Every year on September 29, the world pauses to mark the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. For communities across the North Rift, where every harvest, every litre of milk, and every basket represents not just a livelihood but also hope, reducing food loss and waste is a path to dignity and resilience.
At ADS North Rift, we celebrate this day by sharing the stories of transformation from our projects, Grow Enrich and FOSECCA, which are helping families make the most of the food they produce, store, and sell.
The Grow Enrich Story: Saving for Transformation, Feeding Families
Under the Grow Enrich project, communities are embracing Savings for Transformation (S4T), a model that empowers groups to save together, access small loans, and reinvest in their farms and businesses.
Take Rose, a member of Nonagon 001 Group. With support from Grow Enrich, she learned the discipline of saving and borrowed from her group to double her milk stock and diversify into selling tomatoes and omena at her kiosk. Rose’s efforts mean more food is reaching plates, less is wasted, and her children are assured of daily nourishment.
Her story shows us that when families have access to knowledge and financial tools, food doesn’t go to waste, it sustains households, grows businesses, and strengthens communities.
FOSECCA: Preserving Harvests, Reducing Loss
The FOSECCA (Food Security and Climate Change Adaptation) project works with smallholder farmers to improve food storage, preservation, and access to markets. For many rural households, poor storage has often meant that grains rot before they can be eaten or sold, or fresh produce spoils before reaching buyers.
Through FOSECCA, farmers now use better storage methods, learn post-harvest handling skills, and connect with markets that ensure their produce is consumed rather than lost. This is food loss prevention at its best, keeping harvests safe, feeding more people, and giving farmers greater returns for their hard work.
Why This Day Matters
Globally, one-third of all food produced is lost or wasted, even as millions go hungry every day. For our communities in the North Rift, this is not just a statistic, it is a call to action. Every cob of maize stored properly, every litre of milk sold fresh, and every vegetable brought to market contributes to a future where food nourishes lives instead of filling landfills.
By combining the power of projects like Grow Enrich and FOSECCA, ADS North Rift is helping families and communities rise above waste, secure their food, and save for brighter tomorrows.
As we mark this year’s International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, we celebrate the resilience and innovation of our farmers, mothers, youth, and community groups. Their stories are proof that small changes, whether saving together, storing smarter, or selling quickly can create big transformations.
Together, let us value food as the treasure it is. Let us celebrate every harvest. Let us ensure that what is grown feeds families, strengthens communities, and builds hope.
Because when food is saved, the future is secured.
