Patricia Henry Wins Tujiamini Initiative Gold Community Award !

Patricia Henry Wins Tujiamini Initiative Gold Community Award

Empowering small-scale farmers, reviving indigenous foods, and building a healthier community

Introduction

Patricia  Wanjiru Kariuki Henry is an expert in Food Nutrition and Dietetics, founder of Food Security Systems podcast and Patricia Farm Fresh. She has been recognized with the Tujiamini Initiative Gold Community Award, the program’s highest honor for grassroots leadership and community transformation. Her dedication to soil health and the revival of indigenous Agĩkũyũ foods is transforming diets and livelihoods of the small scale farmers.

It marks one year since she started training her first cohort training on soil health, climate change, which has led to food security, a vibrant local economy and an inspired healthy community growth. Her objectives being:

• Empowering small scale farmers

• Combating climate change

• Increasing household food security

• Fostering community resilience

• Promoting sustainable practices

• Enhancing local food systems.

Why Soil Health Matters

Healthy soil is the foundation of healthy, secure harvests that are chemical free and sustainable farming. Patricia trains small-scale farmers in:

• Composting & mulching to boost fertility naturally and lower soil acidity. 

• Simple soil-pH testing  pH testing has been done on farmers soil from the start of the programme continually to where the once too acidic soil is now neutral. to guide planting decisions and increase the availability of essential nutrients to the consumer,

• Organic matter enrichment - the small scale farmers have been trained on how to organically enrich their soil to sustain productivity throughout the seasons.

Farmers who once faced poor yields now report richer soils and stronger crops, more yields, improved health, food security within the households and income generation from the surplus.

Reviving Indigenous Agĩkũyũ Foods

Patricia also has championed traditional crops—millet, arrowroot, cassava, yam and over fifteen indigenous vegetables, fermented gruel porridge and heritage beans. These foods are:

• Rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

• Low in glycemic index

• Naturally suited to the local climate.

• A defense against lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

• Phytochemicals and probiotics(found in gruel fermented porridge)

She preserves culture while improving nutrition.

Fighting Lifestyle Diseases & Food Insecurity

Through community workshops, Patricia shows families how to:

• Prepare balanced meals with indigenous ingredients.

• Prevent chronic illness through diverse diets.

• Grow food that remains available even during climate stress.

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This integrated approach strengthens food security and lowers household food costs.

Model for Sustainable Agriculture

As Kenya faces climate change and rising food prices, Patricia’s blend of indigenous wisdom and modern soil science offers a replicable path to regenerative agriculture—one that respects health, culture, and the environment and can be adopted by every household.

Sustainable goals

So far, Patricia has contributed to seven out of seventeen sustainable goals

• No poverty

• Zero hunger

• Good health and well being

• Gender equality

• Sustainable cities and communities

• Climate action

• Life on land.

🎥 Watch the Story

See Patricia and the farmers she inspires in action: YouTube Feature Video

Call to Action

Inspired by Patricia’s journey? Share this article or visit your local farmers’ group to explore how indigenous crops and healthy soil practices can benefit your own community.

Written by: Bibian Wamutira, Expert Biomedical Sciences and Technology and Project Manager, Patricia Farm Fresh.