How Kenya is losing Sh170bn annually to soil degradation

A maize farmer surveys his degraded land. [File, Standard]

Kenya is losing an estimated Sh170 billion every year to soil degradation, a crisis that experts warn is not only undermining agricultural productivity but also jeopardising the nation’s food security, rural livelihoods and overall economic stability.

The warning comes from David Kersting, Project Manager for the Soil Protection and Rehabilitation for Food Security (ProSoil) programme, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). Speaking in Kisumu on Wednesday ahead of World Soil Day, Kersting stressed that unless urgent measures are taken, the country’s soils, the backbone of its agricultural economy, will continue to deteriorate, leaving communities more vulnerable to hunger, poverty and climate shocks.

“Without healthy soils, agricultural yields cannot be sustained,” Kersting said, highlighting that the degradation of fertile land directly threatens Kenya’s ability to produce enough food to feed its growing population. “Soil degradation is not just an environmental issue; it is an economic and social issue, affecting the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers across the country.”

Kersting emphasised that healthy soils require three fundamental components: knowledge, public investment and strong institutional frameworks. He explained that while Kenya has made some progress through subsidising chemical fertilisers, these measures alone are insufficient.

“Healthy soils need knowledge about soil management, public investment and institutions that provide a favourable environment for farmers,” he said.

“Knowledge is transferred through extension services, which are the responsibility of county governments. This requires well-trained officers and adequate public funding. Investment is not just about chemical fertilisers; it also involves promoting organic fertilisers and supporting agroecological practices. Finally, farmers need institutional frameworks that incentivise sustainable practices, such as a Soil Management Bill and the refinement of existing subsidy programmes,” he added.

Kersting further elaborated that the drivers of soil degradation in Western Kenya are diverse and complex. Heavy rainfall, if lands are not protected through trees and other vegetative measures, washes away fertile topsoil. “Continuous cropping without adequate replenishment of nutrients depletes the soil, and incorrect use of fertilisers can lead to acidification, a condition where low soil pH prevents plants from absorbing essential nutrients,” he said.

“A farmer might purchase 50 kilograms of fertiliser and yet not get the expected results,” he added. “This is not just a loss of money but a loss of confidence in farming, leading to reduced productivity and financial instability.”

Population growth and land fragmentation add another layer of complexity. While more people increase food demand and can incentivise sustainable farming, unmanaged growth without proper land planning can exacerbate degradation. “The future of Kenya’s agriculture depends on shaping framework conditions that allow farmers to produce more efficiently and sustainably,” Kersting said. “This is a key question for policymakers if we want to secure food production for future generations.”

Another pressing issue is the shift of youth away from agriculture. Many young people in Western Kenya are abandoning farms for gold mining, sand harvesting and quarrying, which reduces the availability of arable land.

“Agriculture can be attractive if there are economic opportunities and quick returns,” Kersting explained. “But when alternative land uses promise higher profits, or fragmented land prevents farms from being profitable, young people naturally move away from agriculture. The solution lies in promoting job opportunities in both agriculture and urban sectors to provide sustainable livelihoods.”

“Healthy soils don’t require a lot of money, but they do require knowledge,” he said. “Farmers benefit from strong reinvestment into extension services that equip them with the expertise to manage soils effectively.” ProSoil has worked closely with county extension officers, finding them knowledgeable yet in need of resources and support to reach all farmers effectively.

The programme has been particularly impactful in empowering women who perform much of the farm labour but are often excluded from decision-making. ProSoil data shows that 73 per cent of women farmers reported improved livelihoods as a result of the programme’s interventions. Nonetheless, entrenched gender roles on farms remain a barrier, with decisions frequently made by men, sometimes absent due to off-farm employment.

Looking ahead, GIZ is launching the Soil Matters Udongo-Nimali Project (2025–2028), building on ten years of ProSoil achievements. The new initiative will continue working with farmers as innovators, supporting the private sector in the production of organic fertilisers, and assisting the Ministry of Agriculture in implementing the African Union Nairobi Declaration of 2024 on soil health and fertiliser investment. “Farmers are our reality check,” Kersting emphasised. “They tell us what works on the ground and what doesn’t. Our role is to support them with knowledge, investment and policies that make sustainable agriculture profitable.”

The urgency of soil restoration in Kenya is backed by extensive research. According to the World Resources Institute, over 30 per cent of Kenya’s agricultural land is degraded, a figure corroborated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which reports that more than a third of the country’s soils suffer from erosion and nutrient depletion.

Research published by ResearchGate indicates that between 2001 and 2009, land degradation due to land-use changes alone cost Kenya approximately USD 1.3 billion annually. With agriculture contributing roughly 33 per cent of GDP and employing over 40 per cent of the population, the economic and social stakes are high.

The Soil Atlas Kenya Edition released earlier this year paints a grim picture, showing that up to 80 per cent of arid lands are degraded, leaving only 20 per cent suitable for agriculture, far surpassing global averages and threatening food security, biodiversity and economic stability.

Complementing this, a study led by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and BOKU University indicates that 60 per cent of land areas have crossed safe ecological thresholds, with 38 per cent in high-risk zones where abrupt ecosystem collapses are possible.

The impacts of soil degradation ripple through communities across East Africa. Over 70 per cent of the population depends on agriculture, meaning declining soil fertility reduces yields, income and resilience against climate shocks. Smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of Kenya’s food system, are particularly vulnerable. Degraded soils translate into lower harvests, forcing households into food insecurity, debt and unsustainable coping mechanisms.

Experts argue that reversing soil degradation will require multi-pronged approaches ranging from reinforcing extension services, increasing public investment in organic fertilisers, implementing sound land-use policies and empowering farmers to adopt context-specific sustainable practices. Kersting stressed that government support, private sector investment and international partnerships must work in tandem to ensure that soil restoration is not only effective but also sustainable.

Kenya commemorated World Soil Day 2025 last week, and the message was clear: protecting soil is not optional. It is an economic, social and environmental imperative. Failure to act will exacerbate hunger, economic losses and climate vulnerability, while sustained investment in soil health promises improved yields, stronger livelihoods and a more resilient nation.