Murang’a is a rural region northeast of Nairobi. Although many people work in agriculture, malnutrition is widespread – especially among children under five and those with chronic illnesses such as diabetes or hypertension. Locally produced, healthy food is often too expensive or hard to find. Meanwhile, intensive farming practices harm soil fertility and water quality.
Together with the Diabetes Awareness Trust (DAT) and local authorities, Biovision is implementing a pilot project that links healthy nutrition with agroecological farming. At its core are “food pharmacies” – local outlets that offer fresh, organically grown produce and staple foods to people receiving medical care.
Farmers receive training in organic production, crop rotation, and marketing. Health workers and community staff are trained in nutrition counselling. The goal is to improve food security, promote local markets, and support agroecological approaches at the policy level.
Project name:
Diabetes Awareness Trust
Project budget in CHF :
This project is supported by SDC
The project builds on proven models: In Nairobi, our partner DAT has already implemented a similar approach. In Murang’a, initial steps toward local food policy and collaboration between health and agriculture sectors are in place. These foundations will now be strengthened. Schools, clinics and producers are being actively involved.
Between 2025 and 2028, two fully functional food pharmacies will be established in Murang’a, offering fresh vegetables, herbs, and spices sourced directly from smallholder farmers. Schools will run cooking lessons and awareness campaigns, and medical staff will provide more comprehensive counselling to patients on nutrition and prevention. At the same time, a digital platform will be developed to connect producers with local outlets.
Policy processes in the district will be supported in a way that encourages the long-term integration of healthy nutrition and ecological agriculture. The project is designed in such a way that its model can later be replicated in other regions.
In the long term, ten functioning markets will directly connect producers and consumers. The project thus promotes a local, agroecology-based economy that generates income, encourages youth to stay in agriculture, and improves nutrition in the region.
