Citizen TV 'make-over' style reality show, Shamba Shape Up, was granted a global audience after it was featured on CNN on Friday, April 3.
Under the African Voice Changemakers series, the show which focuses on real-time solutions to small-scale farmers was lauded as a game-changer in the industry of reality television.
The show's producer Patricia Gichinga was interviewed for the feature presentation and she used the opportunity to explain the purpose of the show.
"We travel around looking for farmers who have problems. We then bring in the experts and teach them how to farm better. That way, they are able to produce more food and have more income," she stated.
The CNN team also highlighted some of the success stories achieved through the show, going on to interview the very first Shamba Shape Up farmer George Kararu
"I was just doing farming without proper knowledge, but after the show, I was able to increase my core production quite a lot. For example, I used to only own one cow and its calf but today I have quite a number of them and I have sold off quite a few," he stated with pride.
In each episode, the upbeat presenters (Naomi Kamau and Tonny Njuguna) alongside guest experts, help farmers like Kararu give their ‘shamba’, or farm, a makeover.
The producer of the first-of-its-kind show in Africa revealed to CNN that the show has grown to command at least 8 million viewers across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
She also revealed that the show had been formally recognised and commended by President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The popular Kenyan program also focuses on teaching farmers about climate-smart agriculture, as well as covering common challenges such as animal diseases, and offer strategies to boost production and reach new markets.
According to data published by the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), 87% of smallholder viewers interviewed during their study said they had learned something, 45% revealed that they had adopted new practices.
"Over 90% of those who made changes claimed their households had more food or income as a result. Dairy farmers used various husbandry tips to gain an extra Ksh 5,00 each month," the report further reads.
The show began airing in 2012, and was Kenya's first agricultural makeover show, steadily rising to become a household name.
By visiting farmers in their own environments and addressing their issues and problems, the show has developed a loyal base of viewers and helped it attract agriculture industry experts who have gone on to help countless farmers boost their productivity.
Information on the program's official website reveals that since its inception, the program has helped boost dairy farming profits alone by Ksh2.4 billion.
The show has also been featured on French state-owned international news television network, France 24.
Watch a special Shamba Shape Up feature below:
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