Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has expressed strong support for the Africa Horticulture Centre (AHC), a strategic initiative that aims to position Kenya as a leader in horticultural research, innovation, skills development, and investment. The AHC is designed as an intergovernmental, autonomous, non-profit body headquartered in Nairobi. Mudavadi met Co-operative University of Kenya (CUK) Chancellor Dr. Benard Chitunga to discuss the university's readiness to incubate the Centre.
The AHC will integrate research, skills training, data intelligence, policy dialogue, enterprise support, and technology commercialisation. Its four pillars are the AHC Academy, HortiStat, Policy and Business Advisory, and the Innovation Oasis. The Centre aims to tackle challenges facing Africa's horticulture sector, including fragmented research, low investment, weak commercialisation, limited market data, capacity gaps, and high post-harvest losses.
Africa's horticulture sector is valued at USD 50–60 billion a year, yet it contributes less than 10 percent of agricultural GDP and only about five percent of global horticultural exports. Mudavadi noted that a Nairobi base will link governments, research bodies, development partners, and the private sector, supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area through better intra-African trade, value addition, and standards harmonisation.
The Centre will also focus on public-private partnerships in laboratories, digital platforms, cold-chain systems, and renewable energy. Mudavadi welcomed CUK's readiness to incubate the initiative and underlined the need for coordinated government backing to make the Cabinet decision a fully functioning continental institution.
Dr. Benard Chitunga updated Mudavadi on the university's readiness to host the Centre, with talks centred on operational preparations and the government support required to give the Centre a true continental reach. The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs is expected to play a key role in providing support.
The AHC Academy will provide training for farmers, professionals, SMEs, cooperatives, youth, and women. HortiStat will focus on statistics and market intelligence, while the Policy and Business Advisory pillar will provide guidance on policy and business-related issues. The Innovation Oasis will focus on applied research, climate-smart solutions, digital tools, and post-harvest technologies.
Mudavadi's endorsement of the AHC is a significant boost to Kenya's bid to host the Centre. With the government's support, the AHC is expected to become a continental institution that turns Kenya's horticultural experience into broader African prosperity and resilience.
Key points
- The Africa Horticulture Centre aims to tackle challenges facing Africa's horticulture sector, including fragmented research, low investment, and weak commercialisation.
- The Centre will be headquartered in Nairobi and will link governments, research bodies, development partners, and the private sector.
- The AHC will focus on public-private partnerships in laboratories, digital platforms, cold-chain systems, and renewable energy.
