Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has called on Kenyans, particularly private sector players, to lease idle government land in a bid to bridge the country’s widening food production gap.
Speaking during the official opening of the Nakuru Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) National Show, Kagwe highlighted the country’s dependence on food imports, citing rice, wheat, palm oil, cotton, and yellow maize as key commodities in short supply. He noted that Kenya currently imports 92% of its wheat and 75% of its rice.
“We have vast tracts of idle land under the Agricultural Development Corporation and the Kenya Prisons Service. We encourage investors to lease and use it productively to grow food and animal crops,” the CS said.
Kagwe praised recent public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the agricultural sector, particularly the leasing of government-owned sugar firms such as Mumias and Nzoia, which have contributed to revitalizing sugar production. He noted that for the first time in years, Kenya has not imported maize or sugar in the current year, a significant indicator of improved local production.
The Nakuru ASK Show, themed “Promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture and Trade Initiatives for Sustainable Growth,” drew a record 150 exhibitors, including 35 first-time participants. Nakuru Deputy Governor David Kones lauded the increased participation as a sign of growing agricultural interest and innovation. He further revealed that the county, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, has distributed 36.4 million pyrethrum seedlings over the past two years to revive the once-lucrative crop.
Among the standout exhibitors were the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), which took home 11 awards, and the Kenya Tea Development Agency. KPA Show Chairman Peter Odera reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to efficient port services and sustainability through green energy initiatives.
Other notable winners included Kenya Seed Company, Kenya Prisons Service, KARLO Njoro, Egerton University, and Kabarak University.
The next leg of the national agricultural exhibition series is scheduled to take place in Kisumu in two weeks, as efforts continue to promote innovation and self-reliance in the agricultural sector.
Written By Rodney Mbua
