Benard Kabutha Maina

Deputy Head of Monitoring and Evaluation & Kiambu Field Coordinator

Benard Kabutha Maina is an experienced agricultural professional specializing in ecological organic agriculture, and market linkages for smallholder farmers. With over a decade of experience in farmer training, value chain development, and sustainable food systems, he has significantly contributed to Kenya’s organic agriculture sector. As a County Coordinator at the Kenya Organic Agriculture Network (KOAN), Benard has led multiple capacity-building initiatives, organizing 428 farmers into structured self-help groups and facilitating their Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification. His expertise extends to the establishment of 4 demonstration plots, training farmers in climate-smart agriculture, soil health improvement, and organic certification processes. His work has directly supported the growth of Kenya’s organic produce market, enabling an annual supply chain worth KES 12 million from Kiambu County. Benard is highly skilled in Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), leveraging digital tools like KoboCollect and ClickUp to assess project impacts and inform strategic planning. He has also played a key role in Participatory Market Chain Approach (PMCA) workshops, contributing to the successful launch of Yatta Cop Organic Mango Juice and Maranta Organic Sweet Potato Flour. His leadership in market development and B2B linkages has strengthened partnerships between farmers, traders, and sustainable food networks. Previously, Benard served as Lower Zone Manager at Junglemacs EPZ Ltd, overseeing field operations across Kiambu, Murang’a, and Nyeri counties. In this role, he managed 67 field staff, supervised farmer training on Organic, Fairtrade, and GlobalGAP standards, and facilitated aggregation and supply logistics for high-quality organic produce. Academically, Benard holds a Diploma in Business Management from the Kenya Institute of Management and certifications in Monitoring & Evaluation (JKUAT), Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS), and Google Data Analytics. Fluent in English and Kiswahili, Benard is an excellent communicator, trainer, and advocate for sustainable farming solutions, ensuring that smallholder farmers gain access to resources, knowledge, and profitable markets.