Social and behaviour change and communication strategy for enhancing access to and use of quality finger millet seed of improved varieties through youth and women quality centres in busia county, kenya

Background: Kenya’s agricultural sector plays a pivotal role in the nation’s economy, employing approximately 60% of the total labor force, in which smallholder farmers constitute the majority of agricultural producers, contributing significantly to the sector’s output. The sector serves as a crucial source of food security and income generation for millions of Kenyans, highlighting its importance in ensuring the nation’s socioeconomic development. The agricultural industry not only sustains livelihoods but also serves as a key driver of the country’s GDP, contributing to approximately 25% of the country’s GDP, highlighting its substantial impact on the overall economic landscape. Despite the sector’s contribution to the country’s economy, the sector faces barriers hindering agricultural productivity and food security. These barriers include lack of access to agricultural information, limited access to quality seeds, agro-inputs and limited market access. The project Enhancing Access to and Use of Quality Finger Millet Seed of Improved Varieties Through Youth and Women Quality Centres in Busia County, Kenya, confronts the persistent challenge of limited access to quality improved seeds.