ABSTRACT
This paper examines the viability and effectiveness of a pilot farming initiative in reversing impacts of HIV/AIDS on the most affected households in Homa Bay; Kenya. The paper argues that once patients are stable; they can effectively be engaged in farming with minimal financial and technical support; resulting in enhanced food security of the affected households. More importantly; it helps to reduce HIV/AIDS-related stigma and improve the individual's self-esteem. Some of the key challenges of the pilot initiative were the limited number of agricultural extension workers and absence of facilities to enable them to deliver services to the farmers; the high cost of farm inputs; the unavailability of farm inputs when they were needed; poorly developed agricultural markets; and the absence of irrigation facilities. The paper recommends the sensitive scaling-up of this approach. However; farming initiatives by HIV/AIDS service NGOs should be linked to at least three key aspects: (a) treatment; care and support to HIV/AIDS affected households; (b) micro grant schemes or subsidies to enable farmers to purchase farming tools and farm inputs; and (c) comprehensive on-farm training support. To ensure effectiveness and wider reach; government needs to view agriculture through an HIV lens and promote a multisectoral approach that recognises the relationship between HIV/AIDS and food security. A number of immediate actions are required to strengthen this relationship; such as increased public investment to augment extension services; subsidise farm inputs; and develop infrastructure including agricultural markets