In Summary
- Government steps up use of science, technology, and innovation (STI) in agriculture.
- PS Abdulrazak Shaukat outlines five key shifts to drive transformation.
- Focus on climate-smart farming and national agricultural missions.
- Over 10,000 farmers trained in tech-driven agriculture since 2023.
- KALRO develops 12 new drought-tolerant seed varieties for farmers.
- Partnerships, blended financing, and youth training highlighted as pillars of progress.
The Kenyan government is intensifying efforts to harness science, technology, and innovation (STI) to strengthen food security and resilience against climate change.
Principal Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation Prof. Abdulrazak Shaukat outlined five strategic shifts during a forum in Nairobi, saying the reforms are designed to transform the agricultural sector and safeguard livelihoods.
The five shifts for agricultural transformation
According to Shaukat, the reforms will focus on:
- National agricultural missions to expand climate-smart practices like drought-tolerant crops and precision farming.
- Practical research solutions to ensure farmers benefit directly from innovations.
- Talent development by training youth in agri-tech and data science.
- Public-private partnerships to scale up innovation.
- Blended financing to commercialize promising technologies.
“These strategies will position Kenya to tackle food insecurity and climate challenges effectively,” Shaukat said.
Science meets farming
The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) has already released 12 new seed varieties since 2023, including drought-tolerant maize and beans, which have benefited over 50,000 farmers.
Shaukat stressed that research must lead to action on farms:
“We need innovations that farmers can use directly on their fields.”
The government has also trained 10,000 farmers and young professionals in tech-driven farming since 2023 under the National Youth in Agriculture Initiative, with plans to double that number by 2026.
Partnerships and financing
Partnerships with universities, KALRO, and private firms such as Syngenta and AgriTech Kenya are driving innovation. In 2024, smart irrigation systems were rolled out to 5,000 smallholder farmers in Nakuru and Kirinyaga, increasing yields by 25%.
The government has allocated KSh 2 billion to the Kenya Innovation Agency in 2025 to fund agri-tech startups, while private investors have supported 15 pilot projects, including drone-based pest monitoring in Uasin Gishu.
Farmers welcome, but ask for inclusivity
Some farmers are already seeing results.
“Smart irrigation and new seeds have doubled my maize harvest despite less rain,” said Mary Wanjiku, a farmer from Nyeri.
Others urged wider reach.
“These technologies are great, but they need to reach more small-scale farmers,” said John Kamau from Bungoma.
Looking ahead
The STI agenda aligns with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), aimed at cutting Kenya’s KSh 200 billion food import bill. Digital platforms like the e-Agriculture Portal, already serving 30,000 farmers, are being scaled up for wider use.
Despite challenges such as high costs and weak rural infrastructure, Shaukat pledged to expand mobile training units, subsidies, and innovation hubs to ensure “no farmer is left behind.”
Stakeholders, including the Agricultural Society of Kenya, called for faster rollout of STI programs and more support for extension services.
With climate change intensifying, Kenya’s renewed focus on science and technology is seen as critical to ensuring food security for its 54 million citizens.
