On Tuesday, 17th June 2025, Kibabii University entered into a strategic partnership with RIKOLTO Tanzania, a globally recognized NGO committed to supporting smallholder farmers and promoting sustainable food systems. The signing ceremony, held at the University and led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Ipara Odeo alongside RIKOLTO’s Regional Representative Kain Mvanda and Regional Programme Director John Ereng, marked the beginning of a collaborative effort aimed at driving innovation, research, and community engagement in the agricultural sector.
RIKOLTO, which operates across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, has over 40 years of experience in partnering with food chain actors and farmer organizations. It works to strengthen the food system by promoting sustainable crop production, market inclusion, and enabling environments for agricultural development. In Tanzania, the organization currently implements programs across eight regions, combining practical fieldwork with systemic change.
During the event, the Vice Chancellor highlighted the profound importance of the partnership, emphasizing its potential to bridge the divide between academic research and practical agricultural challenges. He further noted that this collaboration would help dismantle artificial barriers between East African countries, strengthening the bonds within the East African Community (EAC).
“This partnership goes beyond mere academic exchange; it aims to transform how agriculture is practiced, taught, and valued across our region. It is about translating research into tangible, real-world impact,” he stated.
The collaboration, incubated and driven by the School of Business and Economics is set to focus on a wide range of initiatives, including joint research and development in post-harvest handling, value addition, and grain marketing with both institutions aiming to develop innovative storage and processing technologies to reduce post-harvest losses, an area critical to food security and farmer incomes. In addition, the partnership will support agribusiness ventures, resource mobilization for shared projects, and joint publication of research findings. It will also facilitate capacity building through workshops, seminars, and training sessions tailored to farmers, traders, students, and other stakeholders.
Prior to the official signing, a stakeholder engagement forum was held. It brought together a diverse group of participants including the Bungoma County Executive Committee Member, Hon. Herbert Kibunguchy, representatives from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB), Kenya National Chamber of Commerce, and various agribusiness investors. The discussions underscored the urgency of collaborative solutions in addressing agricultural inefficiencies, post-harvest losses, and market barriers.
