Mzee Thomas Maina transformed his life in Njoro by shifting from failing maize to climate-smart cassava farming. Through the TAGDev 2.0 project, he boosted yields, secured food, and built a family agribusiness. Cassava now delivers sustainable livelihoods and hope.

For many years, Mzee Thomas Maina, a smallholder farmer in Njoro Sub-county, Nakuru County, struggled with declining maize yields, prolonged dry spells, and uncertain income. Like many farmers in semi-arid areas, he continued depending on maize farming despite repeated crop failures caused by erratic rainfall and poor soil conditions.

Although cassava could survive in the harsh climate, it remained a neglected subsistence crop on his one-acre farm, with little economic value. Food insecurity and financial strain had become a normal part of his household's life.

The Turning Point

Thomas’ turning point came when he joined the TAGDev Cassava Community Action Research Project implemented through Egerton University under the TAGDev 2.0 Program. Through the initiative, farmers were trained on climate-smart agriculture, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), improved cassava production technologies, and value addition.

According to the TAGDev Cassava Action Research team, the project was designed to address key challenges affecting smallholder farmers, including climate vulnerability, low household incomes, food insecurity, and limited livelihood opportunities. Farmers were introduced to improved, drought-tolerant cassava varieties and scientific farming methods to increase productivity while enhancing resilience to climate change.

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Remarkable Yield Transformation

The training transformed the way Thomas approached farming. By adopting improved agronomic practices and planting certified cassava varieties, his yields increased significantly. Unlike maize, cassava continued to thrive even during dry seasons, ensuring that the family had a reliable food source throughout the year.

“There was a major change after the training because we learned better farming methods and received improved varieties that increased production,” says Thomas.

His wife adds that cassava has strengthened the family’s food security by ensuring there is always food on the table, while surplus harvests help meet household needs such as school fees, medical expenses, and daily upkeep.


From Subsistence to Family Agribusiness

Beyond household food security, cassava has evolved into a family agribusiness enterprise. Thomas and his wife manage the farm while their children have ventured into cassava marketing and value addition. Their daughter transports fresh cassava to Samburu for sale, while their son processes cassava flour into cakes and other products, creating additional income streams for the family.

According to the TAGDev team, promoting value addition helps farming households transition from subsistence agriculture to agribusiness while creating employment opportunities for young people. Youth groups are increasingly engaging in cassava production, processing, and marketing as a pathway to sustainable livelihoods.

Impact Across Communities

Through the cassava value chain initiative, the TAGDev 2.0 Program has so far reached 4,439 farmers across different communities. The program views cassava not only as a food crop but also as a climate-resilient solution that can improve nutrition, household incomes, and community resilience in areas heavily affected by climate change.

For farmers like Thomas Maina, what was once considered a neglected crop has become a source of stability, dignity, and hope for the future.

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