth. While the uptake of crop insurance has been slow, due to a lack of understanding and trust, newer models and personal interactions are improving accuracy and farmer confidence.

Farmers in Ghana are facing increased challenges due to climate change, including droughts, floods, and pests. To combat this, a new crop insurance project by Roots of Change, supported by Opportunity International, provides payouts to farmers when harvests fall short. The project uses satellite data and field visits to calculate crop losses and build trust with farmers. The insurance program, which is part of a larger initiative, has already paid out to more than 300 farmers. The Ghana Agricultural Insurance Pool verifies claims by comparing actual harvests to historical data. The program aims to make farming more stable and attractive, especially to youth and women, by turning agriculture into a financial asset.

In Kenya, solar-powered water pumps are significantly improving water access for farmers, reducing the effort and pollution associated with traditional methods. The World Bank and Makueni County government have installed a solar unit in Mwithini village, part of a larger initiative to support off-grid solar projects. Farmers like Raphael Mauyu and Kaloki Mutwota have experienced enhanced irrigation and crop yields due to these pumps. Kenya aims to generate all electricity from renewable sources by 2030, but financial backing from banks is needed to achieve this goal.

In Kwale County, Kenya, forest rangers are using a smartphone app developed by the Kenya Forest Service and the University of Leicester to monitor and combat deforestation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The app uses satellite feeds to map disturbances such as forest fires and illegal logging. The project has also provided employment to over 250 locals who lost their retail jobs due to the pandemic, involving them in replanting cleared areas. Despite the pandemic's negative impact on conservation efforts and economic well-being, the initiative has helped restore degraded areas and reduce illegal activities. The government aims to increase forest cover to at least 10 percent by 2022, a goal challenged by the financial downturn caused by the pandemic.

In Kenya, pastoralists are using a weather app that provides alerts for their village, helping them prepare for drought. Kaltuma Milkalkona and two young men were seen using the app under a tree to escape the heat, indicating the practical application of technology in managing climate-related challenges.

The myAnga app, developed by Nairobi-based social enterprise Amfratech, is helping Kenyan pastoralists prepare for drought by providing village-level weather updates and advice via smartphones. The app interprets meteorological data and offers recommendations to herders, such as when to sell livestock or avoid flooded rivers. It has reached over 500 herders directly and 2,000 more indirectly since its 2018 launch. The app sources data from aWhere, which generates a grid of virtual weather stations. Despite its success, challenges such as low smartphone ownership, poor communication networks, and low literacy rates among pastoralists limit the app's reach. Amfratech plans to expand the service to more than 300,000 pastoralists in Kenya with the help of partners like the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation and the Kenya Livestock Marketing Council.

In Nairobi's slums, a blockchain-based community currency called Sarafu is enabling residents to purchase essentials amidst the economic downturn caused by COVID-19. Distributed by the Kenya Red Cross Society and co-developed by Grassroots Economics and BlockScience, Sarafu provides weekly virtual vouchers to families, which can be redeemed for food, water, and sanitary items. Over 4,000 residents in Mukuru Kayiaba slum are registered with Sarafu, which facilitates transparent transactions and helps prevent evictions by allowing savings on rent. Despite challenges from loan sharks, the community has increasingly accepted the digital currency.

In Nairobi, the blockchain-based community currency Sarafu is helping slum dwellers cope with the economic impact of COVID-19 by enabling them to purchase essentials without cash. Families receive weekly virtual vouchers to buy food, water, and sanitary items, which vendors can redeem for cash through Grassroots Economics. The Kenya Red Cross Society, with international partners, is expanding Sarafu's reach despite resistance from loan sharks. The platform ensures transparent transactions and has helped prevent evictions and hunger in the community.

In Kenya, the Naremiet Beach Management Co-operative, led by Philip Etabo Eyanae, is overcoming challenges such as wildlife conflict, climate crisis, and market issues to improve the livelihoods of indigenous fishing communities. Despite government promises through the Big Four Agenda, support is lacking, particularly for those outside aquaculture and deep-sea fishing. However, with assistance from the United States African Development Foundation, the co-op has received funding, equipment, and training, enabling a transition from traditional fishing methods to more sustainable practices. The co-op's resilience is further demonstrated by adapting to market changes and avoiding crocodile attacks by encouraging boat use over foot fishing.

In northern Kenya, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have been accused of occupying communal farmland without warning or compensation, exacerbating tensions and conflicts over grazing land. The military's presence has disrupted traditional practices and poses a risk to villagers' safety. Land rights activists urge the government to implement the 2016 Community Land Act to protect indigenous communities' rights. Despite the law's provisions, no communal land in northern Kenya has been registered, leaving it vulnerable to military takeover. The National Land Commission has not responded to requests for comment on the land registration process.

The article discusses the plight of the Ogiek indigenous group in Kenya's Rift Valley, who have been evicted from their ancestral homeland in the Mau forest as part of a government reforestation effort. The evictions have led to poverty, displacement, and exploitation by the logging industry, with children being forced to work in sawmills due to lack of access to education. A new law may offer hope by giving local communities more control over their forests, but advocates argue it needs to address the specific needs of marginalized women and children. The article also touches on the broader issue of illegal logging and exploitation in African forests, suggesting that governments need to tackle criminal networks and clarify land tenure laws to protect vulnerable communities.