The Danida Market Development Partnership (DMDP) Programme Impact Documentary

This documentary tells the story of how banana farming in Taveta Sub-County has been transformed into a competitive, inclusive, and sustainable livelihood. Although the county is Kenya’s second-highest banana producer, smallholder farmers particularly women and youth have historically faced low productivity, poor market access, weak extension services, and unstable incomes.

The documentary follows the implementation of the Danida Market Development Partnership Programme (DMDP), which aimed to increase sustainable incomes for smallholder farmers and create decent jobs within the banana subsector, contributing to poverty alleviation in the region. Launched in 2020 and funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the programme was implemented through a partnership between Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust (as the administrative partner), Wanda Agricultural Group, and Orana A/S as commercial partners, in close collaboration with the Taita Taveta County Government.

Through farmer stories and partner perspectives, the documentary highlights key interventions that enhanced the competitiveness of the banana value chain. These include improved access to clean planting materials, farmer-led demo farms, organic banana production, capacity building for farmers and service providers, climate-smart and nature-based solutions, food safety standards, financial literacy, and structured market linkages.

Through farmer stories and partner perspectives, the documentary highlights key interventions that enhanced the competitiveness of the banana value chain. These include access to clean planting materials, farmer-led demo farms, organic banana production, capacity building for farmers and service providers, climate-smart and nature-based solutions, food safety standards, financial literacy, and structured market linkages.