Kenya’s organic farmers are turning to a community-based certification system to build consumer trust, improve market access and respond to growing demand for organically produced food.
Eustace Kiarii, team leader at the Kenya Organic Agriculture Network (Koan), said the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) offers smallholder farmers an affordable alternative to conventional third-party certification, which can be costly, by allowing them to work together to verify compliance with agreed organic farming standards.
He spoke during the fourth national PGS workshop where farmers and organic agriculture stakeholders discussed ways to expand the system and strengthen markets for organic and agroecological produce.
Kiarii said PGS places farmers at the centre of the certification process, allowing them to agree on standards, monitor one another’s farms and conduct peer assessments.
“Farmers come together in a group, agree on what to follow, what defines their understanding of organic and then comply with the rules. They also conduct peer reviews, where farmers visit other farmers to learn,” he said.
Unlike conventional certification, which involves external inspectors assessing farms, PGS relies on collective responsibility and trust among farmers. Those who meet the relevant requirements can use recognised marks to help consumers identify products that comply with established standards.
Samuel Nderitu, executive director of the Global Intensive Agriculture Centre of Kenya and a board member of Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (Pelum) Kenya, said the system could help farmers expand organic markets by making certification more accessible.
He said consumers increasingly want to know how their food is produced, creating an opportunity for certified farmers to reach more buyers.
“Consumers are looking at alternatives on what kind of food to eat. It is very important for farmers to be certified through PGS so they can increase their markets,” he said.
According to Samuel Ndung'u, Koan’s programmes manager, Kenya has about 64,000 certified organic producers, up from about 62,000 the previous year. The country also has 40 PGS groups comprising about 5,000 farmers.
He said the domestic organic market is valued at about Sh600 million, while the combined domestic and export market is worth about Sh3 billion.
Kenya has about 115 exporters dealing in organic products, with avocados and macadamia among the leading exports. Fresh herbs and spices are also emerging as promising products.
Ndung'u urged county governments to establish dedicated organic and agroecological markets where farmers can sell directly to consumers. Murang’a, Kirinyaga, West Pokot and Busia are among the counties supporting such initiatives.
Ndungu' also urged farmers to harvest and conserve rainwater, including through small dams, to help maintain production during dry periods.
Kiarii said the Kilimohai mark helps consumers identify products assessed against recognised regional standards.
The Kilimohai Green mark is associated with compliance with the East African Organic Product Standard, while the blue mark indicates assessment against the 13 principles of agroecology through the Kilimohai Agroecology Assessment Tool.
He said demand for safer food was encouraging more farmers to transition to organic production.
He cited a study conducted with the University of Nairobi that examined pesticide residues in tomatoes, kales, spinach and onions, with tomatoes and kales recording particularly high residue levels in some samples.
However, expanding certification must go hand in hand with stronger markets, farmer support and policies that encourage sustainable production.
Instant analysis
For organic farmers, the challenge now is to turn growing consumer interest into reliable markets and better incomes. Expanding Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) groups and improving access to certification could help more smallholders demonstrate how their food is produced while connecting consumers with trusted organic produce.
