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Kenya's soil mapping project trains 'soil doctors' to help farmers pick the right fertilizer
In brief
A soil mapping programme in Kenya is helping farmers understand their land and choose the right fertilizer, UN News reported on October 23, 2026. The Soil Mapping for Resilient Agrifood systems (SoilFER) programme, run by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), has collected and mapped more than 3,600 soil samples across 45 counties for a digital soil map. Results are sent straight to farmers' mobile phones, and selected farmers are trained as 'soil doctors' who teach their neighbours.
From lab to phone
With FAO's support, KALRO has renovated three laboratories and equipped them to analyse soil samples from across the country. Each sample is tagged with its location, so the digital map can give a farmer information about their own plot, such as its acidity (pH) and fertility, rather than general advice for a whole region. "Farmers would use excessive chemicals, sometimes even more fertilizers in an attempt to get more yields. Now we know better," said Agness Munialo, a trained soil doctor from Kakamega county in western Kenya.
Young people are interested too
The programme is drawing interest from young Kenyans. A KALRO intern said learning that soil can be tested for the nutrients it needs made her want to farm more. Kenya's Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe urged people to think about soil testing before deciding what to plant or which fertilizer to use. The event also launched the Kenya Soil Partnership, the Kenya Soil Laboratory Network and a national rollout of the Global Soil Doctors Programme. SoilFER also runs in Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Mozambique, Tunisia and Zambia.
VSH take: Fertilizer is one of the biggest costs on a small farm, so knowing exactly what the soil needs can save money and protect rivers from runoff at the same time. The 'soil doctor' idea is the clever part: farmers tend to trust a neighbour's advice more than a leaflet. It is a fun science topic for kids too. Try our science quiz or geography quiz, and use the unit converter to turn hectares into acres.
ViralScopeHub is an independent news summary site and is not affiliated with the United Nations, FAO or KALRO. The photo shows soil samples being prepared in a lab and was not taken in Kenya.
Why it matters
Soil data matched to each farm helps farmers use the right amount of fertilizer, which can raise harvests, cut costs and protect the environment.
People also ask
What is SoilFER?
SoilFER (Soil Mapping for Resilient Agrifood systems) is an FAO programme that collects and maps soil samples so farmers get location-specific advice on fertilizer and soil health.
What is a soil doctor?
A farmer trained to diagnose and fix soil problems such as degradation, who then teaches other farmers in their community.
Which countries have SoilFER?
Besides Kenya, it runs in Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Mozambique, Tunisia and Zambia.
Related free tools: Unit Converter, Percentage Calculator
Sources
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