Malindi: Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has called on semi-autonomous agencies under his ministry to harness modern technology in a bid to revitalize Kenya's agricultural sector and boost food security. Speaking at a two-day high-level meeting with top ministry officials and chairpersons and chief executive officers of state corporations at a hotel in Malindi, Kagwe stressed the need to adopt innovative solutions that would not only enhance efficiency but also promote transparency and accountability in resource distribution.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kagwe outlined a comprehensive strategy aimed at leveraging smart agriculture tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to improve service delivery and enable farmers to give direct feedback on government initiatives. He underscored AI's potential to ensure that inputs reach the right beneficiaries while minimizing wastage and corruption in distribution channels.
In addition to high-tech solutions, the Cabinet Secretary highlighted the critical role of modern soil analysis technology. According to him, this tool will help farmers choose the right crops and fertilizers, preventing common issues where some fertilizers end up harming rather than nourishing the soil. 'Some fertilizers may harm the soil instead of improving its fertility. By embracing soil analysis technology, we can guide farmers on best practices,' Kagwe said.
The Cabinet Secretary expressed satisfaction with the engagement of young people in agriculture and called for the provision of more incentives to attract more young people, especially Generation Z, into the sector. 'There is need to give more incentives for Kenya's Generation Z in order to reverse the trend of an aging farmer population-currently averaging 65 years-by attracting younger people and setting a transformative goal of reducing the average age to 20 years. Encouraging the younger generation to embrace agriculture is an investment in the future of the sector,' he said, adding that the zeal shown by Kenya's youth is a promising sign for the country's agricultural turnaround.
The consultative meeting marked Kagwe's first major address since his appointment and is seen as a critical step towards aligning Kenya's agricultural policies with modern innovations. The ministry plans to review existing challenges, devise sustainable solutions, and adjust policies as needed to bolster productivity and sustainability in the sector.
As Kenya seeks to bridge the gap between tradition and technology, the integration of state-of-the-art agricultural practices paired with fresh, youthful energy could redefine the landscape of food security in the country. Beyond these initiatives, the officials further deliberated on how to digitally transform other facets of the agriculture value chain, including supply chain management and market access, to ensure the sector remains competitive on a global scale.