Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has called on farmers to embrace technology and new global trends in agriculture, citing precision farming as the future of the sector. Speaking at the Jamhuri Park ASK Showground in Nairobi, Kindiki said smart agriculture was rapidly taking root in Kenya, driven by research and innovation. He noted that the use of drones was an example of how technology was improving precision agriculture. Kindiki emphasized the need for farmers to keep pace with technological changes transforming agriculture globally.
Kindiki said precision farming would enable farmers to apply inputs only where they were needed, reducing wastage and improving productivity. He cited the use of fertilizer and pesticides as an example, saying that with precision farming, farmers could apply the right quantities needed, rather than applying them everywhere. The Deputy President said this approach was the next frontier of agriculture in Kenya. Kindiki was accompanied by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka, and other government officials.
The government has been working to transform agriculture, placing it at the center of Kenya's economic transformation four years ago. Kindiki said the government had strengthened its engagement with farmers and other stakeholders, including through an expanded farmer registration system. The register of farmers had been upgraded from 300,000 to 7.2 million crop farmers and 3 million livestock keepers. This move aimed to improve the government's interaction with farmers and enhance agricultural productivity.
Interventions in the agriculture sector had also reduced the cost of key farm inputs. The price of a 50kg bag of fertilizer had dropped from Sh7,000 to Sh2,000 through the government subsidy programme. Certified maize seed price had fallen by 50 per cent from 300 to Sh150 per kilogram. Kindiki also noted that the cost of sexed semen used in artificial insemination of dairy cows had decreased from Sh8,000 to Sh1,400 per dose.
The government was implementing a nationwide livestock vaccination programme, with 8.9 million cattle vaccinated so far. The programme targets the country's entire population of about 22 million cattle and 50 million small stock. Kindiki said these measures had contributed to growth in agricultural production and exports, with Kenya now the leading exporter of processed milk in Africa.
Milk production had increased from 4.6 billion liters to 5.2 billion liters, while the value of dairy products had risen from Sh4.9 billion to Sh8.9 billion. The value of meat exports had also increased from Sh8.9 billion to Sh12.9 billion. Kindiki attributed these gains to the government's efforts to transform the agriculture sector.
Kindiki's push for smart farming is part of the government's broader strategy to boost agricultural productivity and exports. With the adoption of technology and new trends in agriculture, the government aims to improve the sector's contribution to the economy. The Deputy President's call for farmers to adopt precision farming is expected to shape the future of agriculture in Kenya.
Key points
- The Kenyan government has reduced the cost of key farm inputs, including fertilizer and maize seed.
- Precision farming is expected to improve agricultural productivity and reduce input wastage.
- Kenya has become the leading exporter of processed milk in Africa, with increased milk production and dairy product exports.
