Kenya is keen on leveraging ICT and e-extension services to enhance agricultural productivity as a technology and evidence-based science to provide solutions at the farm level.
Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Sen. Mutahi Kagwe, made these remarks during the 48th Governing Council Session of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Rome, Italy.
Themed “Catalysing Investment at the 1st Mile,” the session brought together global leaders and policymakers to discuss strategies for agricultural transformation and rural development.
Kagwe underscored the importance of addressing the challenges facing small-scale farmers. He commended IFAD’s role as the only United Nations agency exclusively dedicated to rural agricultural development and praised its innovative financing mechanisms that support millions of small-scale food producers.
“We must recalibrate our modes of production, access to financing instruments, and technical support at the farm level,” Kagwe stated.
Kagwe highlighted the urgent need to attract the youth to agriculture, noting that the average Kenyan farmer is 64 years old and often lacks exposure to modern technology. He emphasized that integrating technology into the sector would not only increase efficiency but also serve as an incentive for youth participation.
Addressing agricultural productivity disparities, Kagwe called for increased investment in extension services, affordable farm inputs, and market access to empower smallholder farmers and enhance food security.
“Agricultural financing requires a paradigm shift,” Kagwe asserted. “In Kenya, commercial banks allocate only 3% of their loan books to agriculture, leaving a significant financing gap. While the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) has collaborated with IFAD, its annual unmet demand stands at Ksh. 11 billion. We seek greater cooperation to close this gap.”
Kagwe highlighted the importance of value chain development, citing Kenya’s efforts in coffee, tea, sugarcane, and cotton. He announced the upcoming launch of the Leather Industrial Park near Nairobi and invited investors to take advantage of this facility.
Additionally, he reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to enhancing vaccine production through the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI), which serves multiple African regions.
