Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has outlined the government’s progress in reducing agricultural production costs, increasing farm output and strengthening livestock production as the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Summit (AFSS) 2026 opened at Jamhuri Park, Nairobi.
The three-day summit, running from October 7 to 9, has brought together national and county government leaders, policymakers, agricultural industry players, development partners, researchers and other stakeholders to assess Kenya’s agricultural transformation and identify priorities for improving food security, creating jobs and increasing farmers’ incomes.
The summit is being held under the theme, “Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation — Advancing Food Sovereignty, Job Creation and Shared Prosperity under BETA.”
Kindiki officially opened the summit on Wednesday, October 7, calling for greater adoption of technology, research and innovation to improve agricultural productivity and reduce production costs.
The deputy president emphasised the importance of smart and precision agriculture, particularly the use of technology to apply fertilisers and pesticides where they are needed rather than across entire farms.
“That is the future of agriculture where you apply fertilizer and pesticides to the crop that requires that input and not to apply everywhere,” Kindiki said.
He also highlighted the expansion of the national farmer database, saying registration had grown from approximately 300,000 farmers to 7.2 million crop farmers and three million livestock keepers. The database is intended to support the targeting of government agricultural interventions.
During the opening session, Kindiki pointed to reductions in the cost of key farm inputs under the government’s agricultural transformation agenda.
He also cited a reduction in the price of a 50-kilogramme bag of fertiliser from KSh7,000 in 2022 to KSh2,000. The price of certified maize seed had also fallen from KSh300 to KSh150 per kilogramme.
Livestock farmers have also benefited from lower breeding costs, with the price of sexed semen used in artificial insemination of dairy cows declining from KSh8,000 to KSh1,400 per dose.
Kindiki further reported an increase in maize production from 34 million bags to 75 million bags and a rise in national milk production from 4.6 billion litres to 5.2 billion litres.
However, he acknowledged that agricultural transformation remains a work in progress, with challenges in domestic rice and wheat production requiring continued attention.
The government’s wider strategy seeks to move farmers from subsistence farming towards commercially viable enterprises while strengthening value addition, expanding markets and improving returns across agricultural value chains.
Livestock health and food safety are also among the key areas of focus at the summit, with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) participating through exhibitions and livestock-focused engagements.
The directorate is showcasing the importance of veterinary medicines regulation in safeguarding animal health, supporting productive livestock systems and strengthening food security.
Effective regulation of veterinary medicines is essential to ensuring that livestock producers have access to quality, safe and effective products for preventing and managing animal diseases. Responsible use of veterinary medicines also contributes to food safety and the sustainability of livestock production.
The focus on animal health comes as Kenya seeks to strengthen livestock productivity, improve the quality of animal products and expand opportunities for livestock farmers and agribusinesses.
Dp Kindiki reported that 8.9 million cattle had been vaccinated under an ongoing government programme targeting an estimated 22 million cattle and 50 million small livestock.
These interventions highlight the importance of animal disease prevention, veterinary services and improved livestock management in building resilient food systems.
The first day of the summit focused on assessing progress made under the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), identifying outstanding reforms and reviewing performance across agricultural value chains.
The official summit programme also included discussions on financing agricultural transformation, with attention to de-risking investments, strengthening cooperatives and expanding access to affordable capital from farm production to export markets.
The programme identifies the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the Council of Governors, the State Departments for Agriculture and Livestock, and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) among the summit’s conveners.
The exhibition and innovation marketplace provides a platform for showcasing agricultural machinery, irrigation technologies, digital farming solutions, biofertilisers and value-added agricultural products.
The discussions are expected to inform strategic priorities for the sector, including domestic food production, agro-processing, youth participation, investment and the development of more sustainable agricultural practices.
The summit continues on Thursday, October 8, with discussions focused on the strategic choices Kenya must make to accelerate agricultural and food systems transformation.
According to the official programme, the second day will examine transformation pathways and policy options, including investment, institutional capacity, food sovereignty and technology adoption.
The final day, Friday, October 9, is expected to focus on joint commitments, accountability and implementation milestones involving national and county governments, private-sector actors, cooperatives and development partners.
Author: Moureen Koech
Moureen Koech is a passionate Digital Journalist, an adept Agribusiness Writer with a keen eye for news and an impactful story-teller,whose stories provide key value to Agripreneurs and stakeholders in the Agricultural sector
