Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has highlighted the government's achievements in transforming Kenya's agriculture sector, citing increased farmer registration, reduced input costs, and higher production. Speaking at the Agriculture and Food Security Transformation Summit in Nairobi, Kindiki emphasized the government's commitment to placing agriculture at the centre of its economic transformation agenda. The summit, held on October 7, 2026, brought together stakeholders to discuss the country's progress in achieving food security.
The government has expanded the national farmer database from 300,000 farmers to 7.2 million crop farmers and three million livestock keepers. This move aims to enhance the government's ability to support farmers and improve agricultural productivity. Kindiki noted that the agriculture sector has received significant investments over the past four years, targeting crop production, livestock, fisheries, value addition, and food security.
The government's subsidy programme has significantly lowered the cost of agricultural inputs, making it easier for farmers to access essential supplies. The price of a bag of fertiliser has dropped from KSh7,000 to KSh2,000, while certified maize seed has reduced by 50 per cent from KSh300 to KSh150 per kilogramme. Additionally, the price of sexed semen used for artificial insemination of dairy cows has fallen from KSh8,000 to KSh1,400 per dose.
The interventions have contributed to increased production of maize, sugar, and oil crops, while improving incomes for farmers across various value chains. Kenya's dairy sector has recorded significant growth, with milk production increasing from 4.6 billion litres to 5.2 billion litres. The value of dairy products has also risen from KSh4.9 billion to KSh8.9 billion, while meat exports increased from KSh8.9 billion to KSh12.9 billion.
The government has also made progress in agro-processing, with 17 County Aggregation and Industrial Parks completed and being equipped to begin operations. These facilities are expected to support value addition, agro-processing, and the creation of new markets for agricultural products. Extension services have also been revamped to improve farmer support.
In the fisheries sector, the government has invested in infrastructure and support programmes aimed at increasing the contribution of the blue economy to the national economy. Fishing ports have been established at Shimoni and Liwatoni, and 18 fish landing sites have been set up along the Indian Ocean and Lake Victoria coastlines. Hundreds of small fishing boats have been provided to fisherfolk, and over KSh3 billion in grants has been provided to beach management units.
Kindiki emphasized that farmers are at the centre of the government's agricultural transformation agenda, describing them as key to Kenya's efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency. The government has promoted the use of technology in agriculture, including smart agriculture and precision farming, to improve productivity. Research and innovation have resulted in new crop varieties, improved animal breeds, and better farming technologies.
Key points
- The government has expanded the national farmer database from 300,000 farmers to 7.2 million crop farmers and three million livestock keepers.
- The price of a bag of fertiliser has dropped from KSh7,000 to KSh2,000, and certified maize seed has reduced by 50 per cent from KSh300 to KSh150 per kilogramme.
- Milk production has increased from 4.6 billion litres to 5.2 billion litres, and the value of dairy products has risen from KSh4.9 billion to KSh8.9 billion.
