Soil mapping in Kenya to help farmers

Soil mapping in Kenya is helping farmers understand their land and improve crop yields amid intensifying climate shocks, UN News reported on 23 October 2026, describing a programme that has already collected and mapped more than 3,600 soil samples across 45 counties.

soil mapping in Kenya: A Kenyan farmer in a field under the soil mapping initiative — A Kenyan farmer in a field under the soil mapping initiative Photo: FAO/Eduardo Soteras via UN News (editorial use with credit).

How soil mapping in Kenya works

The Soil Mapping for Resilient Agrifood systems programme, known as SoilFER, helps farmers build reliable soil information to guide decisions such as which fertilizer to use and how much. The samples feed a digital soil map designed to give farmers location-specific information about their land. The samples are georeferenced, and findings are sent directly to farmers’ mobile phones. Through support from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) has renovated three laboratories and equipped them with modern technology to analyse samples collected across the country. Barrack Okoba, FAO-Kenya’s national coordinator for the programme, said accessible soil information is essential to building resilience in farming.

Key Facts

Soil samples mapped: 3,600+
Counties covered: 45
Labs renovated at KALRO: 3
Funding: United States Department of State and Japan
Other SoilFER countries: Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Mozambique, Tunisia, Zambia

“Before thinking about what to plant or the fertilizer to use, think about soil testing.”
— Mutahi Kagwe, Kenya Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture

SoilFER partners and the soil doctors

SoilFER was launched through a partnership between FAO and KALRO in Kabete, with financial support from the United States Department of State and Japan, UN News said. Selected farmers are trained to diagnose and fix soil degradation, earning the title of soil doctor, and then teach their peers. Agness Munialo, a farmer from Kakamega county in western Kenya and a trained soil doctor, said farmers used to apply excessive chemicals and even more fertilizer to get higher yields. “Now we know better,” she said. She said the programme is helping farmers, especially in rural areas, understand soil composition, pH levels and fertility. Young people are also showing interest.

A national push on soil health

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Mutahi Kagwe, called for stronger collaboration among agricultural institutions so that soil health is built into the work of all relevant bodies. He urged Kenyans to think about soil testing before deciding what to plant or which fertilizer to use. The event also marked the launch of the Kenya Soil Partnership, the Kenya Soil Laboratory Network and the national rollout of the Global Soil Doctors Programme. Jackline Kioko, a KALRO intern at the launch, said she now understands how soil testing can guide decisions on her family’s farm. SoilFER is also running in Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Mozambique, Tunisia and Zambia. KALRO’s renovated labs will handle analysis of samples collected nationwide. UN News said the programme reflects a wider effort to give African farmers practical, locally relevant data rather than generic advice, with Kenya now among seven SoilFER countries.

Why It Matters: Knowing what a field actually needs helps farmers cut fertilizer waste and costs while protecting yields as weather becomes less predictable.

Source: UN News, 23 Oct 2026 · FAO: Global Soil Partnership · KALRO