K+S and DEG Impulse gGmbH have launched a three-year project in Kenya and Uganda aimed at improving smallholder productivity through soil testing, tailored fertilizer recommendations and farmer training.

The “Grow Eastern Africa” project is expected to reach at least 10,000 farmers by December 2028, with a minimum of 2,000 soil samples planned. The partners are targeting crop-yield increases of more than 20 percent compared with current farming practices.

The €1.3-million project is being implemented through the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) develoPPP program and is funded equally through public and private contributions. K+S Minerals and Agriculture GmbH, a wholly owned K+S subsidiary, is the corporate partner, while DEG Impulse is the implementation partner.

The project will focus on improving fertilizer use by combining soil analysis with crop-specific recommendations. Farmers will receive hands-on training in climate-smart agriculture, while fertilizer programs will be developed according to soil conditions and individual crop requirements.

“With Grow Eastern Africa, we aim to combine our expertise in plant nutrition with the knowledge and needs of farmers on the ground. Balanced fertilization tailored to both soil conditions and specific crops can help sustainably increase yields while strengthening resilience to climatic changes,” said Dr. Carin-Martina Tröltzsch, Deputy Chair of the Board of Executive Directors of K+S.

Organo-mineral fertilizers will also be promoted through the initiative, with the partners targeting their use on more than 100 farms.

The project is designed to address what K+S identifies as several constraints on agricultural production in Kenya and Uganda, including low and unbalanced fertilizer use, limited access to agronomic knowledge, soil degradation and increasingly frequent weather extremes.

“Agriculture in Kenya and Uganda faces challenges such as low and unbalanced fertilizer use, limited access to agronomic knowledge, soil degradation, and increasingly frequent weather extremes. Grow Eastern Africa addresses these challenges by combining science-based plant nutrition with practical know-how and strong local networks,” said Florian Pickert, Director Fertilizer Africa at K+S and Project Manager of the initiative.

In addition to farmer training and soil analysis, Grow Eastern Africa will establish partnerships with agricultural dealers, cooperatives and other local agricultural organizations. The goal is to strengthen distribution structures and improve farmers’ access to fertilizer products and agronomic information.

DEG Impulse said the initiative links agricultural productivity with food security and rural economic development.

“Productive and climate-resilient agriculture is an important prerequisite for food security and improved economic opportunities in rural areas. Public-private partnerships such as Grow Eastern Africa combine the strengths of development cooperation and the private sector, helping to advance sustainable solutions locally,” said Dr. Miriam Amine, Project Manager at DEG Impulse.

K+S has been active in East Africa since 2013 and operates through K+S Fertilizers Kenya and Grainpulse Limited. The companies support collaboration with farmers and the development, production and distribution of crop-specific fertilizer solutions.