The sorghum value chain project was implemented in the areas of Salama and Marmanet wards of Laikipia County by Caritas Nyahururu in collaboration with AgriFi CS APP, KALRO, Government of Kenya and the European Union. This program ran for two years from February 2022 to January 2024. The project targeted small holder farmers in these regions who had been greatly affected by persistent crop failures due to prolonged drought periods. In the interventions, five different varieties of sorghum namely BM -30, Seredo, KM – 32, Serena and Ikinyaruka were introduced into the areas according to suitability and adaptability. The project had the goal of promoting food security and empowering communities socially and economically through adoption of new white sorghum varieties developed by KALRO.

The following were the achievements of the project;

1. Trained over 1500 farmers on climate smart farming practices to mitigate through the effects of climate change.
2. Adoption of five sorghum varieties that are drought resistant and can withstand very little rainfall as compared to other perennial crops like maize and beans.
3. Creation of linkages between farmer groups and input suppliers, financial service providers and market players locally and beyond.

Even after the closure of the project, sorghum farming has been maintained in these areas and continues to expand to other areas due to the crop’s ability to withstand harsh climatic conditions. Caritas Nyahururu has and still engages with these beneficiaries regularly especially on linking them with market players