Nairobi: The government is undertaking significant upgrades to the Kenya School of Agriculture's (KSA) 10 campuses, aiming to modernize training with the integration of contemporary technology. These renovations will incorporate the use of drones, artificial intelligence, information and communication technology, and leverage big data to enhance decision-making processes in agriculture.
According to Kenya News Agency, Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe emphasized the importance of aligning curricula with market needs to ensure the relevance of agricultural education. Speaking at the International Floriculture Trade Expo (IFTEX) in Nairobi, Kagwe highlighted the government's efforts to benchmark and collaborate with global centers of excellence. This includes offering short-term, certified courses that cater to the demands of the modern agricultural sector.
Kagwe remarked, "Technology is the deal maker and deal breaker," underscoring the necessity of digitization in agriculture to attract youth and grow agri-tech and business skills. He outlined the government's strategy to incorporate agripreneurship training and a last-mile deployment model in partnership with county governments.
The CS also shared that KSA has participated in sending nearly five hundred students to the UK for the summer seasonal workers placement program, aiming to provide them with practical experience on UK farms. However, Kagwe stressed the importance of retaining skilled individuals to contribute to Kenya's agricultural sector.
Addressing the role of small-scale farmers, Kagwe noted the potential to integrate them into the floriculture value chain, which could diversify production and lift households out of poverty. He emphasized the importance of organizing farmers into cooperatives to take advantage of opportunities through county aggregation and industrialization parks.
Kagwe also highlighted climate-smart agriculture initiatives, including the Kenya Flower Council's Flowers and Ornamentals Sustainability Standard (KFOSS), which promotes water-saving technologies, carbon footprint reduction, renewable energy adoption, and fair labor practices.
The Director General of the Agriculture and Food Authority, Dr. Bruno Linyiru, echoed the importance of promoting climate-smart technologies to address climate change challenges. IFTEX serves as a platform for small-scale growers to gain exposure and build essential networks, offering technologies and innovations crucial for overcoming industry challenges.
Kenya remains a leading global exporter of cut flowers, with expanding production into counties like Bungoma, Narok, Homabay, and Siaya, which have not traditionally been flower-producing regions.