LBDA expands sunflower farming drive to boost farmer incomes in Kisumu
The initiative will place more than 200 acres under sunflower cultivation and connect farmers to edible oil and livestock feed markets.
KENYA – The Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) has increased efforts to promote sunflower farming in Muhoroni Sub-County, Kisumu County, as it seeks to help farmers diversify crops and earn more income.
LBDA is implementing the initiative with GreenTec Hub. The partners plan to place more than 200 acres under sunflower cultivation and connect smallholder farmers to livestock feed and edible oil markets.
Speaking during the launch at the Muhoroni Integrated Technology Transfer Centre (ITTC), LBDA Managing Director Wycliffe Ochiaga, represented by Director of Engineering Services and Infrastructure Development Eng. Jacob Akuno, said sunflower offers strong opportunities for rural communities.
“The sunflower value chain directly connects farmers to both livestock feed markets and edible oil processing, making it one of the most resilient and profitable agricultural investments,” said Ochiaga.
He said the sunflower value chain programme will create jobs, improve food security and support agro-industrial growth across the Lake Basin region.
The project aims to build a complete value chain that covers production, processing and marketing. Processors will convert sunflower seeds into cooking oil, while manufacturers will use sunflower cake in livestock feed production. The approach will create a dependable market for farmers and help reduce Kenya’s reliance on imported edible oils.
Ochiaga said the programme relies on improved seed varieties, modern farming methods and strong market connections to help farmers increase yields and earnings. He added that sunflower suits the climate of western Kenya because it requires moderate inputs, tolerates dry conditions and matures within a relatively short period.
“The success of sunflowers is not only in the field. Drying, storage, aggregation and transportation determine whether farmers earn premium value from their harvests,” he said.
GreenTec Hub will provide certified sunflower seeds, technical support, farmer training and guaranteed off-take agreements. LBDA and the Kisumu County Government will support farmer outreach, land access and irrigation.
The programme comes at a time when Kenya is pushing to increase local sunflower production. The country spends more than KSh150 billion (about US$1.16 billion) each year on edible oil imports. Sunflower oil now accounts for about 25% of local edible oil consumption, but local production still falls short of demand.
Government plans aim to cut edible oil imports by half between 2026 and 2030 by expanding sunflower farming. Industry players expect production to rise further in the coming years, particularly in semi-arid counties, as more farmers adopt the crop for edible oil and animal feed markets.
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