Cabinet Secretary Agriculture & Livestock Dev't

Office of the Cabinet Secretary

My mandate is to ensure food and nutrition security for all and sustainable economic development.

[Cabinet Secretary Agriculture & Livestock Dev't @CS_MoALD]

CS SEN. MUTAHI KAGWE will officiate #WPC2026, highlighting the potato’s role in feeding nations, creating jobs, boosting farmer incomes and driving agricultural innovation.
#WPC2026 #foodsecurity

[Cabinet Secretary Agriculture & Livestock Dev't @CS_MoALD]

The discussions underscored the importance of strengthening investment in agricultural sector, improving the utilisation of development partner funding and aligning programmes with national priorities to boost agricultural productivity, enhance food security and improve farmers’ livelihoods.

[Cabinet Secretary Agriculture & Livestock Dev't @CS_MoALD]

The Cabinet Committee met today to discuss policy reforms aimed at improving the implementation, coordination and accountability of Government programmes.

[Cabinet Secretary Agriculture & Livestock Dev't @CS_MoALD]

Fellow Kenyans, Happy 63rd Mashujaa Day. God bless our Country 🙏🏾

[FAO in Kenya @FAOKenya]

From farm to cup, 🇰🇪’s coffee value chain holds potential for investment 💵 & transformation ☕.

At #HiHI , Kenya presented its investment case & pushed for partnerships 🤝 to unlock opportunities & deliver greater value for producers, while improving livelihoods.

[Farnesina 🇮🇹 @ItalyMFA]

Oggi in #Farnesina, alla presenza del Vice Ministro @edmondocirielli, si è svolto l’evento di presentazione della “Strategia internazionale dell’Italia per il caffè. Sviluppo, valore, partenariati”.
Presenti il mondo delle istituzioni, delle aziende, delle organizzazioni internazionali, la @cooperazione_it e i rappresentanti del @WorldBankGroup, @UNIDO @ITPO_Italy, @ICOCoffeeOrg e @GruppoCDP.
Un’occasione di dialogo e confronto per coniugare #diplomaziadellacrescita, ricerca e partenariato con il settore privato e creare valore nei Paesi d’origine.

Leggi il comunicato👇
https://t.co/jTCdlve1QE

@R_Nabbanja @CS_MoALD @MinAgricultura @maumartina @pontimari @lavazzagroup @illycaffe

[Cabinet Secretary Agriculture & Livestock Dev't @CS_MoALD]

PROTECT THE FARMER, GROW THE MARKET: CS KAGWE CHAMPIONS REFORMS TO SECURE THE FUTURE OF GLOBAL COFFEE

CS Sen. Mutahi Kagwe has called for a fundamental transformation of the global coffee industry, emphasising that its long term sustainability depends on protecting farmers, strengthening regulatory frameworks and ensuring coffee production remains economically viable.

Speaking at Italy’s International Coffee Strategy Forum, CS Kagwe highlighted the need for stronger partnerships between producing and consuming countries to address declining production, improve farmer earnings and expand global coffee markets.

Citing Kenya’s experience, CS Kagwe noted that the country’s coffee production has declined from approximately 150,000 metric tonnes to 50,000 metric tonnes, underscoring the need for policies that make coffee farming competitive against alternative agricultural enterprises.

He pointed to Kenya’s Coffee Act as a key step towards strengthening the regulation of domestic and export markets while advancing coffee research to improve productivity and sector performance.

CS Kagwe stressed that the entire global coffee value chain depends on the farmer, warning that without sustainable returns at the production level, the industry risks undermining its own future.

He challenged international coffee companies to invest in the welfare of producers, noting that their long term commercial interests are directly linked to the prosperity of the farmers who supply their raw materials.

He also called for deliberate investment in growing the Kenya Coffee brand internationally, drawing parallels with efforts to promote Kenyan tea and urging governments, industry players and processors to work together to increase global coffee consumption.

On international trade regulations, including the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), CS Kagwe called for policies that reflect the realities of agricultural production, highlighting the importance of recognising coffee as a tree crop and ensuring that compliance requirements account for conditions on the ground.

The CS further underscored the potential of digital transformation to modernise coffee trading by connecting smallholder farmers more directly with international buyers, improving market access and creating greater transparency across the value chain.

Kenya’s collaboration with Italy and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to establish the Coffee Research and Training Institute in Nairobi also reflects the importance of international partnerships in strengthening research, skills development and the sector’s long-term competitiveness.

[Cabinet Secretary Agriculture & Livestock Dev't @CS_MoALD]

KENYA, FAO TO DEEPEN COLLABORATION ON SOIL HEALTH TO BOOST AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY

CS Sen. Mutahi Kagwe met FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy, to advance collaboration on soil health as a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture, increased productivity and long-term food security.

FAO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Kenya’s soil health initiatives, with discussions highlighting the use of technology and soil intelligence to guide precision farming, strengthen the Kenya Integrated Agricultural Management Information System (KIAMIS), now integrated with KADIC, and establish a team of soil health champions to drive awareness and action.

Both sides also underscored the need to train more soil scientists to strengthen national capacity in sustainable soil management.

The engagement reinforces Kenya’s push for data-driven agriculture that empowers farmers to make informed decisions, restores soil health, protects the environment and builds resilient food systems for generations to come.

[Cabinet Secretary Agriculture & Livestock Dev't @CS_MoALD]

The Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Summit 2026 set the stage for a future where technology, mechanisation, innovation and climate smart practices redefine farming.

As Kenya looks ahead, the focus is on empowering smallholder farmers, unlocking opportunities for young people, expanding market access and building a resilient, competitive and food-secure nation.

The future of Kenyan agriculture is not just about growing more food; it is about transforming how we farm, how farmers earn and how the nation feeds itself. #AgricultureSummit2026 #FarmerOf2063

[Cabinet Secretary Agriculture & Livestock Dev't @CS_MoALD]

FINANCIAL INJUSTICE TO FARMERS

CS Sen. Mutahi Kagwe has taken the global stage in Rome at the 2026 World Food Forum to call out a glaring paradox: while agriculture drives 25% of Kenya's GDP and up to 50% through backward and forward linkages, a mere 3% of commercial bank loan books reach the sector.

Addressing this historical handicap, Kenya is flipping the script by launching the KES 1.25 trillion National AgriFood Systems Investment Plan (NASIP) to mobilize public, private, and blended capital across crops, livestock, fisheries, and agribusiness value chains.

To ensure this capital actually reaches the ground, the government is scaling up the proven, farmer-owned SACCO model alongside cutting edge innovations like AI driven credit scoring, precision farming, and farm to fork traceability.

As CS Kagwe powerfully noted, the farmer is an integral part of this new paradigm shift because it all starts and ends with them, with the government acting as an enabler and private sector partners powering markets built on local value addition and fair, transparent pricing.
#WorldFoodForum #AgriBusiness #FoodSecurity #Kenya

[FAO Land, Soil and Water @FAOLandWater]

A packed first day of the #RomeWaterDialogue at the @World_FoodForum saw experts from around the world come together on the Key Topics of Water Tenure and the Restoration of Degraded Lands 🌱💧🌎

Lots More to Come On Day 2. SO STAY TUNED!

Info Here 👇
https://t.co/64E5aR0LQl

[Cabinet Secretary Agriculture & Livestock Dev't @CS_MoALD]

TRANSFORMING ASALS INTO ECONOMIC POWERHOUSES: KENYA UNVEILS A BOLD, WATER-SECURE AGRICULTURAL BLUEPRINT ON THE GLOBAL STAGE IN ROME

CS Sen. Mutahi Kagwe, is currently in Rome, Italy, participating in the prestigious Rome Water Dialogue. Speaking specifically during the technical session focused on the Restoration of Degraded Agricultural Lands: Innovation from Policy to Practice for Water and Food, CS Kagwe delivered a compelling address highlighting how Kenya is actively shifting its developmental trajectory.

Rather than viewing the reality that up to 70% of Kenya's landmass is classified as Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) as a drawback, the nation is championing this vast terrain as a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable economic opportunity.

To turn this vision into reality, the government is leveraging funding from the newly launched National Infrastructure Fund to construct an impressive water network consisting of 50 mega dams, 200 medium-sized dams, and 1,000 small water reservoirs and pans.

This aggressive infrastructural push is designed to pivot the country away from its historical, climate vulnerable over reliance on rain-fed agriculture toward reliable, high-yield irrigation.

At the heart of this strategy is a robust public-private partnership model where the government builds the essential dams and backbone irrigation infrastructure, alongside spearheading the branding and marketing of Kenyan produce.

Meanwhile, the private sector, local communities, farmer producer organizations (FPOs), and SACCOs take the helm in production, local value addition, and exports, ensuring that jobs, wealth, and money remain firmly within the country.

Furthermore, the Land Commercialization Initiative is providing the formal framework for the private sector to lease idle government and community trust land on a long-term basis to fuel large-scale production of food, feed, and fodder.

This sweeping modernization goes hand in hand with technological advancements, including nationwide digital-first soil testing laboratories and last-mile "soil doctors". Through this initiative, every farmer is equipped with a digital soil passport to seamlessly access subsidized farm inputs and AI-driven advisory services, ensuring smart farmers produce more and earn more.

Combined with collaborative execution from the Kenya Agricultural and Digital Information Center (KADIC), KALRO, county governments, women, and the youth, this comprehensive compact aims to quadruple agricultural production per unit, comfortably feed a burgeoning population, slash Kenya's USD 3.4B annual food import bill, and redirect national income toward more investable opportunities.

Capped off by Kenya's ongoing 10-year, 15 billion trees reforestation initiative targeting 2032, the country is proving that true agricultural transformation delivers a resounding win for farmers, investors, the economy, and the environment alike.
#RomeWaterDialogue #FoodSecurity #KenyaAgriculture #ClimateResilience #InvestInKenya #ASALTransformation #SustainableFarming

[FAO Land, Soil and Water @FAOLandWater]

Public-private partnerships can deliver the funding to shift from over-reliance on rainfed agriculture to precision irrigation, says @CS_MoALD at the #RomeWaterDialogue session on restoring agricultural land. This pivot can multiply agricultural production towards food security

[Cabinet Secretary Agriculture & Livestock Dev't @CS_MoALD]

AGRICULTURE SUMMIT 2026: TURNING THE PROMISE OF TRANSFORMATION INTO PROSPERITY FOR FARMERS

As the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Summit 2026 came to a close, the focus shifted to the future of Kenyan agriculture, where innovation, technology and investment must translate into better livelihoods for farmers.

Over three days, more than 10,000 farmers and stakeholders came together to examine the journey of Kenya’s agricultural sector, the progress made and the opportunities ahead. The conversations centred on a critical priority: moving beyond increased production to making farming more profitable, sustainable and commercially viable.

From irrigation and climate-smart farming to digital agriculture, mechanisation, value addition and stronger market linkages, the vision is to empower farmers to produce more efficiently, reduce costs, access reliable markets and earn better returns from their work.

The future of agriculture must be built around the farmer, from the smallholder in the field to the agripreneur embracing new technologies and creating opportunities for the next generation.

As the summit concludes, the task ahead is clear: turn the commitments into action and ensure that the benefits of agricultural transformation are felt on farms, in farmers’ incomes and across Kenya’s food system.

The future of Agriculture is not just about growing more. It is about making farming pay

[Cabinet Secretary Agriculture & Livestock Dev't @CS_MoALD]

BUILDING THE FARMER OF 2063: KENYA’S NEXT AGRICULTURAL FRONTIER TAKES SHAPE

The future of Kenyan agriculture will be defined by technology, innovation, value addition and farmers who turn new opportunities into thriving agribusinesses.

CS Sen. Mutahi Kagwe joined H.E. President Dr. @WilliamsRuto in bringing the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Summit 2026 to a close today at Jamhuri Park ASK Showground, with a renewed focus on shaping the future of farming and food systems.

The focus is on an agricultural sector where farmers embrace precision agriculture, mechanisation and digital technologies to increase productivity, reduce losses, access better markets and earn more from every harvest and every animal.

Equally, the future calls for young people to bring fresh ideas, technology and entrepreneurship into agriculture, transforming farming into a profitable business and a driver of economic growth.

The Farmer of 2063 will not simply grow crops or keep livestock; they will harness technology, command markets, create enterprises and compete on a global stage. The journey to that future starts now.

#AgricultureSummit2026 #BuildingTheFarmerOf2063 #BETAKILIMO #FarmerFirst #FutureOfAgriculture

[Cabinet Secretary Agriculture & Livestock Dev't @CS_MoALD]

Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Summit 2026
https://t.co/kM11ZXOqfV

[Cabinet Secretary Agriculture & Livestock Dev't @CS_MoALD]

FARMERS URGED TO SCALE UP PRODUCTION AS AGRICULTURE REFORMS DELIVER RESULTS

Farmers are being urged to seize the opportunities created by ongoing reforms and investments in the agriculture sector to increase production, improve productivity and grow their incomes.

H.E President Dr. @WilliamsRuto graced the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Summit at Jamhuri Park ASK Showground, where the Government reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the sector and building on the gains made in recent years.

Since 2022, more than 38 million bags of fertiliser have been subsidised, reducing the price from KSh7,500 to KSh2,000 per bag and cushioning farmers against high input costs.

The impact is being felt on the farm. Maize production has risen from 34.3 million bags in 2022 to 71 million bags in 2025, while cotton yields have increased from 177kg to 378kg per acre.

The Government is building on these gains through expanded irrigation, infrastructure, technology, skills development and stronger market linkages. Plans to develop mega, medium and micro dams under the National Infrastructure Fund will support the expansion of irrigation to 2.5 million acres, creating greater opportunities for farmers to produce more consistently.

The message to farmers is clear: the opportunity is to move from producing more to earning more, by embracing modern farming practices, improving productivity, adding value and connecting to markets.

The transformation of Kenya’s agriculture must be felt where it matters most: on the farm, in the farmer’s income and in the lives of farming households.