CS Kagwe Launches KSh1.47 Trillion Agriculture Plan to Create 2.4 Million Jobs
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Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has launched a new KSh1.47 trillion programme aimed at transforming Kenya’s agriculture sector and creating about 2.4 million jobs by 2030.
Speaking in Nairobi on Wednesday, June 17, Kagwe unveiled the Kenya AgriConnect Compact, a five-year plan that seeks to turn farming into a modern and profitable industry driven by technology and innovation.
According to the CS, the programme will help move agriculture away from traditional subsistence farming and make it more attractive to investors and young people.
The initiative is expected to create and improve about 2.48 million jobs in areas such as agro-processing, transport, digital supply chains and agribusiness management.
To support the project, the government plans to spend KSh491.7 billion, with the aim of attracting an additional KSh984 billion from private investors.
The plan will also encourage partnerships between the government and private companies to make it easier for farmers and agribusinesses to access funding.
Another key target is to reduce Kenya’s dependence on imported food such as maize and rice by 50 per cent while increasing exports of high-value agricultural products by 60 per cent.
Technology will play a major role under the programme, with digital services expected to help farmers access markets, improve production and reduce post-harvest losses.
The government also plans to improve market systems and infrastructure to ensure farmers get better prices for their produce and are protected from unfair trading practices.
Sectors such as dairy farming, edible oils and horticulture have been identified as priority areas for investment.
The AgriConnect programme has received support from several international organisations, including the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Gates Foundation and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
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