Posted on June, 5, 2025 at 12:41 am
The government is in the process of modernising the physical infrastructure and curricula at the Kenya School of Agriculture’s (KSA) 10 campuses to upgrade the training in line with new-age technology trends.
Proposed renovations will entail equipping the campuses with modern technologies like drones, AI, and ICT and leveraging on big data to make critical decisions.
Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe said that the government is also conducting training on market-needs assessment to embed technology and market needs in the entire curriculum.
Speaking when he officially opened the International Floriculture Trade Expo (IFTEX) at Oshwal Hall in Nairobi, the CS said the government is also benchmarking and twinning with other centres of excellence across the globe, offering short-term, certified, marketable courses that meet the felt needs of a modern agricultural sector.
“This, coupled with the agripreneurship training and last-mile deployment model that we are collaborating on with the county governments, is the only way that we shall incentivise our youth to get into agriculture and grow our agri-tech and business skills base,” he added.
“Technology is the deal maker and deal breaker,” Kagwe said, emphasising that embracing digitisation in agriculture is an imperative.
The future of Kenyan agriculture, he added, is a tech-savvy, certified, knowledgeable, youthful Kenyan plying their trade and living profitably from their skills and the available opportunities.
The CS confirmed that KSA has, over the last few years, sent close to five hundred students to the UK for the summer seasonal workers placement (SWP) programme to work and learn on UK farms for six months.
While this is a good start, the CS stressed on the need to make it sustainable and think long-term, considering that their skills were needed here more than anywhere else.
At the same time, the CS noted the need to tap into the agility, resourcefulness and diversity of small-scale farmers in order to capitalise on opportunities arising from the country’s success in the floriculture sector.
By creating the necessary conditions for them to plug into this value chain, Kagwe said, they too would stand to benefit from the lessons and economies of scale that have proven to be such a success.
“Tapping into the small-scale farmers enterprises will not only diversify the country’s product and service offerings and produce in and out of season, given our varied agro-climatic and ecological zones, but also lift more households out of poverty,” he said.
Kagwe said that the national government is committed to working with other stakeholders, including the industry and cooperative societies, to enable farmers to organise in producer- and marketing cooperatives and exploit these opportunities through the county aggregation and industrialisation parks (CAIPs) and other targeted initiatives.
Another critical success factor for the floriculture sector to thrive is how to address the triple challenges of climate change, natural resources degradation, soil health deterioration and scarcity of youth productively engaged in agriculture.
“Technology and innovation are the answer to this trilemma, and I am delighted to note that Kenya’s floriculture is pioneering climate-smart agriculture through a number of strategic initiatives, through the KFC Flowers and Ornamentals Sustainability Standard (KFOSS).
This includes the adoption of water-saving technologies and precision irrigation; carbon footprint reduction, including the bold shift to sea freight; renewable energy adoption, with solar power lighting our greenhouses; and fair labour practices that empower workers and uplift communities,” the CS pointed out.
The Director General of the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), Dr Bruno Linyiru, says they are promoting the adoption of climate-smart technologies to mitigate climate change challenges.
IFTEX, he added, also provides an opportunity for small-scale growers and consolidators to gain exposure, meet buyers and build networks and partnerships essential for scaling up their businesses.
Technology plays an important role in enhancing efficiency, quality and market readiness, Dr Linyuru said.
IFTEX provides a platform for showcasing these technologies and innovations in the industry, ranging from precision farming systems to climate-smart greenhouse solutions and post-harvest techniques – just what the industry needs to address the current and emerging challenges.
Kenya is among the leading global exporters of cut flowers, exporting high-quality flowers to markets across the world, and remains a leading supplier in Africa.
The industry has expanded its production to counties which traditionally have not been flower-producing regions. These counties include Bungoma, Narok, Homabay, and Siaya.
Source: KNA