A thriving farm cooperative gives hope to refugees in Kenya

At half past six in the morning, the rising sun casts a golden light on the lush green fields that Abdulaziz Lugazo carefully tends on the outskirts of Kakuma refugee camp in north-western Kenya.

Even at this early hour, the area buzzes with activity as women traders negotiate prices for the vegetables ripening in the fields. “That one has been sold already,” Abdulaziz tells one of the women, pointing to a row of green vegetables. “Come over to the other side and select from here.”

As more people arrive, the negotiations increase in intensity. By noon, the neat rows of vegetables have all been gathered and loaded onto waiting motorcycles.

Abdulaziz comes from a family that farmed in Somalia for generations. But he was forced to flee his home in 1990 amid civil war, eventually settling in Kenya’s Kakuma camp.

When he first arrived at the camp in 2007, the dry and dusty landscape was poorly suited to growing produce. But he was determined to use his generational knowledge to provide food for his children.

“I started growing some crops in a small garden in my shelter,” said the 41-year-old father of three. He later heard about a farm cooperative at the camp made up mostly of refugees.

"I immediately joined the group and started cultivating a variety of vegetables such as spinach, okra and other drought-resistant crops," Abdulaziz said. "I am happy that the Kenyan government has provided us with land, and with the support from the UN we are able to engage in farming activities, purchase books and uniforms for our children, and impart farming knowledge to other refugees."

Abdulaziz now chairs a farmers’ cooperative. As a chairman, he allocates land to both refugees and Kenyans for farming.

“My hope is to be able to live in peace and run my business freely from anywhere in Kenya without facing hurdles,” he said. “I want to live like any ordinary Kenyan."

Livelihood opportunities

While the majority of the farmers are men, most of the traders are women.

Muhawe Selene, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, runs a small grocery stall in the market, selling vegetables she sources from the farmers.

The 39-year-old mother of eight fled her hometown of Kiwanja five years ago when armed men killed her husband.

“This farm helps us put food on the table and also provides us with a source of income. Without an income, the children would not be in school or have clothes,” she said.

“What makes me happy about this job is that it gives me energy, because selling vegetables brings me money and the children live well. I am a single parent and I have to take care of all of them.” 

An inclusive refugee policy

Kenya currently hosts more than 500,000 refugees. Kakuma is home to over 264,000 people from more than 22 countries, making it the largest refugee settlement in Africa.

Although Kakuma is classified as a desert town, with arid conditions and temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius, many of the refugees living there are experienced farmers.

The farmers are an integral part of the camp’s economy, supplying the local market with much-needed vegetables, increasing household income and giving opportunities to other refugees.

Ahmad Abdala came to Kakuma in 2019 from Sudan. He sells the vegetables that he grows to both refugees and Kenyans.

“I was a farmer back in Sudan,” he said. “I am happy that I can still do farming here in Kakuma and sell my vegetables to take care of my daily needs. If I could get a shop to sell more vegetables it would really boost my business because I would have more customers.”

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