'My journey started with challenges that I didn’t know I could overcome.’
Mercy Gatwiri is a young farmer from Laikipia County, Kenya. She is one of 169 Village-Based Advisors (VBAs) trained by SNV through the LISTEN project and the County Government of Laikipia. Now, she works with 126 farmers in her community, helping them access farm inputs and sharing knowledge about climate-resilient farming practices, and she employs one staff member and over 10 seasonal workers.
'Adopting solar irrigation changed everything for me'
‘I don’t know a lot about technology, and I wasn't sure how to go about it. But today, I use several simple technologies on my farm, making farming more productive and my life easier.’ Mercy shifted from rain-fed farming to a continuous production cycle by installing a solar-powered irrigation system. ‘Before, I had to wait for the rains, but they were often scarce and unreliable. This made things really difficult because no rain meant no farming - and no income to support myself and my family. Now, I can plan my seasons and grow food throughout the year.’
As a member of the Teleswani Water Resource User Association (WRUA), Mercy promotes integrated water resource management at the landscape level. ‘We all depend on water for living. Being part of the WRUA has taught me the value of managing resources together.’ Mercy’s water harvesting capacity is an impressive 390,000 litres.
Organising her farm to operate sustainably, Mercy anticipates that she will benefit from the Mukogodo East Participatory Climate Risk Assessment (PCRA), a community-driven proposal designed to address climate challenges in Laikipia County.
Helping more farmers succeed
Mercy’s farm is a training site for Good Agronomic Practices (GAP). Farmers from her village and beyond visit to learn about water conservation, soil fertility management, and agroforestry. ‘It gives me joy to see others take what they’ve learned here and apply it to their farms.’ Mercy has linked farmers in her community to the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), ensuring they have access to high-quality seeds.
‘My farm is demand-driven, which keeps me focused on what farmers need,’ Mercy explains. In addition to producing crops, she offers services like yield guarantee insurance, post-harvest storage solutions, mechanisation, and financial linkages.
'For me, it’s about resilience, not just survival.’
On her farm, Mercy grows both food and commercial crops, employing techniques like crop rotation, intercropping, and integrated pest management. She also integrates livestock farming with drought-tolerant fodder like African foxtail and Napier grass, alongside horticultural crops such as Dolichos lab lab, pigeon peas, and local vegetables.
Mercy’s story is one of determination, innovation, and community impact. By combining modern technology, traditional knowledge, and market-focused strategies, she is helping to shape a more sustainable, climate-resilient future for her community.
Did you know?
Solar irrigation helps farmers by:
Lowering costs - reduces reliance on expensive energy sources.
Using clean energy - cuts carbon emissions and supports sustainability.
Supporting climate adaptation - enables year-round farming for improved food security.
Improving livelihoods - boosts yields and reduces energy expenses.