Lucy Wangari is advancing sustainable onion farming, empowering smallholder farmers in Kenya’s arid regions.
Onions and garlic are household staples in Kenya; however, demand often exceeds local production. Much of the country’s supply is imported, even though 80 per cent of Kenya’s land is categorised as arid or semi-arid. For Lucy Wangari, a land resource planner and farmer, this problem presented an opportunity. In 2020, she founded Onion Doctor Ltd, an agribusiness focused on sustainable onion farming in Kenya’s dry regions.
Founding and Background
Wangari holds a Bachelor of Science in Land Resource Planning and Management from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, alongside a postgraduate diploma in advanced agriculture and greenhouse technology from Israel’s Arava International Centre for Agricultural Training. Before starting her company, she worked as a farm manager and intern in environmental protection, gaining hands-on experience in farm management and environmental assessments.
Her early career exposed her to two recurring challenges: the under-utilisation of arid lands and the fragmented state of onion and garlic production in Kenya. These shaped her decision to establish Onion Doctor to provide agribusiness consulting, training, and market access, while encouraging the use of climate-smart practices.
Onion Doctor’s work centres on promoting drought-tolerant varieties and modern irrigation methods, including solar-powered drip systems. According to the company, such techniques can lift yields to as much as 15 tonnes per acre, well above many local averages. By focusing on onions, the firm also aims to contribute to food security and reduce its reliance on imports.
Technology and inclusion
The company has also experimented with digital tools to improve farming outcomes. Its initiatives include using the Internet of Things (IoT) for pest and disease monitoring and applying artificial intelligence to support early detection and reduce chemical use. Onion Doctor places particular emphasis on engaging women and young people, offering training and opportunities intended to strengthen their participation in agriculture.
Funding and impacts
In 2023, Onion Doctor was selected as one of the winners of the YouthADAPT Challenge, organised by the African Development Bank and the Global Centre on Adaptation. The award included $100,000 in grant funding as well as mentorship and networking opportunities. The company has since reported using this support to expand irrigation sets, refine its pest detection tools, and build capacity across its value chain.
Onion Doctor states that it has converted more than 2,500 acres of dryland into farmland across 11 Kenyan counties, reaching over 1,000 smallholder farmers.
Beyond these figures, the company highlights its efforts to share agricultural knowledge through digital platforms, positioning itself as a voice in climate-smart farming and youth leadership within the sector.
Lucy Wangari continues to create a broader shift towards adapting agriculture to Kenya’s increasingly unpredictable climate.
Lucy Wangari is transforming Kenya’s drylands into onion farms
