No products in the cart.
Kagwe Unveils Digital Agriculture Drive as Kenya Targets Smarter Farming
Kenya is stepping up the digital transformation of agriculture, with 8.9 million farmers already registered on government systems to improve access to services, inputs and market information.
Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the registration of farmers through the Kenya Integrated Agricultural Management Information System (KIAMIS) and the Animal Identification and Traceability System will allow the government to deliver agricultural services more efficiently.
Speaking during the Nairobi International Trade Fair, Kagwe said the systems would support targeted delivery of subsidised fertiliser, certified seeds, livestock vaccination and other services while strengthening accountability.
The government has also launched the Kenya Agricultural and Digital Information Centre (KADEC), which is intended to provide a central source of agricultural data and technology.
Kagwe said the platform would address persistent gaps in farmer identification, extension services, access to farm inputs and connections to markets.
He said universal digital addressing was also being introduced to make it easier to locate farmers and connect them with extension services, financing, insurance, inputs and market information.
The ministry is further partnering with Fahari Aviation, a subsidiary of Kenya Airways, to deploy drones in agriculture. The technology will support precision application of farm inputs, crop and livestock monitoring, soil analysis and early detection of pests, diseases and climate-related risks.
Kagwe said the partnerships would also strengthen Kenya’s capacity in artificial intelligence and locally developed large language models, alongside frameworks for data protection and oversight.
Soil health is another major focus of the government’s digital agriculture strategy. Kagwe said 63 per cent of Kenya’s soils were acidic, making scientific soil testing important before farmers apply fertiliser.
He said the government had launched the National Digital Soil Works Project, which will establish a connected network of modern laboratories under the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO).
The laboratories will work with national and county governments, farmers and private-sector players, with soil specialists expected to support testing and advisory services at the last mile.
Kagwe said farmers should base fertiliser decisions on soil test results rather than relying on products they have traditionally used.
The CS also identified climate change as a major threat to agricultural production, with droughts and floods creating significant economic losses each year.
He said the government was expanding irrigation through the rehabilitation of existing schemes, new infrastructure and water-efficient technologies. It is also promoting drought-tolerant crops, conservation agriculture, agroforestry and sustainable land management.
Agriculture grew by 3.1 per cent in 2025, Kagwe said, although farmers continue to face high production costs, changing weather patterns, pressure on natural resources and shifting market demands.
The livestock sector has also recorded growth, with marketed livestock production rising from Sh232.3 billion in 2024 to Sh269.4 billion in 2025. Kagwe cited investments such as the Isiolo Abattoir and Bachuma National Livestock Quarantine Centre as part of efforts to improve market access and value addition.
He also called for better access to affordable livestock feeds and expanded insurance coverage, particularly as dry conditions continue to affect milk supply in some areas.
Kenya’s agricultural exports remain a major source of foreign exchange. Kagwe said tea earned about Sh187 billion in 2025, followed by cut flowers at Sh103 billion, fruits and vegetables at Sh100 billion and unroasted coffee at Sh52 billion.
The government is now placing greater emphasis on processing, aggregation, value addition and market development to increase the earnings farmers receive from their produce.
Kagwe said reducing post-harvest losses would also remain a priority, with the government distributing mobile dryers and promoting the Warehouse Receipt System to help farmers store produce, access financing and avoid distress sales.
He urged farmers to strengthen cooperatives and aggregation models while calling for greater investment in storage, cold-chain facilities and efficient market links.
The CS said young people and women should play a central role in the transformation of agriculture, noting that opportunities exist across farming, processing, technology, finance, logistics and entrepreneurship.
The Nairobi International Trade Fair is being held under the theme, “Promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture and Trade Initiatives for Sustainable Economic Growth,” with the government using the event to showcase technologies and partnerships aimed at modernising Kenya’s agricultural sector.