NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 3 – The Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) and MXM Exhibitors, a Dubai-based event organizer firm are hosting an AgroFoodPack expo that aims to accelerate efforts to modernize farming practices thus liberating the country from rising threats of hunger.
Speaking during the official opening of the 2022 AgroFoodPack International Trade Fair at Sarit Centre, KNCCI Nairobi Chapter Chairman Julius Opio noted that other countries in the world have embraced innovation and technology in farming, a move they have implemented to counter the rising threat of food insecurity which is also attributed to the change in climate world over.
He further underscored that the place of technology and innovation in farming cannot be ignored as the expo will provide farmers with knowledge ranging from farm automation, indoor vertical farming, precision agriculture as well as bee vectoring technologies.
“It is important to note that mechanization in the agro-food sector and related industries remains a key pillar of agriculture in Kenya. Nevertheless, despite agriculture’s 33 per cent contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), we have over time observed a worrying trend,” stated Opio.
A study conducted by Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSD Africa) brought to light that the agricultural sector in the country is the least funded sector by formal financial sources.
It further revealed that lack of access to finance by smallholder farmers made them use unsustainable and traditional agriculture technology which translated to poor quality and quantity of produce.
Another study by Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) that was conducted in 2019 noted that the high cost of farm inputs and the change in weather patterns in the country also affected the output farmers get from the sector.
It is estimated that out of the 8.5 million people in Kenya engaging in agriculture, only 23.6 per cent have access to ploughs while 12.9 per cent and 4 per cent have access to tractors and combined harvesters respectively.
“Focus must shift to the adoption of modern agricultural technology to boost production and heighten our country’s food security,” added Opio.
In addition to calling for both private and public sectors to finance and make investments in agricultural production, the KNCCI chair further urged stakeholders to leverage technologies such as solar-powered smart irrigation systems and make use of digital agro-based platforms in farming platforms to help maximize yields and minimize agro-food wastage.
Apart from emphasizing the need for embracing technology in farming, the three-day expo will also provide an opportunity for farmers to get links with the external markets that they are interested to export their products to.
