Nigeria | Bridging household nutrition gap through community engagement and outreach services: A case study of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) in Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya
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9th International Conference of the Society of Underutilised Legumes
21st–22nd October 2026 at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
Juliana Jepkemoi Cheboi1,2; Ramakuwela Tshima3,4; Evans Chimoita5
and Pascal Mueke5
1 Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya
2 Future Africa, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng 0186, South Africa
3 Agricultural Research Council, Small Grain, Private Bag X29, Bethlehem 9701, South Africa
4 Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
5 Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya
Abstract: Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) is an underutilised legume with potential to improve food and nutrition security, livelihoods, soil fertility and climate resilience in Kenya. Its wider utilisation is constrained by limited awareness of production and utilisation options, inadequate extension services, weak market linkages, and limited value-addition opportunities. Community engagement that links agricultural production with nutrition education may strengthen the integration of agricultural production into household diets. A community-engagement programme in Elgeyo Marakwet County engaged 201 smallholder farmers from four groups and 435 pupils from four public primary schools. Farmers, schools, extension personnel, researchers and local leaders were linked through Farmer Field Schools (FFSs) and school demonstration farms. FFSs provided experiential learning on pigeonpea production, climate-smart practices, nutrition and value addition, while school farms integrated crop production with healthy-diet behavioural intentions and pigeonpea consumption. Bivariate analysis examined associations with consumption, followed by multivariable logistic regression. Among 435 pupils, 77.93% had high awareness of promoted climate-smart crops, while nutrition knowledge was low (38.85%), moderate (27.13%) or high (34.02%). Researcher-community interaction and knowledge exchange were rated effective by 85% of participants. Farmers reported strengthened practical knowledge and skills in pigeonpea production, utilisation, and value addition (98%), while farmer field schools promoted peer learning and local capacity development (83%). Bivariate analysis identified nutrition knowledge, liking of pigeonpea adaptability, enjoyment of eating pigeonpea, and parental receptiveness as associated with consumption. In multivariable analysis, nutrition knowledge was the only significant predictor. Integrating agricultural learning, nutrition education, FFSs, and school demonstration farms can strengthen pathways to mainstream pigeonpea into household diets. Sustained extension, stakeholder coordination, and nutrition-sensitive value addition are important for scaling up the use of underutilised legumes in Kenya.
